USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 17
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As early as 1871 anthracite coal was mined commercially near Cer- rillos. The production of bituminous coal begun in 1882. W. C. Rogers, an early merchant at Carbonateville, or Turquesa, worked the coal banks at an early day. Other early developers were O'Mara, Uptegrove, Will- iam Kesse and Richard Green. Between 1887 and 1892 the coal mining industry was on the boom, at least nine companies teaming and shipping. In 1892 most of the coal land was secured by the Santa Fe Railway Com- pany, which continued to operate the field until December, 1905. when the mine caught fire. Since that time Cerrillos has become well nigh depopulated.
Among the early settlers of the town properly called Los Cerrillos were O'Mara, who erected the first hotel; D. D. Harkins, who built the second hotel; William Nesbit, who conducted a saloon and served as county commissioner for many years; Uptegrove, builder of the Central Hotel: W. C. Hurt, merchant and miner ; Dr. Richards, who conducted a drug store and spent a small fortune in the quartz mine known as the "Marshall Bonanza": Judge N. B. Laughlin, a pioneer quartz miner at Carbonateville and owner of Laughlin's addition to Cerrillos; Arthur Boyle, who leased the Waldo mine about 1882; Michael O'Neil, E. F. Bennett and Austin L. Kendall.
Mr. Kendall, who is now postmaster of the town and a member of the board of county commissioners of Santa Fe county, has resided in the Territory since 1880. The first six years of his residence here he devoted to the livery business in Santa Fé. From 1886 to 1889 he conducted a general store at Dolores, or the Ortiz mine grant, but since the latter year has resided in Cerrillos. After a short time devoted to mercantile business he operated the waterworks from the time they were constructed, in 1892, until 1894. For about ten years he has served as justice of the peace, has been postmaster since March 12, 1900, and has twice been county commissioner-from 1892 to 1894, and from 1902 to the present time. Judge Kendall was born in Danville, Vermont, October 2, 1837. In 1855 he went to Mobile. In October of the latter year he sailed from New Orleans to join the expedition of General William Walker, the noted filibuster, but left this historic expedition at the first opportunity and re- turned to his home in the east. During the Civil war he was connected with the quartermaster's department, and was an eye-witness of the cele- brated fight between the Monitor and the Merrimac in Hampton Roads. From 1873 to 1880 he resided in Kansas, and during 1875 served the government as scout on Indian duty. Judge Kendall is a Republican. He is prominent in Masonic circles, a past master of Cerrillos Lodge
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No. 19, A. F. & A. M., of the lodge and chapter of Perfection in Santa Fé, and the Scottish Rite in Denver. He took the Scottish Rite degree in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1863, a short time after being made a Mason in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In Kinsley, Kansas, he was master of the local lodge for one term.
Charles Lawrence Thayer, of Santa Fe, is one of the survivors of the pioneers who came to New Mexico in 1849. Born at Milton, Massa- chusetts, August 8, 1823, in January, 1849, he left New Orleans with the intention of seeking the gold fields of California. Between St. Louis and Fort Leavenworth twenty-three of his party died of the cholera, and he himself was ill of that disease. On recovering, he drove an ox team for the government from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fé, 125 citizens' wagons being escorted by the government train, which arrived in August.
Mr. Thayer went to El Paso in two weeks, but while preparing to continue his journey to the coast was robbed of all he had by a man whom he had befriended. Being stranded financially, he returned to Santa Fé in June, 1850. On this trip he had as traveling companion the noted gambler, Major John R. Wells, of Mississippi, who was carrying $15,000 in gold packed on horseback. At the government post at Doña Ana an officer informed them of the intention of four soldiers to steal this rich luggage, their murder and the robbery being planned to take place as they passed Point of Rocks on the Jornada del Muerto. They succeeded in foiling the thieves by burying the gold under a cottonwood tree and returning to the barracks until the danger was over.
Since coming to Santa Fé the second time Mr. Thayer has been a continuous resident of the capital city, and has become one of the most widely known pioneer inhabitants of New Mexico.
