Wetherill, Louisa Wade (1877–1945)

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Wetherill, Louisa Wade (1877–1945)

American explorer and trader. Name variations: Asthon Sosi (Slim Woman). Born Louisa Wade, 1877, in Nevada; grew up in Mancos, CO; died 1945; sister of Nellie Wade Coston; sister-in-law of Richard Wetherill (explorer); m. John Wetherill (explorer and trader); children: 1 son; adopted 2 Navajo girls, including Betty Rodgers.

With husband, established trading post at Ojo Alamo in Chaco Canyon (Utah), where she befriended Navajo and learned to speak their language; with husband and their partner Clyde Colville, ran a trading post near Oljato, UT (1906–10); earned trust of Navajo and became an expert on Navajo culture; started Hacienda De La Osa (She Bear) Guest Ranch near Tucson, Arizona (1921); worked with anthropologist Frances Gillmor on Traders to the Navajos (1934) which is considered a classic; became known as Asthon Sosi (Slim Woman) among Navajo. Inducted into Arizona Women Hall of Fame.

See also Mary Apolline Comfort, Rainbow to Yesterday: The John and Louisa Wetherill Story (Vantage, 1979).