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Draft:John Elden

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  • Comment: This article still does not show notability. -Samoht27 (talk) 16:38, 23 May 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: This draft, as written, does not appear to indicate that the appropriate notability criterion is satisfied. In particular, this draft does not appear to indicate that WP:NBIO is satisfied. If one of the criteria is satisfied, please revise this draft appropriately, with a reliable source, if necessary stating on the talk page or in AFC comments which criterion is met, and resubmit. It is the responsibility of the submitter to show that a subject satisfies a notability criterion.
    You may ask for advice about the notability criteria at the Teahouse.
    In particular, see and refer to WP:NBIO for notability, which is the guideline that the subject should be evaluated against.
    This draft does not explain why Elden is notable/ Robert McClenon (talk) 01:37, 6 July 2023 (UTC)

John Elden

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John Elden, born on March 19, 1845 and originally from Bradford, Maine.[1], was a wounded civil war veteran[2], early Flagstaff, Arizona pioneer[3], and Alaska pioneer who settled for a while at the base of Mount Elden, just north of Flagstaff[4], but never files a homestead claim[5], and is the individual in which Mount Elden takes its name from.[6]. Elden is also credited with discovering a prehistoric Sinagua Native American Pueblo, according to the citation, renamed Elden Pueblo in 1926, just two miles north of his cabin[7]

Historical Marker for the John Eldon Home-site
Historical Marker for the John Eldon Home-site

Mount Elden homestead site

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John Elden settled at the base of what is today Mount Elden north of Flagstaff with his wife in February,1877.[8][9][10]  They built their log home at what is the today the base of Mt Elden from the abundant Ponderosa pines in the area using only hand tools and horses.  The Elden's chose this home-site because a small spring nearby provided water for both domestic use and for their sheep and cattle.[11][12] The settlement was very successful, with sheep numbering 2000 to 2500 or more[13]. Today this spring is known as Elden Spring. This location is also sheltered from cold north winds and warmed by the winter sun.  Their three children, Helena, Eloise Felicia, and John were born at the settlement.[12] The John Eldon home-site sits just off the Pipeline Trail that runs along the side of Mt Elden, and is identified with a historical marker.

Later years

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After the death of John Elden's youngest child, John Elden moved on to California, and his unclaimed homestead was sold to the Arizona Territory for $118.68 in a tax lien sale for delinquent 1884 taxes that Elden owed but never paid. In Cloverdale, California, Elden purchased a dairy farm for $5000 despite failing to pay his 1884 taxes[14], and became a dairyman. When the Klondike Gold Rush peaked in 1898, he departed for the Alaska gold fields, where he spent most of the next 24 years. He returned to San Francisco around 1922, and died there, in Letterman Hospital, on Jan. 18, 1929. Elden is buried in San Francisco’s Presidio Cemetery.[15]

The legend of little John Elden's murder

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According to a story by Helena Elden Lindsey, the oldest daughter of John Elden, her six-year-old brother John is buried in a grave near the settlement[16][17][18][19]. According to legend, one day in 1887, a teamster named Bob Roberts attempted to water his head of mules at the nearby spring. Mrs. Elden confronted Roberts and insisted he water his stock elsewhere. Roberts was infuriated as he left ans fired a random shot, which struck and killed little John Elden.  A citizens' posse was formed to track down and catch Roberts, who led them on a long hard chase, eventually leading to the discovery of Robert's body was found in a wash. It has never been determined who killed Roberts. John Elden's then left Flagstaff and moved his family to California.[20]

Grave-site of little John Eldon
Grave-site of little John Eldon

A wooden cross and picket fence originally marked the little John Elden grave, but has since been enclosed with stones and a cross made of pipe. The little John Elden grave is located adjacent to the John Elden home-site and is marked with a historical marker. The grave-site is located at 35.2273577!4, -111.6021812!16[21]

