Arizona Ranger Museum
One of the objectives of today’s Arizona Ranger organization is to preserve the honor and traditions of the Old West. The two primary programs to meet these objectives are the Arizona Ranger Museum and the marking of the grave of each of the original Territorial Arizona Rangers.
The Arizona Ranger Museum is located in the Old 1904 Courthouse in Nogales, Arizona. The museum has on display some unique items of Arizona Ranger history relating to both the Territorial Arizona Rangers, as well as the modern day Arizona Rangers.
Rangers Picture now available which includes the Old 1903 photo and the 2007 photo taken at Morenci, AZ.,
on the same sheet. Suggested donation is $2.00.
It is available from the Arizona Ranger Historian, 15802 West Aubrey Ave.,Tucson, AZ 15802. Make checks out to Arizona Rangers Museum.
Also available is the Rangers Cook Book "How Not to Kill Your Horse". The Slim Cookbook of the West is available from same address for a donation of $5.00 plus $1.00 for postage.
Additionally, the Arizona Rangers book by David DeSoucy,
is now also for sale.The book includes history and many pictures, past and present, of the Arizona Rangers. Monies from the sale of this book go to the Youth Fund.
Requested donation for the book (including shipping and handling) in the U.S.,$25.00, outside the U.S.,$34.00
(cashiers check or postal money order only)
made out to the
ARIZONA RANGER Historian (see address above).
Museum Files Tell About John McKittrick Redmond, 1884 - ?
John McKittrick Redmond is called the "Last of the Arizona Rangers" for the simple reason, that he was indeed the last ranger doing his duty while the 25th Territorial Legislature abruptly revoked the license of the ranger force on February 15, 1909. The "Last of the Arizona Rangers", out in the field that week, was riding near the Chiricahua Mountains chasing horse thieves. John Redmond heard about the abolishment a week after it had happened. He was one of the seventeen enlisted rangers, who all received a discharge marked "excellent" early March 1909 from the commanding ranger Captain Harry Wheeler.
John Redmond was born in New York state. His grandmother brought John as a 5 year-old boy to Wilcox where the McKittrick family operated a large cattle ranch. John Redmond grew up in Wilcox area learning all the skills and tricks of cowboys and cattlemen. John did not join the Arizona Ranger force until 1908. He had previously met Harry Wheeler in Wilcox, and it was Wheeler who encouraged the 24- year old John Redmond to join the Rangers.
John Redmond's tour of duty with the Rangers lasted one year because the rangers were abolished in 1909. Yet, he had several dangerous experiences with train robbers, cattle rustlers, and horse thieves during that single year. Those days both Southwestern Railroad and Union Pacific operated trains to and from the booming mines of Bisbee. One of the Ranger duties was to see, that those railroad lines operated peacefully. After leaving the Ranger force, John Redmond worked as a guard in Florence territorial prison. He served in World War I and remained in the Army reserve for 12 years.
Redmond became involved in politics in 1921-23 as assistant Secretary of State. He even served as acting Governor for a short while. John Redmond was elected two terms as Pima County Supervisor. But most importantly, John Redmond was one of the four original territorial rangers, who helped to establish the present day Arizona Rangers in 19957. The other three were Ollie Palmer, Joseph Pearce, and Chapo Beatty.
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