Browse Items (2882 total)

Edward Vail's account of the happenings near the old Cienega Stage Station, now known as Pantano, including the Southern Pacific's Apache Trail Route with gravestones, Farishes' History of Arizona, and a story about robbery and murder of a U.S.…

Edward Vail's sketch briefly describing Southeastern Arizona and Southern New Mexico's fiercest and most warlike tribe of Apache Indians, the Chiricahuas, and the names and locations of various Apache tribes.

Edward Vail's sketch about a Mexican dance put on by the Greaterville placer gold mining camp and the cowboys attempt to join the dance after the Mexican miners decided not to let the cowboys in.

The sketch Following the Trail of the Apaches written by Edward L. Vail. He describes an incident that occurred on June 5, 1886. A band of Apaches attacked Happy Valley ranch and stole some horses. He describes tracking the Apaches for over fifty…

On horseback at the mouth of Rosemont Canyon (c.a. 1896 - 1898) are Edward L. Vail, older brother of Walter L. Vail and partner in Empire Ranch, George Scholefield, neighbor and former Live Stock Inspector and Detective for the district of Pantano…

Walter Vail's home on the Empire Ranch. When Walter Vail's wife arrived on the ranch in the summer of 1881, Walter improved the house with an eight-room addition including two bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, and a covered porch. The structure…

Map carried by Edward L. Vail on the 1890 cattle drive from the Empire Ranch to the Warner Ranch in California. The map shows the route taken from the Empire Ranch to Yuma, AZ. The camps that were made during this portion of the cattle drive are…

A letter dated November 23, 1875 from Walter L. Vail to Edward L. Vail describing Walter's first impressions of Tucson upon his arrival by stagecoach, his meeting the Governor, and discusses at length issues involved in acquiring property and the…

Letter from Herbert R. Hislop dated July 18, 1876 to Edward L. Vail describing the physical details of the Fish Ranch, the proposed purchase price, and the heat in Tucson. Documents in other repositories indicate that the actual purchase price turned…

A letter dated July 11, 1876 from Walter Vail to his uncle, Nathan Vail, describing his journey with Herbert R. Hislop to Tucson, the Tucson area climate and noting that the Fish Ranch will be for sale.

Entries from Edward L. Vail's diary which he wrote during the cattle drive from the Empire Ranch in Arizona to the Warner Ranch in Southern California.

The railroad Walter Vail and his partners used to ship cattle to other locations such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, and California. The prospect of shipping cattle to Eastern buyers caused ranchers to improve their herds and occupy the…

Men on horses rounding up broncos. Tom Turner one of the foremen at Empire Ranch was known as a hard boss and his roundup hours were rather early and rather late which didn't please many cowboys.

An original Southern Pacific Company Thousand Mile Ticket used by Edward L. Vail, stamped February 14, 1901. The ticket included travel between railroad stations in Arizona, New Mexico, and El PasoTexas. It is punched on the days it was used. Note…

Letter to Edward L. Vail (December 301898) from Colin Cameron, the Chairman of the Live Stock Sanitary Board for the Territory of Arizona. It discusses Cameron's opinion on the current cattle laws, centralized slaughter for butchers, fines for cattle…

Letter to Edward L. Vail (March 301898) from H. Harrison, the secretary of the Live Stock Sanitary Board for the Territory of Arizona. The letter is the notification of Edward L. Vail's appointment as Live Stock Inspector and Detective for the…

The holding gate at the Empire Ranch. A holding gate keeps animals in the holding area so they can be sorted out.

Pages 71-77 of an interview of Harry Heffner, Foreman of the Empire Ranch from 1893 to 1905, by Charles U. Pickrell on June 4, 1960. The interview discusses the history of the Empire Ranch giving details on people involved with the ranch and Southern…

Pages 61-70 of an interview of Harry Heffner, Foreman of the Empire Ranch from 1893 to 1905, by Charles U. Pickrell on June 4, 1960. The interview discusses the history of the Empire Ranch giving details on people involved with the ranch and Southern…

Pages 51-60 of an interview of Harry Heffner, Foreman of the Empire Ranch from 1893 to 1905, by Charles U. Pickrell on June 4, 1960. The interview discusses the history of the Empire Ranch giving details on people involved with the ranch and Southern…