Map
Location of Little John Eldon Grave Site North of Flagstaff

Although the story of the little Jon Elden murder is well documented at the historical grave site and in historical literature, no obituary records of either little John Elden or Bob Roberts were ever found. No deaths were recorded in the mid 1880's at the Coconino County courthouse that matched the circumstances of little John Elden or Bob Robert's deaths, and the Coconino Sun did not document the murder.[22][23] Some believe the story to be pure fiction.[24]

Portrait of John Eldon in his American Civil War uniform Here:[25]

Historical Marker for the little John John Eldon Grave
Historical Marker for the little John John Eldon Grave

Portrait of John Elden shown in March 1927 after his return to California from Alaska Here[26]

(your article name) is... John Elden

National Forest Elden Lookout Trail Marker Bearing John Elden's Name
National forest Elden Lookout trail marker bearing John Elden's name that goes to the top of Mount Elden

References

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  1. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 223. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  2. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 225. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  3. ^ Wilson, Randy (2 July 2017). "Elden descendants, historian have new story to tell". Arizona Daily Sun. Page 5, third paragraph.
  4. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 227. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  5. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 223. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  6. ^ "Elden Mountain". peakvisor.
  7. ^ Sinagua Indian Pueblo, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 230–231. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  8. ^ Westerlund, John (5 August 2014). "Ask A Ranger: Murder at Mount Elden". Arizona Daily Sun. Page 1, Paragraph 2.
  9. ^ "Flagstaff Loop North | Grand Canyon Trust". Flagstaff Loop North. September 1, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 226. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  11. ^ Cline, Pratt (1976). They came to the mountain: the story of Flagstaff's beginnings. Northern Arizona University. p. 210. ISBN 0-87358-153-9.
  12. ^ a b National Forest John Eldon Home-site Historical Marker
  13. ^ Westerlund, John S. (Autumn 2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 230. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  14. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 223. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  15. ^ Westerlund, John (5 August 2014). "Ask A Ranger: Murder at Mount Elden". Arizona Daily Sun. Page 5, paragraph 1.
  16. ^ Westerlund, John (April 10, 2018). "Flagstaff Pioneer John Elden: Murder, Mystery, Myth and History - Lake Havasu City - AZ Humanities". Flagstaff Pioneer John Elden: Murder, Mystery, Myth and History – Lake Havasu City.
  17. ^ "John Elden Grave Site | Arizona Memory Project". ARIZONA MEMORY PROJECT. 2018-10-10.
  18. ^ "This is the Colorado Plateau: Science, Research and News: Plateau on the Radio: Episode 29 The Murder of Johnny Elden Jr". Plateau on the Radio: Episode 29 The Murder of Johnny Elden Jr. December 6, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 221–222. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  20. ^ National Forest Little John Elden Grave-site Historical Marker
  21. ^ Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/John+Eldon+Grave+Site/@35.2273621,-111.6047615,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x872d890dae8547dd:0xc8d694cae9e1d070!8m2!3d35.2273577!4d-111.6021812!16s%2Fg%2F11tgfs64gx?entry=ttu
  22. ^ Wilson, Randy (2 July 2017). "Elden descendants, historian have new story to tell". Arizona Daily Sun. page 4, paragraphs 1 and 2.
  23. ^ Westerlund, John S. (2017). "FLAGSTAFF PIONEER JOHN ELDEN: Murder and Mystery—Myth and History". The Journal of Arizona History. 58 (3): 233. JSTOR 44984488 – via Arizona Historical Society.
  24. ^ Vallejo, Alexandria (5 November 2018). "The Mysterious Elden Family Murder". Lumber Jack. Page 1, Paragraph 3.
  25. ^ Wilson, Randy (2 July 2017). "Elden descendants, historian have new story to tell". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 1.
  26. ^ Wilson, Randy (2 July 2017). "Elden descendants, historian have new story to tell". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 7.
  • This page was last edited on 8 July 2023, at 04:19.
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