SHOW LOW, THE NAME BEHIND THE DEUCE
Arizona Historical Society, Tucson, Arizona
Nathan Bibo's Reminiscences of early New Mexico by Floyd S. Fierman
El Palacio, spring, 1962

Nathan Bibo was a major grain contractor from Cebolleta. (Seboyeta) New Mexico. In 1871 he was post trader at Camp Apache, appointed by Secretary of War, Belknap under President Grant. The area between the Little Colorado and Camp Apache was still noted on the map as "Tierra Incognita." On pages 46-47.

"Before taking up events at Bernalillo, where I located in 1872, I will tell about a trip I made to Prescott in 1873....I took with me two Apache Indians because the Cibiqui, (Cibique) Apaches, near whose country we would pass, were not as peaceable as the balance of the White Mountain Tribe. After following the road up the White Mountains to nearly the Divide, we turned to the trail leading from the Summit of the White Mountains West to the source of the two rivers, Sholoh and Dho-Luh, following the course west through the beautiful pine forest (1873).

The two Indians serving as guides followed the trail we traveled for the first time. I understand one of the rivers in now called Silver Creek.

The census (below) of 1874 is on file at the Arizona Department of Library, Archives & Public Records, Archives Division, Phoenix, Arizona. State Capitol Building.

This page is very important because it shows Marion Clark residing on Show Low River in 1874. Most versions of the 7 up card game took place in 1876, which gave Show Low its name.

SHOW LOW, THE NAME BEHIND THE DEUCE
Trader on the Santa Fe Trail
The memoirs of Franz Huning
Calvin Horn Albuquerque, New Mexico 1973

Franz Huning, older brother of Henry Huning, recalled a trading expedition in 1851 from Santa Fe. He says, (page 34),” that same fall my former employer, Mr. Latz came to town and invited me to accompany him on a trading expedition to the Western Apaches in the present territory of Arizona, at that time a complete wilderness. Our party consisted of 28 Mexicans, Mr. Latz and myself.”

On page 49, talking about the return trip he say's:

“Two or three days later we were well on the road to the Zuni Village. Some time before this we had a deep little river to cross, which was effected with some difficulty. It was brimful of ice cold water from the melting snow of the mountains and at this time about six feet deep with high steep banks on both sides. To drive our pack mules across with their loads was impossible, so we had to unload them and carry the packs across. One of the men volunteered for this service and he was in that water up to his neck about twenty minutes transferring our things. The rest of us crossed after the other on a pretty big horse we had.

This little river is a confluent of the little Colorado and the Indians called it Shothloo, pronounced short. They told me the meaning of the word and I had it put down in my vocabulary of all sorts of Indian words, but it was lost later. It is the same river, which is now called Sho-loo, and they explain the name from a game of cards.”

From Jack A. Becker's Collection