Bernard Seligman came to Santa Fé in 1856 from Germany, and engaged in business under the firm name of Seligman & Clever, which partnership was maintained until the clection of Mr. Clever as delegate to Congress. Mr. Seligman was several times a member of the legisla- ture, serving in both houses, and was chairman of the board of county commissioners for three terms. He was also territorial treasurer, was commissioner to the exposition in Vienna in 1872 and to the exposition in Paris about 1881. He was mainly instrumental in building the court house, and to his efforts in the legislature is due the passing of the me- chanic's lien law, one of the most important acts of the territorial legisla- ture. He served in the army with commission from Governor Connelly as captain and quartermaster, and was a member of the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He died in Philadelphia, February 3, . 1904.
Arthur Seligman, son of Bernard Seligman, was born in Santa Fé in 1871. On completing his education he engaged as bookkeeper for Seligman Brothers. The present firm was organized in 1903, and Arthur Seligman became secretary and treasurer. He has been secretary of the commission of irrigation, and is still a member of said commission. He was a member of the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition Commission, and was also a member of the St. Louis World's Fair Commission and its treasurer. For six years he has been a member and for two years chair- man of the board of county commissioners, and has likewise been and is at present chairman of the Democratic county central committee. He was
Most Rev. J. B. Lamy
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made a Mason in Montezuma Lodge, is secretary of the chapter, and has attained the Scottish Rite degrees. He is also an Elk.
Alexander L. Morrison, of Santa Fé, is one of the few American survivors of the Mexican war now residing in New Mexico. His life has been an active one. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in October, 1832, and came to the United States in 1847. In New York city he en- listed in the Second New York Volunteers, was assigned to Colonel Bur- nett's regiment, and in January, 1848, left for Vera Cruz. The fighting in New Mexico was practically at an end when his command arrived in that country, but he filled up his term of six months, being discharged in New Orleans in July, 1848. In 1851 he was married in Troy, New York, to Jane Clark, and a few days later removed to Chicago. He served in the Illinois legislature, voting for General John A. Logan for the United State senate. During President Arthur's administration he was appointed United States marshal for New Mexico, and performed the duties of that office from 1882 until 1885. For two years he was engaged in the cattle business in Arizona. Soon after Harrison became president he ap- pointed Mr. Morrison register of the United States land office in Santa Fé, which position he filled four years. At the beginning of Mckinley's administration he was appointed United States collector of internal revenue, and filled that office in Santa Fe until he resigned in May, 1905. It is worthy of note that his office was one of four that stood first in the matter of conduct during his incumbency of the office, according to official reports. In November, 1905, Mr. Morrison became one of the founders of the Western Catholic Review, a monthly publication, issued from Prescott, Arizona.
Upon his return from a journey to France in 1867, among those who accompanied Archbishop Lamy to America were his two nephews, John B. Lamy and his brother, Antonie Lamy, the latter of whom was then pre- paring for the priesthood. Antonie Lamy was graduated from the Theo- logical Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1871. and after coming to New Mexico had charge of the parishes at Taos, El Rito and Manzano. He died in 1876 and his body was buried in the church at Manzano.
John B. Lamy came to America on account of ill health. He was born in the native town of Archbishop Lamy in 1842. The first twenty years of his life were spent with his brother. Father Antonie. In October, 1871, he married Mercedes, sister of Don Felipe Chaves, and soon after engaged in sheep raising, to which he devoted ten years. When he dis- posed of his sheep he invested the proceeds in real estate in Santa Fé, to the care and management of which he has since given his time. Mr. Lamy has been successful in his undertakings. He exhibits an active interest in public affairs, but has never sought political honors.
Celso Lopez, county treasurer of Santa Fé, was born in the capital city in 1874, and was educated in St. Michael's College. In the years 1903 and 1904 he served as probate clerk and the succeeding two years was col- lector and treasurer of the county. He is now serving as a member of the city council for the second term and is recognized as a leader in Repub- lican ranks. His father, Rafael Lopez, also a native of Santa Fé, repre- sented one of the old Spanish families and was for many years engaged in business here, but died in 1901.
Jacob Weltmer, of Santa Fé, who was elected department commander
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of the Grand Army of the Republic of New Mexico in 1905, has been a resident of the Territory since 1874. He was born in Palmyra, Pennsyl- vania, in 1841, and in July. 1863, enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving during the invasion of Pennsylvania. On the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted in the Forty-fourth Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battle of Nashville.
