Vanished Arizona: Recollections of the Army Life of a New England Woman

by Martha Summerhayes, Louise Barnett (Introduction)

When Martha Summerhayes (1844–1926) came as a bride to Fort Russell in Wyoming Territory in 1874, she “saw not much in those first few days besides bright buttons, blue uniforms, and shining swords,” but soon enough the hard facts of army life began to intrude. Remonstrating with her husband, Jack Wyder Summerhayes, that she had only three rooms and a kitchen instead of “a whole house,” she was informed that “women are not reckoned in at all in the War Department.” 

 Although Martha Summerhayes’s recollections span a quarter of a century and recount life at a dozen army posts, the heart of this book concerns her experiences during the 1870s in Arizona, where the harsh climate, rattlesnakes, cactus thorns, white desperadoes, and other inconveniences all made for a less-than-desirable posting for the Summerhayeses.

 First printed in 1908, Vanished Arizona is Summerhayes’s memoir of her years as a military wife as her husband’s Eighth Regiment conducted Gen. George Crook’s expedition against the Apaches. It was so well received that she became an instant celebrity and the book a timeless classic. The book retains its place securely among the essential primary records of the frontier-military West because of the narrative skill of the author and her delight in life.

  

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography, Military Fiction, Classics, Westerns

382 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1908

About the author

American memoirist.

She was a Nantucket, Massachusetts native who later on in life immigrated to Arizona. A well travelled and educated woman, Summerhayes spent two years, from 1871 to 1873, studying literature in Germany. Her passion for writing took her into a career as a writer. She became well known as a writer in Massachusetts, but she usually did her writing during the winter, which, in turn, led to her becoming interested in the warmer weather of Arizona.

In 1873, she married soldier John Wyer Summerhayes, a veteran of the American Civil War.

Wyer Summerhayes was still in the military when the couple married, so Martha further expanded her travels by going with her husband wherever the military sent him when no war was being fought. The Summerhayes arrived at Fort Russell, near Cheyenne, Wyoming shortly after marrying. In 1874, they were sent by the military to an Arizona that at the time counted with only about 20,000 inhabitants. They stayed at a ranch owned by Corydon Cooley, a White man who had two Indian wives.

Reviews

[Ann Kuhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not great writing but kudos for remembering and reflecting in such a detailed, valuable way and occasional moments of concise and spot on clarity of expression. As with all memoirs of this genre (female, white, prudish puritanical upbringing, heading west) the practicalities fraught with prudery is frustrating but genuine; her unresolved conflict between connection to the desert and constant hatred of it is fascinating. Reading between the lines is necessary. (Oh my god, she was PREGNANT while doing the last three months of insane travelling! Constant complaints about not having a nurse probably means she's having trouble breastfeeding and her child is starving to death. Things like that.) I need to re-read with a map at hand.

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I grew up in Arizona, I found this memoir of Army life in Arizona from 1874 to about 1898 really interesting!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, but Mrs. Summerhayes gets the "Beginner's Benefit."

Eye witness reporting of history is almost always better than second--and third--hand reporting. It's especially good when the reporter--Martha Summerhayes--puts enough of herself into her story that the reader gets to know her bents and inclinations. Some of her foibles are common to us all; some unique perhaps to well-raised eastern women of the nineteenth century.

[Alexis Branson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! If you have ever loved the wild and old places of Arizona from mountain high to desert low this book will entertain you. I wish I could talk to Mrs. Summerhayes, what an adventure she lived.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb memoir of the life of an Army wife in the 1870s in Arizona Territory. Start by reading the publisher's introduction at the top of the page. Then find a copy of the book, is my advice, if the topic sounds at all interesting. Mrs. Summerhayes writes well, and she revised her memoir shortly before her death in 1911. I don't give many 5-star ratings. Most highly recommended. I've read it twice, but I didn't keep my copy when we moved away, more's the pity.

