Name Don Hubbell | ||
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Died November 12, 1930, Ganado, Arizona, United States | ||
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Don Lorenzo Hubbell (November 27, 1853 – November 12, 1930) was a 19th-century trader instrumental in promoting the sale of Navajo art. He was also sheriff of Apache County, Arizona, a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature, and after statehood a member of the Arizona Senate. He ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1914.
He was born John Lorenzo Hubbell, but gradually came to be addressed as "Don", a Spanish term of respect. (NPS) He was born in Parajito, San Miguel County, New Mexico. He died in Ganado, Arizona.
He spent his early years as a Spanish interpreter for the U.S. Army.
He started a trading post in 1878 that became very successful financially. He eventually created an empire of 30 such trading posts in Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
He helped many Navajos become economically self-sufficient by showing them the patterns of blankets most likely to sell for a profit. He was well respected in the Navajo community for his fair dealings with them.
His 1878 trading post, now known as the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, still stands on the Navajo reservation, and is a National Historic Landmark. Another trading post, purchased by Hubbell in Winslow, Arizona in 1921, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
He is said to be the only Caucasian buried on Navajo land.
