The First Hundred Years of Nino Cochise

by Ciye Nino Cochise

From the front flap of this 346 page book: "Few living men boast a century of personal history and only the most exceptional can remember events with clarity or tell it in fascinating detail. Such an exceptional man is Ciye 'Nino' Cochise, grandson of the legendary Chief Cochise who lead the Chiricahua Apaches until his death. Now nearly ninety-eight, Nino is blessed with a memory that limns in detail an untold and hitherto mostly unknown segment of American Indian life. He was only two years old in 1876 when the Chiricahua Apaches were removed from their homeland reservation by a force of U.S. Cavalry and scouts to the desolate San Carlos Reservations. During the night, his father's clan made a break for freedom - thirty-eight men, women and children - including his mother and the tribal shaman. After incredible hardships along the way, they built the rancheria they called Pa-Gotzin-Kay on a secluded shelf in the Sierra Madre of Northwest Mexico. Official Army reports give little or no notice to these escapees. Among Reservation Apaches they were merely 'The Nameless Ones', so-called to protect them from discovery. The panorama opened by this biography is wide, its sweep inspiring as a deep breath of wine-sharp desert air. In these pages authentic - albeit personal - pages of history appear many famous people: Tahza, father of Ciye Cochise; Geronimo, an uncle; Naiche, also an uncle; Tom Jeffords, blood-brother of Chief Cochise; Teddy Roosevelt, both as Colonel and President; Pancho Villa; President Diaz of Mexico; Colonel Greene, the Copper King, and dozens of others who are viewed from a new perspective. Here, too, is the tender and touching tale of Nino's marriage to his lovely 'Golden Bird', daughter of a chief of the Tarahumamari; the deep tragedy of her untimely death and hosts of other incidents, some tragic, many hilarious and all deeply moving. Much tribal lore and culture is revealed in this saga of this wiry, tough-spirited native American."

Genres: History

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Mark von Destinon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting tale of a man who claimed to be the grandson of the Apache Chief Cochise. I knew him as a child and some of the stories in the book are the same as he told to my family. The debate is still on as to whether he really was who he claimed to be.
I have read this book several times.

[Flor Serna · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I loved the book. Fascinating read. As soon as I finished, I did some Googling and have read that many living Apache people claim that Nino is a total imposter and of no relation to Cochise whatsoever. Whether fact or fiction, it was an enjoyable read but I am frustrated by whether or not the author, A. Griffith, did his due diligence.

[Ronald Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Wish we had more from him and his kin about the hidden years. Then I discover he may have been a fraud. https://www.tombstonesilver.com/nino-... but can't find further documentation of this. What does the Apaches say about this?

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very heavy going, but thoroughly fascinating. Characters are very real and alive. History is fascinating. I must admit I enjoyed in spite of the frequent tedium.

[Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love first hand accounts of arizona history, especially stories about places i know well. Nino cochise is the grandson of the apache chief cochise and his stories are pretty sweet.