Black Range Tales: Chronicling Sixty Years of Life and Adventure in the Southwest

James A. McKenna

2016-10 · Pickle Partners Publishing

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First published in 1936, this book is a collection of sixteen stories recounting James (“Uncle Jimmie”) McKenna’s tales of prospecting, Indian Fights, exploration, town life and all the characters from the early days of the Black Range, the Mogollons, and the rest of the Gila Country of southwest New Mexico. The result is alternately humorous, poignant, amazing or insightful, and paints a vivid picture of a people who embodied the measured optimism of the American West.

“Uncle Jimmie” blazed a trail to the Southwest in his youth, and his life for the next sixty years was filled with all the history-making adventure and treasure that his ardent nature craved. It was not always the treasure of gold, although gold was there. But there was life while it lasted, death when it came, a mystery-ridged land and courageous people to explore it.

“THIS IS A GREAT BOOK! THE REAL THING IS RARE AND THERE’S NO MISTAKING IT.”—Commonweal

“The greatness comes from McKenna’s magic blend of Celtic wit, thirst for life, and modesty about the enormous importance of his own adventures.”—Christian Science

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JAMES A. “UNCLE JIMMIE” MCKENNA (November 6, 1853 - November 4, 1940) was a late nineteenth-century pioneer and prospector.

Born in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, McKenna left his home as a young man in 1877. In search of adventure and money, he worked his way to New Mexico’s Black Range Mountain to mine silver.

Together with W. J. “Oxy Bill” Hamlett, “Uncle Jimmie’s” tales were recorded in Hamlett’s blacksmith shop and typed up by Sister Foley at the Holy Cross Sanatorium in Deming, New Mexico. McKenna resided at Holy Cross until it burnt down in the late 1930s, whereupon McKenna went to live with a niece in St. Petersburg, Florida.

McKenna died in 1940.