The True Story of Elisha Reavis: The Hermit of the Superstition Mountains
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Who was Elisha M. Reavis, the mysterious hermit known as the "Crazy Man of the Mountain"? Discover the fascinating truth behind the legend in this captivating episode! Join Hank Sheffer as he uncovers the real story of Reavis, a man who lived in isolation deep within Arizona's Superstition Mountains. From wild rumors to historical facts, we'll explore the life of this enigmatic figure and why he became such a legendary part of the Superstitions.
#SuperstitionMountains #ElishaReavis #ArizonaHistory #HankSheffer #LegendsOfTheWest #MysteriesOfTheSuperstitions #HistoryUncovered #HermitLife
For more information buy Hank Sheffer books on the Subject:
"The Queen and Her Court" amzn.to/2Qf1S80
"Jacob Waltz--an historical accounting of Jacob Waltz and the Dutchman's Lost Gold"
"The Secret of the Open Gate." amzn.to/3gHYaiP
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Want to Know More: Books we have talked about:
Jacob's Trail-The Legend of Jacob Waltz's Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Paperback Jesse James Feldman amzn.to/4d4z3Vf
The Lost Dutchman Mine;: The fabulous story of the seven-decade search for the hidden treasure in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona by Sims Ely amzn.to/3YzlJUk
The Bible on the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine and Jacob Waltz: A Pioneer History of the Gold Rush Paperback - January 1, 2002 by Helen Corbin amzn.to/3WE1fHl
The Story of Jacob Waltz: Superstition Mountain and Its Famed Dutchman's Lost Mine Paperback - January 1, 1964 by Barney Barnard amzn.to/3WD87Vz
The killer mountains;: A search for the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine Hardcover - January 1, 1968 by Curt Gentry amzn.to/3WTcvRy
When Silver Was King: Arizona's Silver King Mining Days, Historical Highlights and Human Interest Portraits Paperback - September 30, 2005 by Jack San Felice amzn.to/4dzIxru
Lost El Dorado of Jacob Waltz Paperback - January 1, 2015 by Jack San Felice amzn.to/3WUgrSc
Superstition Mountain: A Ride Through Time Paperback - January 1, 1982 by Tom Kollenborn), James Swanson amzn.to/4dbiTJD
Apache Junction and the Superstition Mountains (AZ) (Images of America) Paperback - May 29, 2006 by Jane Eppinga amzn.to/3YvSIZO
True Story of Superstition Mountains - Ripples of Lost Echo's Paperback - January 1, 1990 by Bob Ward amzn.to/3WvZhZI
Apache Trail (Images of America) Kindle Edition by Richard L. Powers amzn.to/3SJoVcj
Crooked Mountain Paperback - January 1, 2001 by Ron Feldman amzn.to/3yyeG3N
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#superstitionmountainmuseum #mysteriesofthesuperstitionmountains #lostdutchmanmine #superstitionmountains
Elisha Reavis is my Great Uncle.The video is accurate.He went West with my Great Grandfather Isham Reavis.Both were from Beardstown,Illinois.
Do you think he died of natural causes? headed to the Apple orchards this fall...
Wow. If we All knew our heritage we could All have warm confidence & good pride fir our name & who we are. I wish I'd known a lot sooner I might've made it thru the last hard time. Thanks it's very cool u carry on. Blesses out. 👍
What else can you share with them?
💜
Hank that makes sense...and they were feeding nearby?... so it wasnt a bear or a horsethief
Thanks. Enjoyed
Reavis was an interesting character. I find it fascinating he was gardening on a scale that it took multiple donkeys to carry his produce to market. Seeds, water, nutrients, the energy and work required for the endeavor would have all been in short supply on top of the Superstition Mountains in the 1800s. The Americans that came before us were hard, resourceful survivors. Not like us today.
So much history lost to the sands of time. It's great to have good people carrying on these stories...very interesting. Thank you guys
If you told me the storyteller was a famous country musician in the 70s, I’d believe you.
I too have believed
Nice! Thank you sir for telling these stories! I have lived in Apache Junction my entire life since 1971 at the base of the Superstition Mountains 300 yards from the fence line, it was my play ground! I have been too Reavis Ranch many times and ate the best apples ever, drank from the creek and embraced the beauty to behold! Supers are my home.
Both Elijah and Jacob worked with my Great Grand Father in the San Gabriel Mountains and can be found in the 1860 Census for El Monte, CA. Their mines were located just below what is now the Bridge To Nowhere.
