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Indian Trader J.L. Hubbell Writes for a Political Favor, 

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
Indian Trader J.L. Hubbell Writes for a Political Favor, 

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Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
1pp TLS, on Hubbell's trading post letterhead, Ganado, AZ, 3 June 1908. To R[alph] H[enry] Cameron, in Congress from Arizona, first as a delegate (1909-1912) [statehood 12 Feb. 1912], and later as a Senator (1921-1926). The subject of the letter is a bit vague, but Hubbell writes that: A person never realizes what it is to have a freind [sic] in court,... and later: I only regret to miss the chance of getiing [sic] acquainted with Mr. Hitchcock. He also asks Cameron if he can send Mr. Hitchcock a gift (for either himself or a wife) through Cameron, I hardly am well enough acquainted with him to send him, and he might misconstrue the meaning of sending him a token of my regard. The rest seems to be Republican party business.

The reference is probably to Ethan A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior under McKinley and Roosevelt. Hitchcock was vigorous in his conservation programs and reorganized the administration of Native American affairs. He represented the United States in a suit brought by Lone Wolf (Kiowa) that reached the Supreme Court in 1902 (Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock), which concluded that Congress had the authority to unilaterally void treaty obligations with Native Americans - a significant ruling (although treaties had been abrogated for many decades prior to this ruling).

John Lorenzo Hubbell (1853-1930), of Anglo-Mexican heritage, was one of those "characters" of the old West. He opened his trading post in Ganado in 1878, and provided Navajo and Pueblo people with an outlet for their crafts and supplies needed to live and work. He acquired Czech beads that look like the local turquoise that he thought would appeal to the Indians, for example. Hubbell seems to have been well-known as a womanizer, and there is quite a bit of speculation as to how many offspring might have Hubbell "blood in their veins." He appears to have served as local sheriff for a time, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1900. Teddy Roosevelt came to Walpi for the Snake Dance in 1913 (according to NPS) or 1914 (according to ASU), and stayed with Hubbell, possibly when Hubbell was considering running for the Senate (1914). A man of many interests and talents! He is buried on a hill overlooking his "domain," although some say he wanted to spend eternity there so he could keep an eye on his "Navajo beauties." 

The Thomas Minckler Collection of Western Americana

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