Wetherill
A History of Discovery
Richard Wetherill 1858-1910
A day of remembrance for Richard Wetherill was held at the Wetherill
Cemetery, Chaco Culture National Historic Park June 22, 2010. It was
100 years to the day Richard was murdered by Chis-Chilling Begay. Jim Shaffner, Grandson of Richard Wetherill spoke at the grave site giving a
short overview of Richards life and events leading up to his death.
Rulon Wetherill, great grandson of Robert Wetherill and Harvey Leake,
great grand son of John Wetherill also paid tribute to Richard Wetherill.
Also in attendance were Grand children and great grandchildren of Richard
Wetherill. They included Richard Wetherill, Lawanda Smith,
Marietta Eaton, Terry Watson, to name a few. That afternoon the family viewed a petroglyph depicting Richard's
murder. The following day several Wetherill family members visited three
Wetherill trading post sites in the area, Tiz-Nat-Zin, Ojo Alamo and
Kimbeto.
A Tribute to Richard Wetherill June 22, 2010
by
James Wetherill Shaffner
Today is a day of remembrance for Richard Wetherill b. 12th June 1858,
Harden County Iowa. Son of Benjamin Kite Wetherill and Marion Tompkins
Wetherill. Richard will be remembered as a Quaker, family man,
archeologist, scientist, stockman, negotiator and one of a family of five
siblings. I will remember him as a person who treated the Native Americans
in the Four Corners area with respect and honor. During Richard's time it
was neither fashionable nor considered reasonable to treat these native
people with respect. One of the reasons Richard and his brothers were such
successful explorers was their innate ability to get along with all
people. I suspect this has to do with their religious believes as Quakers
and their believe that all people are guided by inner light which is a
Quaker trait. Quakers believe that God speaks to everyone.
The Wetherills, Richard included were known to frequent areas in the Four
Corners, unarmed and greeted by Utes and Navajos as friends and
confidants. These relationships led to the discovery of Cliff Palace in
the Mesa Verde, the discovery of Betatakin and in the Navajo National
Monument, Arizona and the discovery of Rainbow Natural Bridge in Utah. I
suspect that other lesser discoveries were related to these friendships
and connections with the native people.
Richard and his brothers were often maligned by those whose motives were
at the least extremely questionable. These individuals instigated the
arrest of the Wetherills in Colorado, which was related to their jealousy
and dishonest accusations. Of all the persons that maligned Richard with
half-truths, lies and misrepresentations, the most egregious accusations
were accusers in government employment. The first in the Chaco Canyon area
was the misinterpretation of Richard's activities based on an old smear
campaign by a government surveyor in 1901-2. Richard had filed a homestead
application and made it clear in a sworn deposition that his purpose in
encompassing the major pueblos was to protect them. He said that he would
gladly relinquish his claims to the pueblos if the government would make
of them a national monument. The only stipulation was that the American
Museum of Natural History would be able to continue their investigations
there. The surveyor, Holsinger, did not want to go along with the
stipulation, and he thought he could force Richard out of the canyon by
defaming his character.
Samuel J. Holsinger
The second group of government employees that misrepresented Richards
activities were in the employment of the Department of Interior United
States Indian Service, W. T. Shelton, and S.F. Stacher, both
superintendents of their respective areas. Neither of these individuals
ever confronted Richard with their outrageous claims but assaulted him
behind his back by starting outrageous rumors as well as other charges all
the while accepting Richard's hospitality.
It is now 100 years since Richard Wetherill's murder and history is
beginning to credit him with what he did and deserves. As author David
Roberts states "In the history of the Southwest, no scholar ever found or
discovered more sites, or more important sites, than Richard Wetherill.
One might expect that Richard's achievement, which rivals those of
Heinrich Schliemann at Troy and Hiram Bingham at Machu Picchu, should be
hailed as a landmark in American archaeology. But the of controversy that
shadowed his work from start to finish has never entirely lifted."
We now start a new century, hoping the Wetherills are hailed as heroes and
explorers with only preservation and good will in their hearts. The
Wetherill's were not the first in history to be maligned by individuals of
questionable integrity, driven by greed and jealousy and won't be the
last. We hope today that we can begin to give Richard his due and remember
him as a man of great integrity, and a inquisitive nature that drove him
to make monumental discoveries.
Today Richard Wetherill is represented by grand children, great
grandchildren and great, great grand children. Also represented is the
great grandson of John Wetherill and a Representative of the Eastern
family the great grandson of Robert Wetherill the Chester, Pennsylvania
industrialist.
Richard Wetherill
1858-1910
The Wetherill Family
The Wetherill reunion celebrating Richard Wetherill's life. L - R Marietta Eaton great granddaughter of Richard Wetherill, Harvey Leake great grandson Of John Wetherill, Terry Watson great granddaughter of Richard Wetherill, Lawanda Eaton Smith great granddaughter of Richard Wetherill, Rulon Wetherill great grandson of Robert Wetherill of Chester Pennsylvania, Jim Shaffner grandson of Richard Wetherill, Richard Wetherill III grandson of Richard Wetherill and Ralph friend of Wanda Eaton Smith.
Wetherill family members at the Richard Wetherill grave site.
Harvey Leake great grandson of John Wetherill, Marietta Wetherill great granddaughter of Richard Wetherill and Rulon Wetherill great grandson of Robert Wetherill.
The Richard Wetherill Wreath placed at the Wetherill Cemetery in Chaco canyon
Stacher and Shelton
Dr. T. Mitchel Prudden letter to federal officials after Richard Wetherill's murder with charges against Shelton, Stacher and others. Click Here
