Geronimo (Apache name Goyathlay, meaning “one who yawns”) was born June 16, 1829 to the Bedonkohe band of the Apache in Mexico which is now the state of New Mexico. He was raised according to Apache traditions and was married in 1846 at the age of 17 to Alope of the Chiricahua band of the Apache.
On March 6, 1858, 400 Mexican soldiers attacked Geronimo’s camp while the men were out trading. Geronimo’s wife, his three children, and his mother were among those killed. Geronimo was sent by Chief Mangas Coloradas to Cochise’s band to help get revenge for the deaths. From 1858 to 1886, Geronimo and his followers fought against both Mexican and United States soldiers. It was the Mexicans who named him “Geronimo” because of a battle in which he attacked Mexican soldiers with a knife ignoring the soldiers’ bullets and pleas to St. Jerome (”Jeronimo”).
Often outnumbered, Geronimo was wounded and captured numerous times but always managed to escape. While seeking revenge, Geronimo still found the time to marry numerous wives and have children. Some of his wives were later captured, lost, or given up.
On September 9 , 1886, Geronimo and his band surrendered to Capt. Henry Lawton in Arizona after Lawton’s unrelentless and constant pursuit of Geronimo. In all, it had taken 5,000 soldiers and 500 scouts to track Geronimo and his band. The United States Army states that Geronimo’s surrender was accepted without condition because he was a dangerous outlaw. However, Geronimo’s memoirs state that the soldiers promised that he would be able to return to Arizona after a period of time, but that was not to be. Geronimo and his band were sent to Fort Pickens in Florida where many died of malaria or tuberculosis. Geronimo’s family was taken to Fort Marion in Florida. In 1887, Geronimo rejoined his family at the Mount Vernon Barracks in Alabama and then they were transferred to Fort Sill in Oklahoma in 1894. He died of pneumonia on February 7, 1909 in Oklahoma, still a prisoner. He was buried at the Apache Indian Prisoner of War Cemetery.
Though a prisoner, Geronimo had his memoirs written and made public appearances such as the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis to sell souvenirs and photographs of himself. He even rode in President Roosevelt’s 1905 inaugural parade. Geronimo also adopted Christianity, believing that it was better than the religion of the Apaches, and even urged his people to study Christianity. He joined the Dutch Reformed Church in 1903 but was kicked out 4 years later for gambling. Even though he professed Christianity, he still held onto the old Apache religion.
Geronimo was a powerful and well-respected leader of the Apache people Though a prisoner after his surrender, he was able to tell the true story through his memoirs and public appearances of what really happened to his people so that non-Apache readers would better understand his reasons for revenge.
Tags: Apache, Bedonkohe, Geronimo —