He was born John Lorenzo Hubbell, but gradually came to be addressed as "Don", a Spanish term of respect. (NPS)
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.
