A biography always has a way of including many other local histories, events and names. Though not always historically correct, and some names may have been changed to protect the ???, this book is a great read. If you are interested in Yuma or Southwest history, add this to your collection.
You will find a ton reference to traveling, automobiles and local (Yuma) towns.The author arrived in Yuma in 1914...he was about 6 years old and the state of Arizona had celebrated it's 10 year anniversary. His account of the transformation of the primitive area with dirt roads turned into Interstate Highways are well told.
While the book is not an emotional epic, but mostly meat and potatoes, it is very informative with a few vivid moments. The author became a mining engineer and helped to develop the process of extracting copper, gold and other metals from the Arizona rock.
Robert Lenon wrote this first volume while in his 90's, and with almost a century of history he recalls in detail those he knew in Yuma. The town at the time consisted of only a few thousand hearty mortals with many stories to share.
And now he shares his own tales.
Don't forget the new Yuma Mesa Homesteaders book was realeased this year!
