Tom Jeffords

Born: January 1, 1832 Chautauqua County, NY
Died: February 21, 1914 (age 82), Pima County, Arizona

Thomas Jonathan Jeffords was a U.S. Army scout, Indian agent, and later a stagecoach driver in the Arizona Territory. His friendship with Cochise was instrumental in ending the Indian wars in that region.

What do you know about Tom Jeffords? Try this Old West Legends Quick Quiz.

1. Tom Jeffords came west to Arizona in 1862 as a scout for the U.S. Army. Warfare with the Chiricahua Apaches. When did the warfare begin with the Chiricahua Apaches?

• 1861
• 1860
• 1859

2. After some of his mail riders were killed by Apache raiding parties, he rode alone into the camp of Cochise to parley. This bravery so impressed the chief that he became friend and blood brother to Jeffords, granting his mail riders safe passage.

• Fact or Myth?

3. Who did President Grant send to the Arizona Territory in 1871 with orders to end the Apache wars by negotiating treaties with the tribes?

• General Oliver Howard
• General George Crook
• General Phil Sheridan

4. A treaty was signed in 1872, ending the decade-long war with the Chiricahua Apaches.

• Fact or Myth?

5. Cochise requested that his people be allowed to remain in the Chiricahua Mountains and that Jeffords be made Indian agent for the region. These requests were granted, and the Indian raids subsided.

• Fact or Myth?

6. In 1875 he was removed as the federal agent and the Chiricahua Apaches were relocated. Where were they sent to?

• White Mountain Apache Reservation
• San Carlos Reservation
• Red River Reservation

7. When did Cochise die?

• 1873
• 1874
• 1875

8. The move put the Chiricahua to fight for their land. The Indian wars began again, but were ended in 1886 with their surrender of. Who became the Apache leader?

• Mangas Colorado
• Geronimo
• White Tank

9. He lived out the last 22 years of his life in the Tortolita Mountains north of Tucson, AZ, at a homestead near the Owlhead Buttes.

• Fact or Myth?

10. Where is Tom Jeffords buried?

• Holy Hope Cemetery & Mausoleum, Tucson, Arizona
• East Lawn Palms Cemetery & Mortuary, Tucson, Arizona
• Evergreen Cemetery, Tucson, Arizona

Tom Jeffords Answers

1. 1861
2. Fact
3. General Oliver Howard
4. Fact
5. Fact
6. Red River Reservation
7. 1874
8. Geronimo
9. Fact
10. Evergreen Cemetery, Tucson, Arizona

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