I love hearing these old stories. When I came back from Vietnam I spent 2 years out there looking for the lost Dutchman’s mine. Ended up in the very south east corner of Arizona researching the story of skeleton canyon. My father and uncle spent most of there time with the story of Dock Noss and Victoria Peak our in white sands New Mexico. The Government clean that out in the early 60s when LBJ was President. I didn’t come home empty-handed. I found a lot of flower gold in the hills of Southern Arizona near Hachita.
what is flower gold?
@U can't fake dermal ridges oh...you mean FLOUR
Get it??
you ever stay around portal, AZ? I camped there for a week and it was like a hidden paradise in the mountains
I've been to Reavis Ranch several times. The apples are the best I've ever had but watch for bears. They like them too.
@Hank Sheffer good bears at reavis ranch...if you can hike in the 8 miles...
We used to hang out there in the 80s backpacking around.
great beard! reminds me of a ole prospector in Nevada,he went by the name of "ole carl" he would come down twice a year and teach elementary kids how to swish the pan.. R.I.P. to those great guys....
I lived wild in the Chirichaua mountains for a few years after college. This story meant so much to me. I could really relate. Thank you.
I'm envious!!! We used to hike in the Chiricahuas in the 80s quite a bit--- Cochise head etc... Very Spiritual vibes there.
@@thomasfoss9963 The first few months were physically painful. After I toughened up it was an amazingly magical and spiritual experience.
Lionheart Glassworks
Maybe it's time you write a book or do a TH-cam video of your own.
@@LaughingblueSu Thank you for the motivation. Hope you are having a wonderful day.
Hi, I wanted to let you know that you did a wonderful job telling the story of the Hermit of the Superstition Mountains, I was extremely impressed by your story telling ability. Wow, great job.
I love Hank, I could listen to his stories all day, he's awesome and knows how to tell a tale or two! 😀🇬🇧💕
The Storyteller & the story itself momentarily conquered the long term damage that has been done to my attention span.
never happened!
I lived in Arizona 1965/70, on Superstitions Mountains for 6 months.
Loved that place, the eagles, hummingbirds, Jack rabbits, mountain lions, so much atmosphere.
My grandpa was a hermit. He lived all over the mountains in Ca., Oregon, Washington & Arizona. Even lived at the edge of the Colorado River by Bullhead City, Arizona in the mid 1900's. He would pan gold & make his own moonshine. He lived in a single small shed, with a wood stove that was connected to a silver two-person camper shell. Just barely big enough to sleep two people. He always lived at least 40 or 50 miles from the closest town. He would only receive visitors when his family would go out there to visit him. He was a true cowboy. He enjoyed living like that & lived that way all the way up until he passed away in his late 80's. He fell off of a cliff one day & did not receive any medical attention until...not sure how many days? it was to late though. No one ever found his gold. After all of his belongs got distributed about the family, It was finally discovered a couple of years later, his gold was buried in a coffee can under his old camper's wheels. But,
they had already moved the camper and everything a few years earlier. Everyone drove to the last location but the grass was all grown up & the gold could never be found!
Somewhere Out There is a good amount of gold buried under the ground in a coffee can!
Well, what was your granpa’s name and where did he have his camper? The rough location of the gold probably isn’t too hard to find if you know that, afterwards it is only a matter of time with a metal detector. We have triangulated the number of a few caches with only knowing the general location of the area. You’re lucky to have that potential for gold in your family. My family doesn’t have anything like that in our history, and possible gold they could have found is overseas and they passed up the opportunity for whatever reasons. 🙄Fascinating stuff, definitely keep your family history written down, it’s sad how much has been lost to time.
Love the stories.. **bonus drinking game** Take a shot each time he says, “ but at any rate”
Lmao yea ill be drunk soon 😂
Love to get drunk with you.
Hank, Larry, Dave - Charlie would be Very Proud - Thank You and God Bless OUR History and Those Who Carry it On...
Thanks!!!!
Enough water in that valley to irrigate vegetables and fruit trees. No wonder the Indians wanted him outa there
@Hank Sheffer Would their be any indications on maps or in the books they sell in Goldfield?
This the best story ever lol as the kids say well that escalated quickly Haha he come out butt naked screaming with a butcher knife
What became of his ranch? are any of the fruit trees still in that area, is there still ample year round water? Do the Indians, native americans, indigenous occupiers still respect and avoid crazy people?
