William B. Douglass, explorer

[William Douglas]

William B. Douglass, (front row, 2nd from right) was Examiner of Surveys under the General Land Office when in 1909 he was in the expedition that 'discovered' Rainbow Bridge' in San Juan County on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

William B. Douglass is a popular name, so I am having trouble identifying him.

Can anyone help?

[Russell Lynn Drysdale]

[Russell Lynn Drysdale]

[William Douglas]

You are right, Russell. hence 'discovered'.

Following some feedback, I have made some progress...

William Boone Douglass's grandfather, Adam Douglass, when seven years of age, just after the failure of the Irish Rebellion, came to the United States with his uncle Adam, but returned to Ireland in 1812. There he joined the Irish Regiment and took part in the Battle of Waterloo (1815), where he was twice wounded and had his horse shot from under him. Soon afterward he returned to America and settled at New Market, Va., where he taught school and did surveying. He wrote two books, one of which, "The Irish Emigrant: An Historic Tale Founded on Fact," was published by John T. SHARROCKS, at Winchester, Va., in 1817. On April 27, 1819, Adam DOUGLASS married Nancy PENNEBAKER (or PENNYBAKER) daughter of Benjamin, granddaughter of Capt. Dirk PENNEBAKER of the Revolutionary War, and sister of Isaac PENNEBAKER, US Senator from Virginia. She was born in New Market, Va., 1834, and died at Laconia, Ind., Nov 9, 1843. They moved to Laconia, Ind., where both Adam DOUGLASS and his wife are buried in the old Goshen Cemetery one mike north of Laconia on the Corydon road.

[Russell Lynn Drysdale]

William , I know this doesnt really help , but The Navajo new exactly where it was at.. Centuries before Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas, Navajos were already settled in the Four Corners area of the Colorado Plateau. It wasn’t until 1581 that the first Spaniards made contact with them