The Tewksbury-Graham war turned Pleasant Valley into America’s deadliest range conflict

The Pleasant Valley War, 1882 to 1892 Arizona

Two ranching families (originally neighbors) started as friends but ended in the bloodiest range war in American history.

The Tewksbury and Graham families began killing each other over cattle rustling accusations, sheep grazing rights, and plain old greed.

By 1892, dead bodies were left for wild hogs and children were murdered in cold blood. An estimated 35 to 50 people died in the dispute.

Here’s the story of this brutal decade-long feud, along with the historic sites you can explore today in Young, Arizona.

How Two Families Became Friends Then Enemies

The Tewksburys, part Native American, ran cattle ranches before the Irish Grahams arrived from Oklahoma.

Ed Tewksbury met Tom Graham in Globe in 1882 and invited the Graham brothers to live in Pleasant Valley amongst them.

At first, both families helped each other build homes and raise cattle herds.

Their friendship broke in 1884 when rich cattleman James Stinson offered the Grahams 50 cattle each to testify against their neighbors.

This greedy betrayal started years of bloodshed.

The First Gunfight Ignites The Feud

John Gilliland, who managed Stinson’s ranch, rode to the Tewksbury place in January 1883 with two other men.

The Graham brothers happened to be visiting that day. Gilliland accused the Tewksburys of stealing cattle and demanded they surrender.

The argument heated up when Gilliland fired the first shot over Ed Tewksbury’s head. Ed shot back, hitting Gilliland in the shoulder.

The Tewksburys later had to travel 100 miles to court. During the cold journey home, Frank Tewksbury caught pneumonia and died.

How Sheep Escalated The Range War

In February 1887, the Tewksburys brought sheep into Pleasant Valley, crossing what cattlemen saw as a forbidden line.

Cattlemen hated sheep because they ruined the grazing land. In retaliation, Tom Graham killed a Navajo shepherd working for the Tewksburys.

This turned many neutral ranchers against them. Both families actually raised cattle, but the Tewksburys took sheep to pay off a debt.

A Son Murdered While Gathering Horses

William Graham rode out to collect horses on August 17, 1887. Someone shot him in the stomach, but he managed to ride back home.

Before dying, William named Ed Tewksbury as his killer. This pointed blame at the Tewksbury family’s most dangerous fighter.

According to True West Magazine, Deputy Sheriff James D. Houck (who sided with the Tewksburys) shot William Graham by mistake.

Will C. Barnes’s University of Arizona report states that the Apache County Deputy was massively drunk when he fired from 40 yards.

Gunmen Surround The Tewksbury Home

On September 2, 1887, the Graham faction hid around the Tewksbury cabin before dawn.

John Tewksbury Jr. and ranch hand William Jacobs stepped outside to gather horses, walking into a deadly trap.

Hidden gunmen shot both men dead, firing at the cabin for hours, trapping the family inside. The attackers wouldn’t even let them recover the bodies.

The siege ended only when Justice of the Peace John Meadows arrived with a posse from Payson and buried what remained of the men.

Sheriff Confronts A Killer In Holbrook

Andy Blevins (one of Graham’s men) boasted about killing the Tewksbury men.

Sheriff Commodore Perry Owens heard these claims and rode to Holbrook with an arrest warrant on September 4, 1887.

Owens, known for his long hair and fast draw, approached the Blevins house alone while twelve people were inside.

Blevins refused to concede so Owens fired through the doorway killing Andy Blevins, his brother John, and their friend Mose Roberts.

Three separate juries ruled the killings justified.

Death At The Perkins Store in Young

Sheriff William Mulvenon led a group from Prescott into Pleasant Valley on September 22 1887 under Governor’s orders to stop the violence.

His posse included several Tewksbury supporters who found John Graham and Charles Blevins at the Perkins Store.

Mulvenon ordered them to surrender as they approached. When they allegedly reached for guns, the posse opened fire, killing both men.

Tom Graham escaped and became the last surviving member of his family.

Professional Killers Join The Fight

Professional gunman Tom Horn came to Pleasant Valley in April 1887, drawn by news of the growing war, only to complicate matters.

Horn was known throughout the West as a deadly scout and tracker. Both sides suffered mysterious killings, but no one knows for certain which side hired Horn.

He later claimed he worked as a “mediator” for Arizona lawmen. Horn became a suspect in the disappearance of Mart Blevins, whose body was never found.

Three Men Hanged From Pine Trees

In August 1888, three Graham supporters named Scott, Stott, and Wilson were captured by Tewksbury allies at Mogollon Rim.

They were accused of wounding a Tewksbury friend in an earlier fight. All three men were hung from pine trees without facing trial.

Tom Horn reportedly took part in this lynching. The bodies were left hanging as a warning to other Graham supporters about continuing the fight.

The Last Graham Falls In Tempe

Tom Graham left Pleasant Valley after most of his family and friends died.

He moved to Tempe, married a minister’s daughter named Annie Melton, and started farming. Graham hoped for a peaceful life but remained a target.

On August 2, 1892, while hauling wheat to the Tempe Flour Mill, two men shot him from behind with a rifle, one of them being Ed Tewksbury.

Two young women witnesses also recognized Tewksbury at the scene.

Visiting Pleasant Valley War Museum, Arizona

Pleasant Valley War Museum lies in the heart of Young, Arizona along Highway 288.

The museum occupies a historic building near the town center, where you can view weapons similar to those used in the conflict and period clothing.

While the museum serves as an excellent starting point, don’t forget to visit nearby spots like the Young Cemetery and the original sites from the conflict.

The museum also offers guided tours by appointment with local historians who share stories passed down through generations.

Accessibility ramps provide entry for all visitors.

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