Advertisement

Cochise

Advertisement

Cochise Veteran Famous memorial

Birth
Cochise County, Arizona, USA
Death
8 Jun 1874 (aged 50–51)
Cochise County, Arizona, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown. Specifically: Buried in the Dragoon Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona, location unknown.
Memorial ID
View Source

Apache Leader. Actual date of birth unknown. The name Cochise is derived from the Apache word "cheis," or "oak." He led his Chokonen Apaches, the rising sun people, often called Chiricahuas, through their first conflicts and dealings with the United States. He was among the most powerful and respected of Apache leaders. He was one of the few Apache leaders whose influence transcended his own band and could bring together many of the diverse family groups that made up the loose bands we now call "Apaches." No photo of him is known to exist. He was reportedly a tall, broad-shouldered man of power, dignity, and grace. After about ten years of war against the United States, Cochise finally made peace with the United States on nearly his own terms in 1872, and entered reservation life on a portion of his own lands in what is now southeastern Arizona near the site of Fort Bowie. His friend, an American named Thomas Jeffords, was named Indian Agent for the Chiricahua Reservation. Cochise died after a long illness on June 8, 1874. Tom Jeffords was at his side near the end, and witnessed his interment in a crevice in the rocks of the Dragoon Mountains, near Cochise Stronghold, Arizona. Only his band and Tom Jeffords knew the site. They took this knowledge to their own graves, telling no one of the place where Cochise had been buried. Cochise County, Arizona is named after him.

Apache Leader. Actual date of birth unknown. The name Cochise is derived from the Apache word "cheis," or "oak." He led his Chokonen Apaches, the rising sun people, often called Chiricahuas, through their first conflicts and dealings with the United States. He was among the most powerful and respected of Apache leaders. He was one of the few Apache leaders whose influence transcended his own band and could bring together many of the diverse family groups that made up the loose bands we now call "Apaches." No photo of him is known to exist. He was reportedly a tall, broad-shouldered man of power, dignity, and grace. After about ten years of war against the United States, Cochise finally made peace with the United States on nearly his own terms in 1872, and entered reservation life on a portion of his own lands in what is now southeastern Arizona near the site of Fort Bowie. His friend, an American named Thomas Jeffords, was named Indian Agent for the Chiricahua Reservation. Cochise died after a long illness on June 8, 1874. Tom Jeffords was at his side near the end, and witnessed his interment in a crevice in the rocks of the Dragoon Mountains, near Cochise Stronghold, Arizona. Only his band and Tom Jeffords knew the site. They took this knowledge to their own graves, telling no one of the place where Cochise had been buried. Cochise County, Arizona is named after him.

Bio by: Robert Schaller

Gravesite Details

Upon his death at about 65-67 (not early 50's), Cochise's body was buried in the Chokonen Apache tradition with his horse, favorite dog and blankets among the boulders in the Dragoon Mountains of SE Arizona in an undisclosed location.



Advertisement

Advertisement

How famous was Cochise ?

Current rating: 4.64963 out of 5 stars

274 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Robert Schaller
  • Added: Apr 21, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7373566/cochise: accessed ), memorial page for Cochise (1823–8 Jun 1874), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7373566; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Find a Grave.