Today in History, September 4: 1886 – Apache Warrior Geronimo surrenders to US Army General Nelson Miles in Skeleton Canyon, Arizona. As a young man living with his family in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, Spaniards brutally murdered his wife and children in a raid.
Geronimo would have a hatred for Mexicans from then forward. Leading raids against non-Indian settlers, he prevented settlement of Apache lands for years. After nearly 30 years of fighting, he came to the conclusion that further fighting was pointless due to the endless numbers of settlers.
After his surrender, he ended up in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma Territory where he converted to Christianity and became a successful farmer. He became quite the celebrity, even riding with President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 inaugural parade.
Mark Loves History! 