Origins & Early Life

Cochise ( koh-CHEESS; Apache: Shi-ka-She or A-da-tli-chi, lit. 'having the quality/strength of an oak'; later K'uu-ch'ish or Cheis, lit. 'oak'; c. 1805 – June 8, 1874) was the leader of the Chiricahui local group of the Chokonen and principal nantan of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A key war leader during the Apache Wars, he led an uprising that began in 1861 and persisted until a peace treaty was negotiated in 1872. Cochise County is named after him. Cochise (or "Cheis") was one of the most noted Apache leaders (along with Geronimo and Mangas Coloradas) to resist intrusions by Mexicans and Americans during the 19th century. He was described as a large man (for the time), with a muscular frame, classical features and long, black hair, which he wore in traditional Apache style. He was about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed about 175 pounds (79 kg).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In his own language, his name Cheis meant "having the quality or strength of oak." Cochise and the Chokonen-Chiricahua lived in the area that is now the northern region of Sonora, Mexico; New Mexico and Arizona, which they had settled in sometime before the arrival of the European explorers and colonists. As Spain...

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