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Below: Photo of Geronimo with one of his many wives, and 3 of his children. Below: Photo of Geronimo on the Oklahoma Reservation in 1909, just before his death. |
| Geronimo- Apache Warrior |
Who was this fierce warrior, so laid-back as a
child, he was named Goyakla, "He who yawns," by
his people?
Geronimo was an important Apache Native American
leader who rose to celebrity. His many cunning
escapes from Indian reservations and the failure of
10,000 Mexican and American soldiers to capture him
and his 39 warriors gave him a permanent place in
history.
Childhood
Geronimo was born June 1829 in the No-doyohn
Canyon, Arizona. His people were the Bedonkohe
Apache, a branch of the Eastern Chiricahua Native
Americans
His mother would tell him tales of their tribe's
ancient and recent pasts and sang songs about his
grandfather Mahko, a well known Bedonkohe Apache
leader.
child, he was named Goyakla, "He who yawns," by
his people?
Geronimo was an important Apache Native American
leader who rose to celebrity. His many cunning
escapes from Indian reservations and the failure of
10,000 Mexican and American soldiers to capture him
and his 39 warriors gave him a permanent place in
history.
Childhood
Geronimo was born June 1829 in the No-doyohn
Canyon, Arizona. His people were the Bedonkohe
Apache, a branch of the Eastern Chiricahua Native
Americans
His mother would tell him tales of their tribe's
ancient and recent pasts and sang songs about his
grandfather Mahko, a well known Bedonkohe Apache
leader.
His father and uncles taught him how to shoot a bow and arrow, how to catch and then leap on a
horse, and how to run for miles without stopping.
He is known to have had at least one sibling, a sister. They grew up in a time of trouble in the
1820s and 1830s, and learned firsthand what it meant to be an enemy of others. They watched
their male relatives go off to battle against other tribes, the Spanish and Mexicans.
As a child, Geronimo listened to the stories and heard the songs about his tribe's history and
culture; his mother would have been responsible for conveying most of the information. She
would have described tribal and personal standards that would eventually govern Geronimo's
behavior and help him evaluate and draw conclusions about the world around him.
Some stories would have been metaphors, some were the results of long-ago events, and some
would express hope for their people's future.
If oral tradition is accurate, Geronimo's mother told him about specific ancestors, described
their strengths, their families, their philosophies, and their power in battles.
His mother also conveyed the old sacred rituals observed by his ancestors, ways that were
rich in praise and thankfulness to Ussen, the supreme Apache God, for his many gifts to the
Bedonkohe people.
Quite significant during his developmental years were the stories about his grandfather,
Mahko, who had been a revered chief, beloved by tribesman because of his "great size,
strength, and sagacity, . , , He was peace loving and generous . . . storing corn and dried beef
and venison in caves, which he shared with the needy of his tribe."
horse, and how to run for miles without stopping.
He is known to have had at least one sibling, a sister. They grew up in a time of trouble in the
1820s and 1830s, and learned firsthand what it meant to be an enemy of others. They watched
their male relatives go off to battle against other tribes, the Spanish and Mexicans.
As a child, Geronimo listened to the stories and heard the songs about his tribe's history and
culture; his mother would have been responsible for conveying most of the information. She
would have described tribal and personal standards that would eventually govern Geronimo's
behavior and help him evaluate and draw conclusions about the world around him.
Some stories would have been metaphors, some were the results of long-ago events, and some
would express hope for their people's future.
If oral tradition is accurate, Geronimo's mother told him about specific ancestors, described
their strengths, their families, their philosophies, and their power in battles.
His mother also conveyed the old sacred rituals observed by his ancestors, ways that were
rich in praise and thankfulness to Ussen, the supreme Apache God, for his many gifts to the
Bedonkohe people.
Quite significant during his developmental years were the stories about his grandfather,
Mahko, who had been a revered chief, beloved by tribesman because of his "great size,
strength, and sagacity, . , , He was peace loving and generous . . . storing corn and dried beef
and venison in caves, which he shared with the needy of his tribe."
Adulthood
An event that occurred when Geronimo was
about twelve years old no doubt was
remembered and retold many times.
In 1835 the Mexican state of Sonora, home to
the Bedonkohe tribe, passed a law offering to
pay bounty hunters 100 pesos for each Apache
scalp.
Two years later, the neighboring state of
Chihuahua had joined Sonora's pay scale but
added 50 pesos for a woman's scalp and 25
pesos for a child's scalp,
It is impossible to estimate the total effect
bounty hunting had on Geronimo, but joining the
Nednai group of Apaches to raid and fight in the
mountainous Siena Madre could have been his
response. One of the leaders of the Nednai
group was Juh, who became a lifelong friend.
