From World’s Cattle Capital to State 48 Wine Country, Willcox Continues to Excel After More Than 140-Years
By Larry Nader, Larry Nader Photography & Art
Published July 25, 2023
Willcox, Arizona, has undergone numerous changes during its 143-year history. Situated in northern Cochise County and located off Interstate-10, the town is now recognized for its agriculture, wine, and tourism. However, when the town was established in 1880, it was just a Whistle Stop along the Southern-Pacific Railroad line. Maley was the town’s initial name, as it was centrally located between Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas.
Maley was born eight years after the Bascom Affair concluded. The incident began on January 27, 1861 when Tonto Apache groups raided John Ward’s ranch near Sonoita Creek. They stole livestock and kidnapped Ward’s 12-year-old son, Felix. Ward reported the incident and kidnapping to the military authority at Fort Buchannan. Lt. Col. Morrison, the fort’s commandant, assigned Lt. George Nicholas Bascom to retrieve Felix.
Bascom led a large group of infantry on a search for the boy, Felix, and the tribe, but they were initially unable to locate them. It was believed that the raiding party, who fled towards the Chiricahua Mountains to the east, were Chiricahua Apache. However, it was later discovered that the Coyotero Apaches were responsible for the attack and kidnapping, not the Chiricahua.
On February 3, 1861, Morrison assigned Bascom to lead a team of 54 infantry soldiers alongside the elder Ward towards Apache Pass in the Chiricahua Mountains. Upon arriving, Bascom and his group met with Sgt. Daniel Robinson, who would guide them throughout their expedition.
It is said that Bascom managed to persuade Chiricahua Apache Chief Cochise to attend a meeting with him. Accompanying Cochise were his brother Coyuntwa, two nephews, his wife, and two of his children. During the meeting, Cochise denied any involvement in the raid, but Bascom did not believe or trust him. As a result, Bascom and his men detained Cochise and his family in a tent as hostages until the boy was returned.
Cochise managed to escape on his own by tearing a hole in the tent’s wall making his way back to his tribe. After two days, he sent a message to Bascom requesting the release of his family members. In response, Bascom demanded the return of young Felix before releasing Cochise’s family. Following this, Cochise and a group of Chiricahua warriors launched an attack on Bascom’s soldiers while they were collecting water. They quickly seized the hostages and fled to Sonoita, Mexico. Bascom would hang Coyuntwa and Cochise’s nephews on February 19, 1861, before leading his men back to their fort.
According to historians, the hanging of Cochise’s family members caused him and the Chiricahua tribe to redirect their animosity toward Americans instead of Mexicans. This event triggered the 25-year-long Apache Wars, which made the region too unstable for settlement due to frequent and intense battles and raids. Felix Ward, who was eventually found living with the Coyotero Apache, later became an Army Scout and changed his name to Mickey Free.
Peace was established between Cochise and the US Army in 1872, leading to the inclusion of the area currently known as Willcox in the Chiricahua Indian Reservation. However, after Cochise’s demise in 1874, the United States reclaimed the land and relocated the tribe to the San Carlos Indian Reservation as part of the Yavapai-Apache Exodus.
After the prolonged wars, American settlers were finally allowed to settle in the area, and the Southern-Pacific Railroad soon followed. Maley, named after the Maley Brothers, the owners of the land on the railroad right-of-way, started to thrive. In August 1880, Maley saw its first train, which carried General Orlando B. Willcox, the Commander of the Military Department of Arizona from 1878–1882.
On September 13, 1880, the town was delighted to receive its first post office, which officially put it on the map. Later that same year, the Southern-Pacific Depot was constructed in December, and the Willcox Hotel opened its doors shortly thereafter, across the street from the depot. The new railway connection made the town a vital shipping point for goods to nearby military facilities and mining towns. At that time, the town was located in Pima County.
Back in 1881, the State divided Pima County, and Maley became a part of Cochise County. During that year, a cemetery, churches, and a school were established with designated lots. Two years later, the town lots were up for sale, with the probate judge selling them at prices ranging from $5 to $30. Despite the changes, the railroad, ranchers, and nearby mining towns continued to thrive. Willcox became known as the “World’s Cattle Capital” as it was the largest cattle producer in the country during the early 1900s.
Back in 1889, the name of the town was altered to “Wilcox” as a tribute to General George Willcox. However, during the process, one of the Ls was mistakenly omitted. After a few years, the error was noticed, and the town’s name was rectified to Willcox.
Did you know that Willcox has a rich history of local celebrities? For instance, Rex Allen, a well-known actor, singer, and songwriter, was born in Mud Springs Canyon just outside of Willcox. Warren Earp, the youngest brother of Wyatt Earp, is also buried in Willcox. Additionally, the town is the birthplace of Lilly McElroy, an accomplished photographer, as well as Chalky Wright, a featherweight boxer and International Boxing Hall of Famer. Country music artist Tanya Tucker spent her childhood in Willcox, despite being born in Texas, and “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, a WWE Hall of Famer, moved to Willcox at the age of 15 to live with his grandparents after his father, “Iron” Mike DiBiase, passed away.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Marker Number 8.)
Willcox is currently thriving as a prominent agricultural, wine, and tourism community in our state. Surprisingly, the wine industry provides employment to more than 400 individuals from the area and accounts for 74 percent of the wine grapes produced in Arizona, making Willcox the biggest grape-growing region in the state. The town has strategically embraced this industry and hosts various festivals throughout the year to support its tourism.
Mark your calendars for the exciting festivals coming up in 2023! The first weekend in October will feature the beloved Rex Allen Days festival, while the third weekend of the same month will bring the Willcox Wine County Fall Festival (which State 48 A2Z will be covering). Additionally, the town of Willcox will be hosting its annual Willcox West Fest on the second weekend of April, followed by the Willcox Wine County Spring Festival on the third weekend of May. Don’t miss out on these fantastic events!
Apart from the aforementioned events that attract visitors from all over, the town also organizes the annual Wings Over Willcox Birding Festival during MLK weekend, the Willcox Flyer Bike Ride in September, the Boulder Dash 13k/30k race in mid-October, and the Christmas Light Parade and Craft Fair in December.
If you’re looking for more fun and exciting places to explore in the area, you might want to consider visiting the Arizona Ghost Town Trail, which passes through Pearce, Courtland, and Gleeson. Other nearby attractions worth checking out include Cochise Stronghold, Cochise Hotel, historic Fort Bowie, Johnny Ringo’s Grave, Rex Allen Museum, Chiricahua National Monument, Willcox Depot, Willcox Pioneer Cemetery, and various vineyards and wine-tasting rooms.
As we come to the end of this week’s State 48 A2Z edition, we’d like to express our gratitude for joining us on this journey. We encourage you to share your thoughts on our articles, spread the word to your loved ones, and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for regular updates and photos. Until next time, take care!
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