Hubbell Pioneers - Arizona
The Founder of the Hubbell Trading Post
John Lorenzo Hubbell
This chapter was written by Dorothy Smith Hubbell, the daughter-in-law of John Lorenzo Hubbell, who founded the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona. Dorothy, who was born and raised in Connersville, Indiana, applied for a teaching position through an agency. This led to her accepting the job of teaching four Hubbell children at the Navajo trading post in 1920. In 1921 she married Roman Hubbell, John Lorenzo’s younger son.
John Lorenzo Hubbell was born in 1853 in New Mexico, the son of James Lawrence and Julianita Gutierrez Hubbell. He married Linda Rubic (Lina Rubi) and they had four children, two sons and two daughters. He was known to most people as Don Lorenzo, but to the children he was known as Papa and to the Navajos as Nakai San. He founded the trading post in 1876 before it was part of the Navajo Indian reservation.
In his lifetime Don Lorenzo was peace officer, political stalwart, legislator and Indian trader. As a trader he was the best friend the Navajo has known.
The story is told that a marauding band of Navajos surrounded his pack train of trading goods, helped themselves to his merchandise and decided to have a little primitive fun by burning him at the stake. He was bound with rawhide thongs to a mesquite tree at Ganado. The burning was only seconds away when another band of Navajos appeared ready to join in the fun. One among them noticed the identity of the captive and with a shout cut the bonds. Turning to his comrades he explained that a short time before Don Lorenzo had saved him from a stream when he was about to drown.
Generations of Navajos have fulfilled the trust and in turn Don Lorenzo was brother to the race. On their friendship and goodwill Ganado is founded. Men who knew him called him "perhaps the most open-hearted, most lovable, most generous character Arizona has ever known."
Don Lorenzo was a state senator in the first Arizona State Legislature in 1912 and never lost his interest in politics. He journeyed to Washington, D.C. in connection with the setting up of the Navajo Indian reservation. He played host to many dignitaries who visited the trading post. One of these was President Theodore Roosevelt. Later other officials who visited included Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace and Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Collier.
Don Lorenzo expressed the wish to be buried next to Chief Many Horses, the greatest of the Navajo rulers, who died years before. He, in life having overcome the old ruler’s superstitions, sent a coffin far into the barren, northern regions to bring the body to Ganado. The chief was laid to rest at the top of Hubbell Hill near the body of Don Lorenzo’s wife at a spot Don Lorenzo could see from his veranda. When he died in 1930 he joined them there.
After Don Lorenzo’s death, the Hubbell Trading Post was managed by Don Lorenzo’s older son, John Lorenzo Jr. until his death in 1942. His brother, Roman, then managed it until his death in 1957 when his wife, Dorothy (the author of the chapter), took over. The trading post was approved a National Historic Site in 1967 and is in operation under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
This chapter also has a letter written by Donald Sidney Hubbell recalling the time he and his brother spent living at Ganado while attending school at the Hubbell Home with Don Lorenzo’s grandchildren between 1914 and 1917. The household was run by Don Lorenzo’s two daughters, Barbara known as Aunty Bob and Adele known as LaLa.
As mentioned in the summary of the New Mexico chapter, Donald was the compiler of Hubbell Pioneers, co-author of the 1980 History & Genealogy of the Hubbell Family, and one of the founders of The Hubbell Family Historical Society in 1981.
There is also a section by Donald’s mother, Mrs. George (Madge) Hubbell, telling about life at a trading post at Nozlini and also one at Pinon, 90 miles from Winslow, Arizona. Donald’s father, George, was a cousin of Don Lorenzo. He was known as "Nakai Pahajoni" which means the "good natured Spaniard." He, too, was friendly with the Indians and helped poor families out in many ways.