Life Enhanced - Books and Babies

 July 19 - 26, 2025

Tombstone, Arizona

My two weeks with Sherry in Santa Fe revived my enjoyment of reading non-fiction, and my recent discovery of the real location of my ancestors' tragic end have inspired the reading of several books about the Oatman (my maiden name) massacre. 

In 1851 the Oatman family set out on their own from the remaining families in the wagon train to make the final push to Fort Yuma. They were attacked and murdered by Yavapai Indians with Olive and Mary Ann taken captive. Olive's story is the stuff of legends.

I've learned so much about my family history as well as the history of the time. Amazingly, Olive and her family had not even joined the wagon train to California when the first Women's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls. California became a state while they were on the Santa Fe Trail. Multi-story brick buildings were being built in Manhattan while she was living among the Mohaves as a captive, or adopted family.

Following her return Olive had to balance her White and Indian lives. It's interesting to note this dress she made includes hash marks that mimic the Mojave tatoo on her chin.

The family was moving to the promised land prophesized by a short-lived "spin-off" of the Mormon church un-affectionately referred to as Brewsterites. I've also learned a lot more about the Mormon church.

Olive and Mary Ann (who died of starvation after three years) lived with the Mojave Indians of the Colorado River. Likely near the current ghost town and tourist stop of Oatman, Arizona. I've learned a lot more about the Mojave Indians.

Irataba, a Mohave Chief and one who Olive called her friend, met with President Lincoln (the first chief to meet with a president) in 1864. Olive traveled from Michigan to see him.

Olive and her (believed by Olive to be dead) brother Lorenzo were reunited in Fort Yuma five years after the massacre. Her return was negotiated by a Quechan Indian named Francisco, although officers at the fort took credit. I've learned a lot more about military and government practices of the time.

The role and goal of Fort Yuma was often defined by its various commanders, at times different from that of the government, laws and treaties. These definitions had a direct impact on the fate of the Oatman family and the captivity of two daughters.

Olive and Lorenzo were the only surviving children of Roys and Mary Ann Oatman. Olive had no children, and Lorenzo's sons passed young and childless. So there are no direct descendants of this family. However, Roys had 17(!) siblings so there are undoubtedly a whole lot of "cousins" who can trace our way back to his family. 

I was always told the Oatmans were from Germany. Nope, Johannes Outman emigrated from Holland! Very cool :-))

It's been great fun to immerse myself in all the history, connecting it to locations I've been and others I want to visit. At the same time I'm not unaware of the fact that so much information is available only because of the tragedy that befell Olive and her family - a story that continues to intrigue historians and authors alike.

Day-to-day life doesn't look much different. Happily it does include more moisture, including a couple of all-night female rains (slow, steady and soaking). It greens the desert and cleanses the soul. A couple of temporary road closures while arroyos fill and empty quickly, acres of Ocotillos thicken with tiny green leaves doubling their size, and shadows move across the plains and hills under shifting cloud-cover. It's an active time of year here.

An intense rainbow with all the colors clear.

No pot of gold in Jeff's car - we looked.

Warning notifications that Moson Road is closed a few  miles south of us.

All the ocotillos on our property are full, especially the one in the backyard.

Spending every morning on the front porch, quietly observing the critters, I'm gifted with patterns and anomalies. Quail families have always been two parents, with two-10 babies of the same age, and one-three "uncles". There are never "extra" females, but almost always there are extra males that travel with them. Recently there is a very different family-construct coming to visit. I'm confused by babies of two different ages intermingled as one family. A few days later they're back, and the parents add to the anomaly. The two smaller babies have only a female parent, a single-mom. The four larger babies have two parents, mom and dad. And no uncles. These nine are a unit, come and go together, watch out for each other. I don't know if this is rare in the wild, or just rare in my yard. In any case it's delightful to see their little blended family. Maybe I'll get a photo before they move on, but I've been caught up in just watching them together.

Another change is the trapdoor spider expanding her web beyond the round trap. The early morning sun lights it up for a few minutes, or I'd have missed it. It's gone the next day.

The section farthest from the trap is easily seen in the light.

Harder to see here, the web trail is just below the green patch on the right and angles up to the left, into the visible trap. Easier in person :-)

Mr Big Lizard of the Big Feet Clan

The hummers come right up to my head every day but I usually can't get a quick photo. How do you do it Gay???

Taking a break from all that running on roads.

All of the crafts group is out of state for the summer. Vicky is back for a few days so we grab a couple hours to enjoy a tasty lunch at the Copper Brothel Brewery. It's wonderful to get caught up, she'll be back in September.

A fun place with consistently good food.

Vicky is one of those people you meet at 1:00 and are good friends with before 1:30. I've missed her!

Our six-year-old TV dies without warning so of course it's time for a bigger one. Who are we that we need a 65" TV in a small home? Bill is of course very happy, convinced we've needed one for years! Should be fun for football :-)

Jeff and I see Superman in the theater - excellent all around, and Krypto the Dog is like seeing Tessa on the big screen!

She just needs a red cape!

A few days later Bill and I go to see the new Jurassic World movie. They're always best in the theater with those amazing dinosaurs. How are they not real?? This one has a weak plot line and mediocre characters with the little family, location and dinos saving the show.

$7.00/seat is the least expensive entertainment value we have, although the snacks are still clearly made of pure gold :-) I wish there were more movies I want to see.

Our lovely Virginia trio - Reese, Magnolia and Penelope  

Big M learning to kayak - getting so big!

Cassidy Jane ready to beam up!