Henry Hooker
Henry Clay Hooker (1831? - 1907) was a prominent and wealthy rancher of the Old West, and personal friend to lawman Wyatt Earp during the early 1880s.
Hooker, sometimes referred to as "Col. Hooker", owned and operated the Sierra Bonita Ranch, located in Graham and Cochise Counties, first established in 1872. From the time his ranch was established it was the largest in Arizona, starting at 800 acres (3.2 km2). The ranch is now listed as a National Historic Landmark, due to it having been the first permanent ranch established in Arizona. Hooker, hailing from New England, first ventured into Arizona Territory in 1867, and quickly became the most important military beef contractor in Arizona. In 1872, when one of his herds of cattle stampeded into the Sulpher Springs Valley, near what would become Willcox, Arizona, Hooker was impressed by the valley, and chose it to erect his ranch. During that time, Hooker averaged 15,500 head of cattle. Shortly after establishing the ranch, Hooker erected a small adobe fort to fend off regular attacks and raids by the local Apache, which initially cost him numerous losses, both in personnel and equipment.
Hooker, for a time, employed Billy the Kid, who at the time was unknown, that being prior to the Lincoln County War. Hooker was a supporter of the Earp faction, and assisted them with allowing them the use of his ranch and supplies during the Earp vendetta ride. Hooker was a prominent figure in the events that played out in Arizona during the late 19th century. However, little is known of his life prior to the events involving the Earp-Cowboys clash. It is confirmed that he served during the Civil War, on the side of the Union, possibly as a Lieutenant Colonel, but the latter is not confirmed. He survived the disastrous drought of 1891, and shortly thereafter formed the Sierra Bonita Land and Stock Company, and extended his ranch to 250,000 acres, supporting 20,000 head of cattle. He died in 1907, on his ranch, and at the time of his death he was the wealthiest rancher in Arizona. The Sierra Bonita Ranch remains in the Hooker family to the present day.
Popular culture
In the 1993 film Tombstone, Hooker was portrayed by actor Charlton Heston. Hooker also had a book written about him, by author Lynn R. Bailey, titled Henry Clay Hooker and the Sierra Bonita.