HON. M.G. SAMANIEGO
History of Arizona, 1898

It is a pleasure to review the career of a man whose 
efforts have been crowned with distinction and whose 
life has been honorable and praiseworthy.  He is now 
mail contractor and a successful cattle raiser of 
Tucson of which city he has been a resident for many 
years.  Mr. Samaniego is a native of the State of 
Sonora, born July 26, 1844, and the son of Bactello 
and Sevelle Samaniego, both natives of Sonora.  The 
father was a merchant and followed this occupation 
most successfully until his death.  The mother is 
still living, and although eighty-five years old is 
fairly well preserved for that advanced age. Of the 
four children born to this estimable couple two survive 
at the present time.  Mrs. James A. Lucas of Silver 
City, New Mexico is the daughter.

M.G. Samaniego was educated in St. Louis University, 
Missouri and was graduated from that institution in 1862.  
When the war broke out he was employed as interpreter 
for the Confederates of the Texas Rangers for several 
months and afterward went to New Mexico, where his 
mother was living and clerked in a store on the Rio 
Grande.  As early as the year 1869 he removed to Tucson, 
Arizona--making his journey in wagons--and has made his 
home here for the most part since.  While a resident of 
New Mexico he was engaged in freighting, and in 1868 he 
lost a fine train of five wagons and forty eight mules, 
all being captured and taken by the Indians.  For two 
days he and his men fought the Indians, but as their 
ammunition gave out they were compelled to give up.  
They made their way by night to the nearest town, 
thirty miles distant, and thus were not captured.  
The same year Mr. Samaniego lost another train and 
stock, all stolen by the Indians, and this was a 
severe blow to him.  However, he continued freighting 
and in connection conducted a store in Chihuahua.  
After coming to Tucson he resumed freighting and 
government contracting, met with excellent success 
and prospered right along until 1881, when he lost 
another train at Cedar Springs.  This was in charge 
of his brother, Bartolo T. Samaniego, who, with all 
his men, except was killed by the Indians.

At that time our subject was carrying supplies to the 
forts and he continued in this business until 1882, when 
he sold out his contract and engaged in cattle raising.  
This he has followed ever since.  He owns two fine cattle 
ranches and is interested in another. He also owns several 
thousand head of cattle and a great many horses and employs 
three or four men all the time.  Mr. Samaniego runs the 
stage line from Tucson to Ora Blanco, with a connection 
to Nogales and he also has the mail contract to Oro 
Blanco and Monmouth and from Arivaca to Lassa.  Aside 
from this he owns considerable city property and is 
wealthy and influential.  He owns the land that first 
supplied Tucson with water and is interested in nearly 
every water project in the country.  Mr. Samaniego is 
one of the fortune men who obtained redress from the 
government for depredations done by the Indians, 
receiving $11,000 for the last train he lost.  

He represented Pima County several terms in the Territorial 
Legislature, was the first assessor elected in that county 
and has served two or three terms as a member of the Board 
of Supervisors. He was one of the first members of the 
Board of Regents of the University, holding the office of 
Treasurer of same and was president of the Arizona Pioneer 
Society for two terms.

In 1885 the Indians made a raid within fifteen miles of 
Tucson and captured a boy from a ranch.  Mr. Samaniego 
gathered together thirteen men, all Mexicans except the 
present sheriff, R.N. Leatherwood, and started in pursuit. 
After a ride of about four and a half hours with a running 
fight they recovered the boy and took him to Martinez 
ranch.  There they re-organized and with a force of about 
nineteen men started again in pursuit of the Indians. At 
last they overtook the same Indians just as they were 
making a raid on the ranch of an Italian and thus saved 
the whole family.  They also captured twenty head of 
stock from the Indians. This was the last raid made by 
them. Mr. Samaniego has had many thrilling experiences 
and can relate many thrilling adventures. He has been 
twice wounded by the Indians, but generally returned 
these wounds with interest.  The day after his brother 
was killed, October 2, 1891, our subject boarded a 
train for Wilcox to take charge of his brother's body 
and while passing Dragoon Summit raised the window and 
fired at some Indians, who happened to be Indian 
soldiers, but this Mr. Samaniego did not know. He was 
arrested on arriving at Wilcox for shooting at them, 
but through the influence of a friend was released in 
about fifteen minutes.  Soon afterward he saw the 
Indians crossing the line with his brother's clothes, 
his wagons, stock to the number of about 400 head, 
which shows what good Indian soldiers were at that time.

Our subject was married in 1868 to Miss Dolorres Aguirre, a 
native of Chihuahua.  He is a member of the Pioneers and 
Spanish-American Society.

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