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! Could have trimmed that parts that were not about Arizona. Very strange how the author does not mention being pregnant. Great detail about life on the frontier.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating and different kind of memoir. I really enjoyed learning about the life of Martha Summerhayes as an Army wife, from the 1870's into the early 1900's. Martha followed her husband, an officer from post to post, much of the time in Arizona, but also stationed in other parts of the country. Coming from a more privileged life growing up in the East in Nantucket, life in Arizona was a great challenge. There were many deprivations to get used to and Martha had to learn to be a wife and parent with little help much of the time. The culture and ways of life, modes of travel, housekeeping, clothing styles, food prep and keeping her family safe are all vividly described here. Martha's role not only as a wife but also an army wife during this time period kept my interest. For those that like to read historical novels, especially from a woman's point of view should enjoy this. Since I am an Arizona resident, I found her experiences even more interesting. Five stars from me.

[Barb Purvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a new and different slant on life in the post civil war military and the reason for the 3 stars; yet the descriptions and details often left me wanting the author to elaborate on other aspects instead of repeatedly focusing on the same. So many questions... for example; she decided in the heat of summer to wean her 9 month old with no other means to feed him-Why? She refused to learn anything to help (cook, clean, garden, care for her child, etc) with their quality of life... to the point of failure to thrive and risky choices to elude any effort. Having just a little respect for the main character was annoying and her prejudices are sadly expected yet truly appalling- she fashions herself as kindly and it's tough to read at times.

[J. Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great addition to Western-American history! I cannot recommend this highly enough to those of you interested in the "life" part of the phrase "military life."

Mrs Summerhayes was married to a career officer in the Indian Wars-period Army, and was stationed in many different camps and forts in Arizona, and offers an outsiders' view of those places, and the methods of transportation between them all, in pre-railroad times. It should prove fascinating to anyone interested in the late 19th Century, but especially to those with specialized interest in her place and circumstances.

She's also a fine and evocative writer. There's something uncommonly "fresh" about her writing style that is not typical of "military memoirs."

Read it now!

[Thebarrys10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

For we who live in AZ. this is pretty fascinating. It made me want to take a road trip to see all the places she lived as an army wife in the 1800's. Can you imagine sleeping outside in the summer because the tents and rude cabins were too hot and having to put hair around you to keep the snakes, spiders and scorpions away? Martha is a much better man than I am!!!

[Pattie O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, it's travel for me, non-fiction or history for Sandy. Fascinating if you like books that allow you to picture how people lived in other times. Hard to imagine surviving Arizona summers not only without air-conditioners, but with corsets and petticoats. Yikes.

[AmandaZona · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book, I can’t believe I never heard of it before. I’ve always been curious about how the early settlers survived in Arizona; this answered a lot of my questions and I enjoyed the author’s engaging writing style. One of the most entertaining and interesting books I’ve ever read.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never complain about the heat down here again. Really enjoying this so far!

[Chris Babcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful description of life as an army wife in mid to late 1800s in Arizona. Gives a good sense of how little there was but what beauty surrounded them.

[Carol lowkey.bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the stories of early Arizona, though I don't care for the author; too much complaining!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me and when I looked at it, I wasn’t sure I’d actually end up reading the whole book. But I did and found it quite interesting. It is the author’s memoir of her time with the U.S. Army while her husband was serving in the military. Most of her recollections were of Arizona when it was a territory. Since I live in Arizona, and also because I was once in the Army Nurse Corps, this book piqued my interest. Martha Summerhayes, New England born and bred, coming from life in Nantucket, MA, found this area and ways of life extremely different, harsh and difficult in the 1870’s and 80’s, but eventually grew fond of the desert scenery, the simple life and the people she met. This book was first published in 1908, with 2nd and 3rd editions in 1911 and 1939 (revised because she added other events she recalled over the years). Because of it’s popularity, a limited fourth edition was published in 1960 in Tucson, AZ.
Although it is certainly a “dated “ style of writing and more like a journal to read , I think anyone who is interested in the history of that time period, especially the state of AZ, and the U.S. military presence there would really enjoy this. I’m glad I found it!