An event that occurred when Geronimo was
about twelve years old no doubt was
remembered and retold many times.
In 1835 the Mexican state of Sonora, home to
the Bedonkohe tribe, passed a law offering to
pay bounty hunters 100 pesos for each Apache
scalp.
Two years later, the neighboring state of
Chihuahua had joined Sonora's pay scale but
added 50 pesos for a woman's scalp and 25
pesos for a child's scalp,
It is impossible to estimate the total effect
bounty hunting had on Geronimo, but joining the
Nednai group of Apaches to raid and fight in the
mountainous Siena Madre could have been his
response. One of the leaders of the Nednai
group was Juh, who became a lifelong friend.
How Geronimo Got His Name
With the desire for revenge festering, about one year
later Geronimo directed a pitched battle near Arispe,
Mexico. The fight lasted nearly two hours and Geronimo
was so ferocious that the terrified Mexicans called on
Saint Jerome, Geronimo," for help. The name Geronimo
remained with him for life.
Revenge burned in his heart ever after, but it didn't
stop him from marrying again and again and becoming a
father to several more children.
Apaches Forced Onto Reservations
It had been a common occurrence for the various Native
Americans in the southwest to use raiding as a way to
supplement the hunting and gathering of wild plants to
survive. The Spanish, Mexicans, and now the Americans
were pushing them into a smaller area to hunt, which had
only a limited number of wild game, and therefore, would
not support as many people.
Right: Geronimo's wife and son.
With the desire for revenge festering, about one year
later Geronimo directed a pitched battle near Arispe,
Mexico. The fight lasted nearly two hours and Geronimo
was so ferocious that the terrified Mexicans called on
Saint Jerome, Geronimo," for help. The name Geronimo
remained with him for life.
Revenge burned in his heart ever after, but it didn't
stop him from marrying again and again and becoming a
father to several more children.
Apaches Forced Onto Reservations
It had been a common occurrence for the various Native
Americans in the southwest to use raiding as a way to
supplement the hunting and gathering of wild plants to
survive. The Spanish, Mexicans, and now the Americans
were pushing them into a smaller area to hunt, which had
only a limited number of wild game, and therefore, would
not support as many people.
Right: Geronimo's wife and son.
When Geronimo was in his early twenties the United States went to war with Mexico,
producing even more confusion, even more disruption, even more settlers, and even more
masters.
Geronimo's Family Was Massacred
In the early 1850s peace reigned between the Bedonkohe Apaches and the state of Chihuahua,
Mexico. Mangas Colmadas, the famous chief of Geronimo's people, led some of the men into the
town of Janos to trade; only a few guards remained behind in the village to keep the women
and children safe.
A group of Mexican troops from Sonora descended on the unsuspecting people and attacked
and killed most of the Apaches. As Geronimo and others, heady with success, made their way
from town to their encampment, survivors met them with the bad news.
producing even more confusion, even more disruption, even more settlers, and even more
masters.
Geronimo's Family Was Massacred
In the early 1850s peace reigned between the Bedonkohe Apaches and the state of Chihuahua,
Mexico. Mangas Colmadas, the famous chief of Geronimo's people, led some of the men into the
town of Janos to trade; only a few guards remained behind in the village to keep the women
and children safe.
A group of Mexican troops from Sonora descended on the unsuspecting people and attacked
and killed most of the Apaches. As Geronimo and others, heady with success, made their way
from town to their encampment, survivors met them with the bad news.
Among those lying mutilated and
dead were Geronimo's beloved
young wife, Alope, his three
children, and his mother.
The shattering experience that
enveloped the twenty-one year old
warrior as he stood helplessly
beside the bodies of his family
literally changed him forever. In a
masterful understatement he
simply said, "None had lost as I had,
for I had lost all."
dead were Geronimo's beloved
young wife, Alope, his three
children, and his mother.
The shattering experience that
enveloped the twenty-one year old
warrior as he stood helplessly
beside the bodies of his family
literally changed him forever. In a
masterful understatement he
simply said, "None had lost as I had,
for I had lost all."
The Apache separated into smaller bands so that the hunting
grounds available would support the group in a specific
area. However, this soon became inadequate, and, like the
Navajo and Pueblo Indians, the Apache turned to raiding
livestock from settlers to survive.
Eventually, the U.S. Army became tired of the raiding
that the Apache Indians had been inflicting on the large
amount of Americans coming into Arizona to settle, raise
livestock and grow crops.
