Ida Genung

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Ida Elizabeth Hester Smith Genung (1848-1933), better known as Ida Genung, was a regional celebrity in Peeples Valley, Arizona, known for her pioneer lifestyle, healing remedies, and gardening skills.

Genung was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1852, her family moved to California, where they met with Paulino Weaver, whom her family would later credit as the person who taught Ida "masculine skills". Weaver suffered from rheumatism; he recovered thanks to the care of Ida's father, a doctor, and he gave Ida's family a portion of his own ranch as an expression of his gratitude.

Charley Genung, a native New Yorker who had also emigrated to California, fell in love with Ida in 1863, when Ida was 15 years old. He worked around the Yavapai country later that year and returned to California in 1868. On February 16, 1869, Charley and Ida married.

The couple received a milkcow and a number of mules as wedding presents from Ida's parents. They moved to Arizona for what Charley thought would be a one-year stay. During their trip to Arizona, one of the mules kicked Charley, seriously injuring his leg. As a consequence, Ida had to manage the animals herself the rest of the way.

The Genungs settled in Walnut Grove, Arizona, where Charley agreed to a game of seven up in an effort to recover $1,300 dollars he owed another rancher. He lost, however, and by March of 1870, the Genungs moved to Peeples Valley.

Ida returned to San Bernardino in 1871 to give birth to the couple's first baby, a son. Ultimately, Ida would give birth to eight children. Afraid that she and her family would be subject to Indian attacks, Ida frequently stayed at neighbor's houses. Later in 1871, her husband left her at a neighbor's home for what he thought would be a two-day trip. Legend has it that as he left, she screamed at him: "Don't forget the indigo!" Her husband returned nineteen days later, having participated in a raid that saw 56 Apaches lose their lives and 133 horses recovered by the cowboys. He returned with an indigo in hand and told her "Here's the indigo, wife, and I had a helluva time getting it!"

Ida's brother presented her with two guns, both Colt-45s, and a dog named Pete for her family's protection. Pete became very dear to Ida, and she trained him recognize danger by teaching him about guns and arrows. Every time Pete would see someone approach the Genungs' home carrying a gun or an arrow, he'd run inside with hair raised, helping Ida get ready to face possible attackers. In time, however, Ida realized that the Indians living around her home did not want to harm her or her family; they even Ida's gardening.

As time went on, the Genung family home became a tourist attraction, as all kinds of people, including celebrities, cowboys and Indians, would stop by and enjoy Ida's fruits and vegetables, some staying overnight. Ida became friends with an eleven-year-old Yavapai Indian girl named Maria, whose life was saved by Charley as she was running from a man who was trying to rape her and burn her alive. The Genungs took Maria into their family as one of their own, and the friendship between Ida and Maria lasted until Ida's death. Maria called Ida "Mama".

From 1878 to 1889, the Genung home was burned three times. The evidence suggested arson.

In 1916, Charley died of Bright's disease. Ida spent the remainder of her life more privately. For seventeen years, Maria stayed by her side. In 1931, along with Ida's children and grandchildren, they were invited by the governor of Arizona to move to his Prescott mansion, where they lived until Ida died in 1933, at the age of 85.

[edit] References

• Sharlot.org, explains about her gardening hobby
• Leo Banks, Stalwart Women: Frontier Stories of Indomitable Spirit (ISBN 0-916179-77-X)