Ken Henson <khenson@cableone.net> wrote:

> ...I've always associated the Mohawks with upstate New York, James
> Fenimore Cooper and all that. Does anyone here know how the "Mohawk
> influence" came to Yuma County, Arizona? Barring that, anyone have any
> suggestions as to how I might find out? Googling "Mohawk" and
> "Arizona" wasn't much help.
>

Steve, hope this is what your were looking for?

Mohawk El.: 545’ Loc.: Yuma

In 1869 Mohawk was not the same place as Mission Camp. The later is
thirty miles west northwest of Mohawk Station. The original stage
station was also not the same as Mohawk on GLO 1903 (twenty-two miles
to the west southwest of Chrystoval).

The original Mohawk Station was so named by men who created the
Butterfield Overland stage route. Many came from New York State and
brought place names from there to Arizona. As a stage station, Mohawk
vanished. The name came to be applied to the valley in which the stage
station was first located. Long before this time, the name had first
been applied to Mohawk Gap lying between Texas Hill on the east and
Antelope Hill on the west, now known as Mohawk Pass. This same place
shows a Mohawk on Smith Map 1879, the first map to use the name Mohawk
Range for the mountains bordering the western side of the valley.
These mountains were known in the early days as the Big Horn Mountain
or Mohawk Peak.

In the 1880’s the present Mohawk was established and the population was
sufficient to require a post office. In 1956 Mohawk consisted of a
section station on the railroad, a service station, a motel and a
single residence. According to post office records, Chrystoval was
changed to Mohawk as of September 30, 1905.

The above was taken from: Arizona Place Names, Revised and enlarged by
Byrd H. Granger, The University of Arizona Press, 1960.

------------------------------------------------

 

And now we know!! Because I was getting curious myself and about to do some searchs.  Much easier to keep reading the list serve and see the answer pop up on somebody else's hard work!!

 

Thanks for the quick history lesson, and it makes sense if they were from NY.