Street Smarts: Slight but tough rancher helped tame wild, wooly Arizona

Burton C. Mossman stood barely 5 feet 8 inches tall with his boots on, and weighed 160 pounds after a steak dinner.

May 14, 2013 12:00 am Comments

Street Smarts: Slight but tough rancher helped tame wild, wooly Arizona

Burton C. Mossman as a teenager in his cowboy outfit. Mossman was a small man but tough as nails as he rid the Arizona Territory of cattle rustlers.

Street Smarts: Two Ott avenues named for 1870s Tucson sheriff

Hylor Ott

Street Smarts: Two Ott avenues named for 1870s Tucson sheriff

This 1871 reward poster is from the office of Pima County Sheriff Hylor Ott. After serving as the county's deputy treasurer, Ott beat Granville Oury for county sheriff.

Street Smarts: Two Ott avenues named for 1870s Tucson sheriff

A Tucson sheriff during the 1870s had not one but two streets named after him - but one of them is no longer in use.

Street Smarts:Tucson's Magee Road got its name from 1929 homesteader

Homesteading - or claiming federal land with the intent of living on it and improving it - gave a prominent northwest-side street its name.

Street Smarts:Tucson's Magee Road got its name from 1929 homesteader

This picture taken in 1937 in California shows, back row, John A. Magee and Catherine Magee, and front row, shortest to tallest, Robert, Betty and Jack Jr. A fourth child, Sally, isn't in the picture.

Street Smarts: Three downtown Tucson streets named for men killed by Apaches

Just south of the Tucson Convention Center downtown are three streets named in 1872 in honor of men killed by the Apaches.

Street Smarts: Three downtown Tucson streets named for men killed by Apaches

A photo by Ricardo Small, circa 1880, shows intersection of Meyer Avenue and Cushing Street. The building at far right is now Cushing Street Bar.

Street Smarts: Three downtown Tucson streets named for men killed by Apaches

Lt. Howard B. Cushing

Street Smarts: Tucson road named for ancient people shrouded in mystery

Makohoh Trail, south of East Snyder Road and east of North Soldier Trail, is named for the Makohoh Indians.

Street Smarts: Longtime Tucson teacher Oyama left his name on local street as well as school

Henry "Hank" Oyama taught Spanish at Pueblo High School, then spent 22 years with Pima Community College.

Street Smarts: Longtime Tucson teacher Oyama left his name on local street as well as school

You may already know that longtime local educator Henry "Hank" Oyama has a school named in his honor.

Miles St. named for general

Gen. Nelson A. Miles served in Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War. Miles was awarded a sword from the people of Arizona and was honored in a parade in 1887.

Miles St. named for general

This picture of Gen. Nelson A. Miles was taken in 1860. He is credited in tracking down Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches in Arizona.

Miles St. named for general

Gen. Nelson A. Miles served in Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War. Miles was awarded a sword from the people of Arizona and was honored in a parade in 1887.

Miles St. named for general

This picture of Gen. Nelson A. Miles was taken in 1860. He is credited in tracking down Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches in Arizona.

Miles St. named for general

Gen. Nelson A. Miles served in Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War. Miles was awarded a sword from the people of Arizona and was honored in a parade in 1887.