[Olivermagnus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vanished Arizona is the autobiographical account of Martha (Mattie) Durham Summerhayes who was born to a prosperous New England family in a spacious, comfortable home on Nantucket Island in 1846. She married handsome John (Jack) Summerhayes, a Civil War veteran and a lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry and in 1874, Jack’s 8th Infantry regiment was transferred to Arizona. At that time, Arizona was a U.S. Territory with a non-Indian population of about 20,000. Mattie went with him. She would live to regret it, yet as she explained thirty years later, “I had cast my lot with a soldier and where he was, was home to me.” The hardships she had to endure in 1870’s Arizona Territory are nearly unimaginable today.

Throughout the book she tells many stories about life and conditions in different camps and forts in which she lived with her expanding family. I thought it was a really interesting read, especially for someone like me who has lived in Arizona for decades. It was published in 1908 so it has a bit of a dated feel to the writing. It was a fascinating look at the early American West.

TBR 1445

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this from The Poisoned Pen bookstore when I visited Arizona for the first time a few months ago. SH's recollections of traveling with her husband as an army wife from New England to the west, California coast and ultimately arriving in the unforgiving desert climate of Arizona were fascinating to read. no hardship or discomfort I've ever felt in my life seems like it could compare to trying to live pregnant and with a small baby (let alone just live, period) in Arizona during the summer without modern amenities...let alone under the threat of hostile native peoples. what an eye-opening read. much thanks to SH's open mind that in turn, without prejudice or judgement, recorded her experiences with the many cultures she encountered.

[R.J. Sloane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Frontier Memoir That Pulls No Punches
This firsthand account of army life in 1870s Arizona delivers more than just dusty trails and desert heat. Summerhayes paints a vivid picture of hardship, resilience, and culture shock as a New England woman navigating the raw edges of the frontier. Her voice is sharp, honest, and surprisingly humorous at times. For anyone writing western fiction or curious about the daily grind of military outposts, this book offers a rare window into the human side of territorial life.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being an Arizona native, and having lived all over the state, I found this memoir of life in Arizona in the 1870s very interesting. Growing up and living with the summer heat here, but with the modern conveniences of air conditioning and paved roads, and running water in the house, indoor bathrooms, and all of those things, this book gives a needed perspective to the toughness, especially of the women who lived here before any of those improvements.

[Rikki Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obscure memoirs are one of my favorites! Exactly the kind of book I enjoy that 90% of people would never get through. Yes, her accounts of “savages” are incredibly problematic now but this wasn’t written now. Her recounting of life as an army wife, her commentary on the role of women on the frontier, and her entertaining anecdotes all lend themselves to an enjoyable read and an interesting study in a very different time and place.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a very interesting and insightful read. As someone who grew up in an Army family with multiple postings around the world I could understand the movement and various assignments. Much has changed and improved with time yet I could see my mother's role as an Officers wife at varous postings echoed in the book. Currently living in Arizona it was insightful to follow her travels across the state when it was still a frontier. So much has changed in a relatively short time!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting non-fiction account of Army life in AZ during the 1870's. Having lived in AZ for about 40 years, it was fascinating to read about the harsh conditions and the desolation at the Army outposts. We recently visited Fort (Camp) Apache and so it was interesting to read about Martha's ordeal, as a new bride to a second lieutenant, living in that remote wilderness.

[Robert Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A candle on the past.

The 1880 US Census discovered my Grandpa, Bill Holdding, tending sheep on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. I’ve often wondered about his early life thinking, certainly, I would never really know. Vanished Arizona brings form, life and color that void. Thank you Mattie for your personal gift to me and my family.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author's style of writing is engaging. It's interesting to see how life was in times gone by. I live in Arizona and have been to many of the places she spoke about, so that may have helped me to enjoy it more.

[Cactuskid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite interesting since we are familiar with a lot of the places she talks about - from the routes that they traveled to the different forts etc. Not an easy life especially for a woman from the northeast coast. Good history about how things were back in the late 1800's.

[JOANNE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough learning about the history of Arizona but the riding through the desert eating sand was slow moving. The history of the country as we know it and how difficult a time it was I did find interesting.

[Clifford Pappas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting history of what life was like as an army wife during the late 1800/early 1900’s in the western part of the States. The Appendix is a must read. Unfortunately my copy(different cover) did not have the illustrations. Hope to find a copy with them eventually.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was much more interesting and readable than I expected.

[bert-bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good autobiographical novel in 1880s.