Fountain Springs in Tulare County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

"El Cojo"

El Cjo Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, December 31, 2011

1. El Cjo Marker

Inscription. While trapping in the Rocky Mountains in 1827 Thomas L. Smith was shot in the lower left leg by Indians. Escaping he took his knife and cut off the useless part, surviving this, he carved a peg of oak, strapped it on and was thereafter called, "Pegleg Smith." Going to California in 1829 he picked up some heavy stones, later found them to be gold and never found the spot again, this is known as "The Lost Pegleg Gold." he and others found that the horse herds in the Tulare Valley could be had for the taking. The Spanish called them thieves, but did not pursue them into the Sierras, so "El Cojo", which means "The Lame Man" in Spanish and his associates raided the ranchos and Missions and took thousands of horses and mules. East of here a small stream running into White River is known as "Cojo Gulch." The upper end is where he kept horses before driving them to his markets in the Rocky Mountains and Missouri, thus becoming the most successful horse thief in western history. He died at sixty-Four years of age in San Francisco in 1865.

Erected 2010 by Dr. Samuel Gregg George Chapter 1855 of E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.

Location.

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35° 53.553′ N, 118° 55.073′ W. Marker is in Fountain Springs, California, in Tulare County. Marker is at the intersection of Avenue 56 (County Road J22) and Old Stage Road, on the right when traveling east on Avenue 56. This marker is located to the left of the Fountain Springs Store, next to white pipe rail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Porterville CA 93257, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fountain Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Stage Road (within shouting distance of this marker); Tailholt (approx. 6.9 miles away); Dutch Corners (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Original Walker Pass (approx. 8 miles away); Garcés Baptismal Site (approx. 10.1 miles away); Welcome to the Tule River Indian-Reservation (approx. 10.4 miles away); Tule River Indian Reservation (approx. 10.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fountain Springs.

Regarding "El Cojo". According to the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement, "Pegleg Smith was a early explorer and guide in the southwest until he became an outlaw by kidnapping Native American children to sell to Mexicans and kidnapping Mexican horses to sell to Californians."

Also see . . .
1. Thomas L. Smith. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 7, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Thomas Long "Peg Leg" Smith image. Click for full size.

via Utah State Historical Society, Unknown

2. Thomas Long "Peg Leg" Smith

2. Thomas Long “Peg Leg Smith” Smith. Find A Grave entry. (Submitted on September 14, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

El Cojo Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, December 31, 2011

3. El Cojo Marker

the original damaged "El Cojo" Marker in 2014 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lester J Letson, circa January 24, 2014

4. the original damaged "El Cojo" Marker in 2014

In 2012 a vehicle backed into the original marker and snapped it off at the base. The driver drove away, but people who saw him hit the marker took down his license plate and he was located. Fortunately he was insured, and fortunately the stonemasons that made the original marker had the original template, so an identical marker was sandblasted and stands it its place today.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,080 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 22, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 2. submitted on October 7, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on January 22, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 4. submitted on April 30, 2014, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.