The Pleasant Valley War, also known as the Graham Tewksbury Feud, was fought in the northern part of what is now Gila County, Arizona. “During the 1880s the entire north-central Arizona was under lead and smoke confrontation between the sheep raisers and the cowmen, the Hashknife Outfit and the homesteaders, the horse thieves and the Mormons, the cinch-ring artists and the ranchers. To add a little fuel to the fire, a few bronco Apaches could be counted on to keep everyone on their toes. Men rode with their rifles in hand, and in town the tie-down loops were clear on the tops of the six-gun hammers,” says author Jinx Pyle in his latest book PLEASANT VALLEY WAR.State historian, Marshall Trimble says “Jinx Pyle is a walking encyclopedia of information on events in Gila County, Arizona and now he’s written a history of the notorious Pleasant Valley War – one of the most complex and vile blood feuds in America’s history. But parts of the Pleasant Valley War have never been told and Jinx brings many new facts to light. Pyle’s history of the Pleasant Valley War is destined to become one of the definitive works on the subject.” This great book includes historic Pleasant Valley War maps and helpful GPS coordinates.
Jinx is a sixth generation descendant of Gila County cattle ranchers and a full-time student of Arizona history. He grew up on stories handed down about the Pleasant Valley War, having descended from the culture that spawned the fighting factions. He and his wife, Jayne, have written numerous books that document local history, including RODEO 101, MOUNTAIN COWBOYS, COOKING FOR ZANE GREY UNDER THE TONTO RIM, CALF FRIES AND COWPIES, and HISTORY OF GISELA, ARIZONA.
$25