@Hank Sheffer how do i get to the ranch? i want to move in! Ive got a dog. I will plant more stuff that grows food!
I visited with my cross country team from Apollo high school in approximately 1980 and eat some crab apples from hold what appeared to be old apple trees.
True story. About 10 yr ago. I where reading deep in rv van forum. And was reading in the elderly man blog . I read and watch a few of his tubes.so I know he real. Old style. then he had a new tube. he said a crazy man tryed to kill him today. A mad red head with long hair. Said it at the middle . I watch it. He driving and talking and seen a off the hwy unpaved road. It's a vary narrow tree and bush road for a long time then it's travel side of a long river about 10 minutes later Cross over and he on the otherside same thing around the river he talking enjoying it.
Then it's show what look like a dead end unless you got 4 wheel drive he see a few trees so he park no cars at all the trip.look at the river he say there a guy sitting down over there. And he Been staring non stop. Says I can feel vibes, and I sense trouble. As he say this the guy look just as your picture he stand up, bend down and pick up a big machete and start walking to the van.
He start the engine and burn out in reverse we see The dash board & floor as he reverse say the guy is chasing me hear yelling.. After he reverse a left turn stop and forward right u turn he aim the camera at the guy who about 5 cars away with the machete in the air running full blasts yelling. He show a shap shot that. And the guys was a madmen about to kill. Mental, a wild man with long red hair matted up and bugging eyes. Like rabid, Man that was spooky. Cause that was real.If you were on foot he chop you up .
But. Didn't listen where it was . Mid west somewhere in the boogies small mountain and a river. But watchout they are crazy out there.
I always get such a kick out of these stories!, much appreciated.
Germaine The Apple Orchard is still there Today . Backpackers camp there and pick a few apples . I did a trip decades ago in Roger's Canyon just south of there . Very Scenic !
I remember during approximately the year 1980 with my cross country team from Apollo high school going there and the coach taking us to a ranch called Reeves Ranch and our coach telling us there were old crab apple trees left over from whoever lived there… I’m wondering… Are those apple trees from the time of the gentleman this video is about… But those have been the same old apple trees that he had first planted?
That it is.
Great story! Love anything historical and factual, you are a GREAT storyteller sir!!
The fake History channel could learn from this fine gentleman. A+++++
Now that's is what I call a character! Awesome story Hank! Thanks Larry keep up the excellent work guys.😊
Anyone ever wish you can go back and just live a small, simple life in an old western mining town in the 1870’s?
He left Beardstown before Lincoln defended William "Duff" Armstrong. I wonder if he knew Edward "Red" Beard since his father is who the town is named after? You couldn't really say Edward Beard wasn't a strange bird himself.
My father was yellowbeard
NO ONE relates a story like a southwesterner… No one! Thank you sir!! I had a great meal listening to you!
If you find something dead man's gold and have to use a pick ax sledge hammer . You end up looking like a mer kat looking around for threats .
Being a Phoenix native now living in Mesa. I love listening to history stories of Arizona.
Keep up with the great videos.
Such a FANTASTIC storyteller - could sit and listen all day!!
Always love these, ive seen that pic of Reavis on the burro passed off as Jakob Waltz.
I did once Hank and Larry called me on it
One of the better stories I've heard. Thank you sir. Looking forward to the next one already. Have a great day
This looks interesting but unfortunately we've been experiencing "tower" troubles, which I don't believe in a minute, and smartphone service has been seriously impaired. Can't wait to watch this, though. However, The Superstition Mountains have a lot of lore! So I'm thinking what is the real reason for the name of these mountains? No doubt they're in a highly spiritual way. Were they revered by the local Native Americans and why? Or are they really superstitious and not there, at all -
@Hank Sheffer
Hey Hank, thank you for your reply, but do you know why the Native Americans "feared" these mountains? Perhaps they took people - they never returned? Fear would mean there was an evil - to be feared within these mountains? Wonder what it was. Would you know any of the stories the settlers heard from the PIMAS in regards to their fear? Did they tell the settlers not to go into these mountains? It's too intriguing to not want to know - so apologizes for all the questions.
That's as far as I can take it. What do you think? Interesting, huh?