Jacob Weltmer became a resident of Santa Fé in 1874, where he has since been engaged in business. From 1876 until 1880 he was employed as chief deputy and clerk in the office of the United States collector of internal revenue in Santa Fé, and from 1888 until 1892, during the Harri- son administration. he was postmaster of the city. Mr. Weltmer has ex- hibited a keen interest in educational matters and was largely instrumental in securing the erection of the present attractive high school building on the Fort Marcy reservation, in the north end of the city. The building formerly occupied by the Grand Army post was turned over to the schools, largely through Mr. Weltmer's efforts, as president of the school board, and this act finally led up to the transfer of the reservation to the city, the agitation which followed resulting in the construction of the present handsome high school building on that portion of the reservation already occupied by the old school building. Mr. Weltmer's service on the school board was characterized by a rare manifestation of public spirit. Since 1881 he has conducted a stationery and book store in Santa Fé.
The Castillo family came from Spain at the same time as the de Vaca family. Marcos Castillo was born in Bernalillo county, now Sandoval, in 1859, a son of Jose Antonio Castillo. In 1862 the senior Castillo was killed by the Navajo Indians, who also stole six or seven thousand head of sheep. The widow was left with her son, Marcos Castillo, who early learned and followed the painter's trade, while later he engaged in mer- chandising from 1888 until 1890. In the meantime he was called to office, serving as probate judge from 1883 until 1885. and in 1884 was elected probate clerk and recorder. In 1801 he was elected a member of the board of education of Santa Fé for two years and since 1904 he has been probate clerk and ex-officio recorder, proving a capable official. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party.
Charles W. Dudrow, engaged in the lumber, coal and transfer busi- ness at Santa Fé. was born in Frederick, Maryland, in 1849, and became a resident of Santa Fé in 1870. For several years he was employed by Barlow & Sanderson, the noted overland stage line men, as express mes- senger. In 1880 he engaged in his present business and for several years has conducted a lumber and coal vard at Cerrillos. His business interests are capably conducted and guided by sound judgment, so that his efforts result successfully. He is widely known throughout the northern part of the Territory and is active in public affairs. He was twice elected sheriff but declined to serve, and for several terms he was a member of the board of county commissioners and chairman of that body.
Leo Hersch, a wholesale grain dealer at Santa Fé. in which city he was born in 1869, pursued his education in St. Michael's College, and has since been connected with the wholesale grain trade. Interested in municipal affairs, he served for three years as a member of the town board. His father. Joseph Hersch, was born in Germany and in 1847 became a resident of Santa Fé as a government contractor. He put up the first
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steam mill west of the Missouri river at a time when flour was worth twenty-five dollars per hundred pounds. He died in 1901.
Frank Owen, manager of the Santa Fe Water and Light Company, was born in Tennessee in 1869, and was educated in the University of Vir- ginia, winning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1889, and his Master of Arts degree in 1893. In March, 1904. he came to Santa Fé as manager of the Water and Light Company. He is a Knight of Pythias and past chan- cellor of Greenville Lodge, Texas. He is also a past noble grand of the Odd Fellows lodge of the same place and holds membership relations with the Elks.
Page B. Otcro, of Santa Fé, has been identified with public affairs for several years. A son of Miguel A. Otero, deceased, he was born in Wash- ington, D. C., January 14. 1858, and concluded his classical studies in the University of St. Louis and Notre Dame ( Indiana) College. He studied medicine for three years in Chicago, but did not work up to a degree, abandoning his studies to assist his father in his mercantile undertakings in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. In 1880 he helped to organize the New Mexico Telephone Company, with headquarters in Las Vegas, became superintendent of line construction, and established exchanges at Las Vegas, Santa Fé, Albuquerque and Socorro. He was afterward engaged in mining in New Mexico and Arizona. After serving for a while as deputy United States marshal he went to Roswell in 1890 and engaged in the sheep busi- ness with Pat F. Garrett for a year, while later he superintended the con- struction of the Mining Exchange building in Denver. He then became chief deputy United States marshal under Romulo Martinez, serving from 1885 to 1889. From 1891 to 1892 he was deputy sheriff and tax collector of Bernalillo county. During most of the life of the United States court of private land claims he acted as special agent for the government and arrested James Addison Reavis, the notorious swindler. Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he entered the First New Mexico Volunteer Cavalry as first lieutenant, was promoted to major, and remained with that command until it was mustered out. Upon his return he was again identified with the land court. He framed and caused to be introduced the bill creating the office of game warden for New Mexico, was appointed to that office by his brother, Governor Otero, and occupied it until the ap- pointment of his successor April 27, 1906.
