Juh - Chiricahua Apache

Juh 1817-1894

Little is known about Juh's early life. By the 1870's, he had become the principal chief of the Nednhi Apache, a small group of Chiricahuas who refused to be relocated to the San Carlos Reservation when the Chiricahua Reservation was eliminated in 1876. Eschewing U.S. control, Juh's group hid in the wilderness of Sierra Madre of Mexico and southern New Mexico. During this time, Juh's followers merged with Chiricahuas from the Warm Springs (Ojo Caliente) Reservation in New Mexico as well as other dissident groups. Juh's band, along with Geronimo and his followers, raided Mexican settlements repeatedly in the late 1870's. In April 1882, the Nednhi Apaches participated in the Loco Outbreak, a foray to the San Carlos Reservation.

In 1883, Juh died in northern Mexico allegedly from a heart attack. When he was striken, it is said that he fell off his horse into some water and died. Some sources claim he was intoxicated at the time and drowned.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography, by Bruce E. Johansen and Donald A. Grinde, page 191.

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Another great Chiricahua leader was the Nednhi leader Juh. There have been many theories about the meaning of his name, and how it is pronounced. Apparently it was pronounced like "Hoo." Whatever the pronunciation of his name, it is believed that he was born about 1825, probably in the northern Sierra Madre of Mexico. He was a cousin of Geronimo and spoke with a stammer.

Juh was in many battles throughout his life. He and Geronimo escaped from government control when the Chiricahua reservation was terminated in 1876. From that time onward Juh was often with Geronimo. In 1880 Juh surrendered with Geronimo and moved to San Carlos. However, after the "Cibecue affair" of 1881, wherein the medicine man Noch-ay-del-klinne was killed, Juh bolted again with Geronimo. Juh returned to Mexico and in November 1883 fell from his horse into the Casas Grandes River in Chihuahua. The reason for his fall unknown, but he died as a result.

A son of Juh was Ace Daklugie, born in 1872. Daklugie suffered all the ignominies heaped upon the Chiricahuas after they were exiled to Florida. He then became an important leader among his people when they moved to the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Daklugie died a respected leader among his people in White Tail, New Mexico, on 14 April 1955.

Like Victorio, Juh is considered by most historians to have been a great Apache warrior. He had much greater success as a warrior than Geronimo ever did. Juh must be considered one of the great personalities of Southwestern history.

For more information on Juh, read:

Thrapp, Dan L. Juh, An Incredible Indian. El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1973.

This text was taken from: http://www.geocities.com/~zybt with the permission of Mr. Paul R. Machula.