As a matter of fact, I'm going to "google" the Superstitious Mountains and see what I can find. The local library is closed due to C19, nonetheless it's a thought. Inquiring minds can be nagging 😉
@Hank Sheffer
Nope. There were no answers as to the PIMAS' fear of these mountains before the white man mosied on in to look for gold. One answer read gold miners went into The Superstitious Mountains and never returned - but that has to do with gold. The PIMAS feared these mountains before men went gold hunting. That's what I'm looking for👍
I don't know if it's true or not, but I heard that the Indians think the entrance to the underworld is in the superstition mountains
@Hank Sheffer
But Hank, maybe that's because they HAVE seen them. I've got a story or two or three ....
And thank you, Hank
@@LuckyBaldwin777
Ah ha, that was something I never thought of - duh.
Thank you
Oh God, I love this channel. You 'all have done some mighty fine work with this channel and the museum.
Sounds like a good man, Elisha… Very brave and handsome too… It is sad that Hank has left us…
Excellent, love history and stories!
My first love was named Elisha. She was the best!
Fascinated listening to this video it would just be great sitting down with an old timer and hearing the stories im only 19 but i love hearing and talking about old history
Thanks once again for another great and interesting story.
Wisk all of you well and take care.
Ron
Hank is an Awesome story teller. I like to listen to these and other historical story’s before bedtime. You learn something new every day.
Very well done and thank you. I've spent a vast amount of time at Reavis Ranch starting in 1980. It is a very special area for me and pains me that I can no longer hike in there(too many injuries). I remember on one trip sitting on the front porch, front door open and a fire in the fireplace while a massive thunderstorm rolled through. The lightning, rain and crackle of the fire...priceless memory. My last trip was about 10 years ago, sitting on the steps that led to the porch, thinking back at all the memories. It pains me it's almost all gone... Once again, thank you.
@Hank Sheffer The house was burnt down by the FS and almost everything was removed. The apple trees are about 1/3 of what it was in the 80's. Most of the trees were planted by the outfit that bought the land and built the stone house, from what I know, two different outfits tried to make it a Dude Ranch, the second put in the fish pond. J.F. Ranch operated out of it for a long time.
I had a very good friend by the last name of Hedrick, worked for Tuscon PD and spent time here in AR. Jim Hedrick. GREAT guy. Wonder if ya'll know him?
He was probably living and growing his edibles on land that had been violently taken from the Native Americans of that area. Quite possibly it had once been their home of many generations until they were moved off by the colonising forces. Stories of that era often bring shame - both in my native country of New Zealand, and in all the countries colonised by England, Spain, France and so on. Not to undermine the interest of your story, but to add a deeper dimension.
Great story....one that I always heard as historical for 25 years now..hasn't been modified like other stories can.
Just wondering what was the connection of the burros tied up when he died? When he was on his way to town in daytime. Was he talking to someone? Or got tired and napped....?
Whats your take?....
@Hank Sheffer thank you for your take....been watching many episodes with you and Charlie!
I love this kind of stuff. I really wish they taught more of this in school. Planning on going to college, I'm totally taking classes on these type of subjects!
Excellent video.
Great story, well told. All the best from England.
hank I love the story. Love your web pic.
Until the other day I guess I never recall hearing of the Superstition Mountains now listening to several of your stories I need to pay a visit one more time to Arizona
The 'Y' in her name may have been for Yvonne or Yvette.
Or Ynez.
They should have included his high school days...when he hung out with Butthead Bill!!
Great Story!! l really looked forward to getting back here tonight, you guys are such great storytellers and l am almost 60, but l feel like a little kid in school all excited to listen to more stories and that is a great bunch of stories you tell..Thank You from Canada.....And yes, the story teller does look like a country western singer with the hat matching his clothes and l love the white white hair
He knew that if they thought he was crazy they wouldn't kill him
Growing up in the shadows of the superstition mountains heard and read about him but didn't know the whole story. Thanks for sharing. Do you take suggestions for content for your series?
@Hank Sheffer
Wondering if you have any additional information on "the Wagoner map" published in Berry Storm's book Thunder God's Hold, 1946.
I love history and that was a fascinating story . Thank you and I’ll be watching more of your story’s 👍
Yolanda, Yvette, Yvonne, Yasmine……
A well-told recount of history is the best use of TH-cam!
Love the stories, yall take care.
I am a Reavis and this was awesome to listen to. He resembles the men in my family! So cool!
Missy Leftrick...Love your pioneer spirit. In my youth I also had it ; BUT FOUND GOD and felt the need to help others in introducing them to GOD AND HIS WORD 📖. Lots like You and Revis in Alaska 🇺🇸 and Canadian 🇨🇦 Yukon Territory.
