How Show Low Got It's Name - Reportedly

Stop me if you've heard this story... If not, here it goes:  Once upon a time in the Old West, there were a whole lot of guys scrambling around pretty much looking for lost treasure--

Sidebar: What's amazing to me is the huge distances they covered on horseback, or presumably if they lost their horse, walking through the desert Southwest, from one end to another. In the blazing sun, no shorts or sandals. And here's some very interesting reading about the lives and times including some interviews with colorful characters that'll give you an idea. Southwest Library

Anyway, back to our story. Corydon E. (C.E.) Cooley was reportedly a U.S. Army Scout; but he somehow found time to wander all over Arizona with some friends and, depending on where he was, members of various Tribes. He had adventures, searched for some "lost mines", attended skirmishes, etc., but finally "settled down" along a creek about 35 miles north of Fort Apache in about 1875. C.E. Cooley lived there with his wives, "Mollie" and "Cora", daughters of old Chief Pedro of White Mountain Apache Tribe. (This living situation apparently scandalized some of the Military wives at Fort Apache...)

In 1881, Cooley sold half interest in his place to Henry Huning of Las Lunas, N.M. and they branched out in many ways. A first class saw mill was built, and the C.C. herd of cattle established and run for many years.




They enclosed some 100,00 acres of land with barbed wire fence which soon got them into trouble with the government and had to come down. They also had a large store and did a good business with settlers. About 1890 they fell out and the ranch was sold to W.J. Flake for the Mormon Church. Huning moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he died. Cooley moved back on to the Apache Reservation where he died, March 15, 1915.


"This place ain't big enough for the both of us"

Corydon E. Cooley and Marion Clark made the settlement together. They decided later there was room for but one location, so they agreed to play a game of Seven-Up to decide which of them should move. When the last hand was dealt Cooley needed but one point to win. Clark ran his cards over and said: "If you can show low you win." Cooley threw down his hand and said, "Show low it is." It has been called Show Low ever since. Cooley told the author this story at Fort Apache in 1880.

Reportedly, and very important to our story, is that the winning card turned was the Deuce of Clubs-- which is how the main street in Show Low got it's name.You'll also notice that many other Show Low streets and roads are named after card and dice games, too!

Clark later moved up the creek near present town of Pinetop and located a ranch where he lived for many years.


This all may be true; however, there are many tall tales told out here, and we plan to gather a few up and post them here from time to time.