They rounded up the Apaches and placed them on the San
Carlos Reservation in Arizona in 1874, but Geronimo fled
with a band of warriors into Mexico. They were caught
and returned to San Carlos Reservation.
grounds available would support the group in a specific
area. However, this soon became inadequate, and, like the
Navajo and Pueblo Indians, the Apache turned to raiding
livestock from settlers to survive.
Eventually, the U.S. Army became tired of the raiding
that the Apache Indians had been inflicting on the large
amount of Americans coming into Arizona to settle, raise
livestock and grow crops.
They rounded up the Apaches and placed them on the San
Carlos Reservation in Arizona in 1874, but Geronimo fled
with a band of warriors into Mexico. They were caught
and returned to San Carlos Reservation.
On the reservation was an Apache prophet named
Noch-del-klinne. He told the Apaches that they should perform
the Ghost Dance. If they did, two dead chiefs would come back
to life and drive the Whites off the Apache lands.
The stirring of aggression among the Apaches alarmed the U.S.
Army, who came to arrest Noch-del-klinne. A scuffle occurred
and the prophet was killed.
Geronimo and his followers returned to their secret camp in
the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico and continued their
raiding practices.
Escape From the Reservation
General George Cook caught them and returned them to the
Reservation, only to have them escape again in 1885. This time
Geronimo lead the escape. The Apaches had been angry because
they were prevented from practicing their customs, and felt
cheated by the scant rations they were given.
Following their 1885 escape, Geronimo and his 39 warriors
were pursued by 5000 American and about 5000 Mexican
troops, yet they were able to evade their pursuers, and to raid
local food supplies for rations while on the run. Soldiers and
Generals alike were amazed at the ability of these warriors.
Noch-del-klinne. He told the Apaches that they should perform
the Ghost Dance. If they did, two dead chiefs would come back
to life and drive the Whites off the Apache lands.
The stirring of aggression among the Apaches alarmed the U.S.
Army, who came to arrest Noch-del-klinne. A scuffle occurred
and the prophet was killed.
Geronimo and his followers returned to their secret camp in
the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico and continued their
raiding practices.
Escape From the Reservation
General George Cook caught them and returned them to the
Reservation, only to have them escape again in 1885. This time
Geronimo lead the escape. The Apaches had been angry because
they were prevented from practicing their customs, and felt
cheated by the scant rations they were given.
Following their 1885 escape, Geronimo and his 39 warriors
were pursued by 5000 American and about 5000 Mexican
troops, yet they were able to evade their pursuers, and to raid
local food supplies for rations while on the run. Soldiers and
Generals alike were amazed at the ability of these warriors.
The army was unable to catch Geronimo and his warriors, but the constant pursuit had worn
down the Apaches. Geronimo and his warriors agreed to surrender to General Miles and serve
a 2 year sentence.
This agreement was broken by President Cleveland who imprisoned the Apaches at Fort
Pickens, Florida by train (see photo below), until 1894.
Below: Photo of Geronimo and his warriors being sent by train to a Florida Reservation. He is
in the front row 3rd from the right.
down the Apaches. Geronimo and his warriors agreed to surrender to General Miles and serve
a 2 year sentence.
This agreement was broken by President Cleveland who imprisoned the Apaches at Fort
Pickens, Florida by train (see photo below), until 1894.
Below: Photo of Geronimo and his warriors being sent by train to a Florida Reservation. He is
in the front row 3rd from the right.
Geronimo's ability to evade 2 armies of 10,000 men, while leading only 39 Apaches during the
1885 escape from the reservation, made him a folk hero in Mexico and America. Buffalo Bill
asked Geronimo to join his "Wild West" show because of his celebrity.
In his later years, as a prisoner of war, he mellowed, adopted, grew several varieties of
melons on his small farm. He caught pneumonia and died in 1909.
1885 escape from the reservation, made him a folk hero in Mexico and America. Buffalo Bill
asked Geronimo to join his "Wild West" show because of his celebrity.
In his later years, as a prisoner of war, he mellowed, adopted, grew several varieties of
melons on his small farm. He caught pneumonia and died in 1909.
Apaches in San Carlos Reservation, 1874.
Goyakla ("Geronimo")
Geronimo's Mother, wife and children were
killed by Mexican bounty hunters for the
reward placed on Apache scalps.
killed by Mexican bounty hunters for the
reward placed on Apache scalps.
Above: Geronimo on the first horse from the left.
Geronimo in 1886
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