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🌎
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Very interesting tale, my last name is Logan, like his Uncle and I know Beardstown, Il.
talk about gold. In the late 1800's good farmers were flush. City's needed food - so much so uppercrusters came in. That's a different bloody story - great channel & savored this episode
At any rate
Any relation to James Addison Reavis? He was quite a character.
Sweet history story thank you
The Apache were a tough bunch. Reavis must have been pretty damn convincing of his craziness on that fire. Either he was a very good actor or he was a nutso. In either case it kept him alive. For a bit. Thanks for the story.
Did I miss something ? I got up yo the refrigerator an got back in like 15 secs , whilst you was talkin bout he had writ a letter to his uncle about losin $5000 in produce ?....wut was the point of that ?
Sounds like a really fascinating character. I wish I could go back in time spend a week at his ranch with him, just to experience life from his point of view
Great storyteller...
Well, I can testify to the fact that he was, indeed, crazy. I live about 20 miles from there, and you have to be certifiable to live around here without AC, which would not be generally available until several decades into the future.
If the story is how it's being portrayed, then Reavis is a murderer and should be remembered as such. That said, I'm sure there's more context to all of it. History can be anything one wants it to be.
Great job Hank! Always entertaining sir..
@Hank Sheffer a few sir!
This was a fascinating story, very well told. Thanks! I was glad to see a couple of shots of Charlie at the end. Is he not hosting the channel anymore? Hope he's okay.
I reckon he passed on,stroke or so I read in comments.
@@lindamaemullins5151 I'm really sorry to hear that. I'd appreciate somebody giving us confirmed information on this.
@@jeffstone28 he's a moldering in the grave-Confirmed©®™
@@lindamaemullins5151 Thanks. After I asked the question, I found online that he passed away last year. Somehow I missed the news at the time.
Loved the story. Have a blessed week my friend.
Arizona is such a beautiful land. The history is equally interesting.
I spent a brief moment living in Apache Junction, but I will never forget that mountain or it's spirtual energy.
Excellent story narration and looked the part, too
I also ran into a hermit living in a solid rock cave at the foothills of the superstition mountains in the mid 70s while hiking with a group called the Indian Y Guides. We talked and gave him food water ect. He was very old wearing what looked to be animal hides. Said he lived there for a long time. I forgot about this until i saw this video. Thx for helping me remember something i would have never remembered.
I bet when Hank was a younger man ,he to sported a beard just like this old mountain mans beard.Its just that Hanks was a little thicker and Fuller.
...thank you for sharing...
The myth is that if an Indian warrior is killed at night that he won’t be able to find his way to the happy hunting ground. That’s why the Indians broke off the attack.
Love it Hank good history
Great story, guys -
a big "thank you" from the hills of New Hampshire !
How much do you wanna bet the hermit got tired of how horrible people are and that’s why he lived so secluded?
Mules ended up with Hertz rent a mule red 🏜️ dessert wyo... and that's the rest of the story.
Meanwhile back at the ranch scooby doo has teamed up with Jacob waltz.
Nice job Hank! Where ya hanging out since Joe’s closed up? Say “Hi” to the wife for me.
Love the old history stories,please keep them coming. Thanks for sharing, greetings from Beryl Utah in Iron County (Home to the Desert Cannibal's)!!!
Reavis is actually pronounced like crevice. As in the Earth's crevice.
@Hank Sheffer probably because he got tired of everyone pronouncing it wrong. Lol it's all good. I just know that everyone from the Midwest to the east coast pronounce it as I do. Maybe it's different in your region.
Its great that people preserve these great stories about this great state of Arizona, I love the desert it's all I have ever known since a small child I truly appreciate its beauty, but it saddens me to see all this development or shall I say selling off of our lands to corporations.
If anyone reads this please help keep our sates lands public NOT in private corporations, so that many more generations will tend and admire this great state.
Love the old timers and their stories the old pioneers great stuff
You forgot to mention how he was found, and the fact he was decapitated!
Great story* cheeers*
.....This may well be my favorite story of the entire series..and a story well told, Mr. Sheffer..
Enjoyed the story.
,,,at any rate, lol, what is going on in that widow on the left, behind you?
He may have been Norm MacDonald's uncle.
I've just GOTTA Subscribe to this. I can set and listen to him tell stories all day long