Peter Kitchen
History of Arizona, Vol II, Thomas E. Farish, 1915, pg 195

One of the earliest pioneers of Arizona was Peter Kitchen 
who came to the Territory in 1854.  He was born in Covington 
Kentucky in 1822.  Little is known of his early life beyond 
the fact that he served in some capacity during the Mexican 
War.  He was a man about five feet ten inches in height, 
rather spare, always wearing a wide brimmed sombrero, very 
quiet in his manner; low and soft spoken.  There was nothing 
about the man to indicate the daredevil of dime novels which 
is associated with the pioneers of the West.  

After coming to the Territory he lived at the Canoa for 
several years, then moved to a ranch near Nogales, called 
the Potrero where he farmed a little and raised cattle and 
hogs.  He fortified his residences both at the Canoa and 
the Potrero by building the adobe walls of the houses higher 
than the roofs, and having loopholes to shoot through.  On 
many occasions he and his employees stood off Apache attacks.  
He lived in the heart of Apache country and although subjected 
to severe losses he refused to leave the country.

The following description of his ranch is taken from 
Bourke's "On the Border with Crook".

Approaching Pete Kitchen's ranch one finds himself in a 
fertile valley with a small hillock near one extremity.  
Upon the summit of this has been built the house from 
which no effort of the Apaches has ever succeeded in 
driving our friend.  There is a sentinel posted on the 
roof, there is another out in the cienega with the stock 
and the men ploughing in the bottoms are obliged to carry 
rifles, cocked and loaded, swung to the plow handle.  Every 
man and boy is armed with one or two revolvers on hip.  
There are revolvers and rifles and shotguns along the 
walls and in every corner.

Within the hospitable walls of the Kitchen home the 
traveler was made to feel perfectly at ease.  If food 
were not already on the fire, some of the women set 
about the preparation of savory and spicy stews for 
which the Mexicans are deservedly famous, and others 
kneaded the dough and patted into shape the paper-like 
tortillas with which to eat the juicy frijoles or dip up 
the temping chili colorado.  There were women carding, 
spinning, sewing and the ranch had its own blacksmith, 
saddler, and wagon maker.

Between Pete Kitchen and the Apaches, a ceaseless war was 
raged with the advantage not all on the side of Kitchen.  
His employees were killed and wounded, his stock driven 
away, his pigs filled with arrows, making the suffering 
quadrupeds look like perambulating pincushions.

The following clipping from the Tucson Citizen of June 15, 1872:
Our friend Peter Kitchen was in town this week from the 
Potrero.  He reports that his crops are excellent.  He 
has about twenty acres of potatoes planted, and has made 
this year about 14,000 pounds of No. 1 bacon and hams 
which he has sold at an average of thirty five cents a 
pound; also 5,000 pounds of lard, sold at the same price.  
Mr. Kitchen's ranch is located near the Sonora line and at 
one of the most exposed points for Apache depredations in 
Arizona.  The apaches have endeavored to take his place 
many times--one partner and all his neighbors have been 
murdered and last summer his boy was killed within gunshot 
of his door.  Instead of being frightened or discouraged 
he seems only the more determined to stand his ground and 
take his chances.

Peter Kitchen died a natural death on August 5, 1895 in 
Tucson and was buried in that city.

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