A. J. Fischer, a druggist of Santa Fé, was born in St. Louis in 1867, and came from that city to Santa Fé in 1883. In 1888 he was a student in the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and graduated as Ph. G., and since his return has continuously resided in Santa Fé. He was chief clerk in the postoffice from 1894 until 1896, and in the latter year purchased the store which he has conducted continuously since. For the past three years he has been secretary for the territorial board of pharmacy, and is secretary of the Elks Lodge No. 460.
H. B. Cartwright was born at Kossuth, Des Moines county, Iowa, in 1852. He located in Santa Fé in 1880. He was first engaged in a book- selling and news business but in 1881 engaged in the retail grocery busi- ness. He was successful in building up a large and paving establishment. and in 1902 found that it was desirable to divide the business so as to have the wholesale and retail parts of the store conducted separately. This was done, and since that time the firm of H. B. Cartwright & Bro., with
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H. B. Cartwright as president and manager, has been doing an exclusively wholesale grocery trade. Mr. Cartwright is a man of great energy and force and is considered one of the best buyers in the grocery trade of New Mexico. He has filled a number of offices in his county, having been the treasurer and collector for a number of terms. He is a Mason, belong- ing to both the Scottish Rite and Knight Templars, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.
Samuel G. Cartwright, a brother of H. B. Cartwright, was born in 1869. He was educated in the public schools and at the State University of Iowa, graduating in the class of 1892 with the degree of Ph. B.
He joined his brother in the grocery business in 1892 and aided him in building up a prosperous trade. When the retail and wholesale depart- ments of the store were separated, in 1902, S. G. Cartwright was made manager of the retail store, which is conducted under the name of the Cartwright-Davis Co. He has also held a number of local and territorial offices, being at this time a trustee and secretary and treasurer of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
He was married in 1904 to Miss Bertha Straub at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. They have three children, Miriam, Edward William and George Dewey.
Isaac Sparks, of Santa Fé, was born in Pimiento, Indiana, in 1866, and after residing for a time in Denver, Colorado, came to Santa Fé in 1891 as manager of the electric light company. He is also owner of the telephone system, and is still manager of both the water and electric light works. In 1902-3 he served as mayor of the city, and has been an influen- tial factor in municipal affairs.
H. S. Kaune has resided in Santa Fé since 1887, and has been en- gaged in merchandising in the city since 1896. He was born in Illinois in 1856, and when a young man of twenty-one years came to the Territory, where for ten years he has conducted a prosperous commercial enterprise. Since 1904 he has been a member of the city council of Santa Fé, and is a public-spirited citizen who does all in his power for the advancement, progress and welfare of this portion of the country.
William Bolander, a pioneer harness maker of Santa Fé, who came to this city in 1867, arrived in the Territory in 1866 as a saddler for the government at Fort Marcy. He made the journey with a train to Albu- querque and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this portion of the country. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, and his first western experience was with the wagon train to Utah in 1861. Returning to the middle west, he enlisted in the Nineteenth Indiana Battery, which was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps, and he participated in the campaigns in Tennessee, Kentucky, and the march to the sea, being mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1866 he went to Albuquerque with an overland train, but later returned to the east and came with another train in 1867, when he be- canie a saddler at Fort Marcy, and was such until 1867, when he started a business of his own. He was with the army until 1865. He was a charter member of McRae Post, G. A. R., which was the first post organized, but which later ceased to exist. Afterward he joined the present post, Carlton, at Santa Fé, and he has also been an Odd Fellow since 1861, in which order he filled every office.
J. S. Candelario, a prominent curio dealer of Santa Fé, was born in
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Bernalillo county, New Mexico, in 1864. His father, J. A. Candelario, came from Spain and became connected with the curio business in 1869, since which time the enterprise has been conducted with constantly grow- ing success, the same being one of the representative establishments of this class in the southwest. J. S. Candelario has served as public officer several times on the Democratic ticket. He is also a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias lodge and a past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Candelario has taken an active interest in promoting the growth of the city and Territory, and is a successful merchant and proprietor of the original old curio store at Santa Fé.
J. V. Conway, proprietor of the Normandie Hotel at Santa Fé, was born on the Cimarron, in Colfax county, New Mexico, in 1872. He was educated at St. Michael's College, at Santa Fé, and after pursuing a business course joined his father in the restaurant business, conducting the Bon Ton on San Francisco street in Santa Fé. The father died in 1898 and J. V. