Near Tombstone in Cochise County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Edward Schieffelin
1847-1897
He arrived at the foot of the Huachuca Mountains in March 1877 working as a supplier for the cavalry. Soldiers told Ed that all he would find would be his "tombstone or his graveyard" if he kept venturing away from camp. Ed remarked: "I wasn't looking for bullets, but if one happened my way it wouldn't have made much difference to anyone but me, and I never could figure out that to be dead was unpleasant. Some people seem to know all about such things but I'm a bit stupid I suppose for I've never been able to learn the alphabet of birth and death."
Instead he found silver, which lead to the founding of the town of Tombstone. In his will, he specified that he was to be buried in his prospector's garb with canteen and pick by his side near the site of his first camp. The grave marker was to be a simple stone cairn that prospectors used to mark claims. Tombstone's citizens complied with his wishes, save one; they erected the 25 ft. tall monument you see before you.
Erected by Arizona State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1877.
Location. 31° 43.848′ N, 110° 6.195′ W. Marker is near Tombstone, Arizona, in Cochise County. Marker is on West Schieffelin Monument Road, on the right when traveling west. West Schieffelin Monument Road is an extension of West Allen Street. The Monument is about 2 miles northwest of town on a dirt road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tombstone AZ 85638, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Grand Army of the Republic Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Boothill Graveyard (approx. 2.1 miles away); Veterans Pioneers Settlers (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Boothill Graveyard (approx. 2.1 miles away); Welcome to Boothill Graveyard (approx. 2.1 miles away); St. Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); Hoptown (approx. 2.4 miles away); Allen English Home (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tombstone.
Also see . . . Ed Schieffelin. A Wikipedia article:
Edward Lawrence Schieffelin (1847-May 27, 1897-May 12), was a Tioga County, Pennsylvania native who became the founder of Tombstone, Arizona. (Submitted on February 24, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,380 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 24, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.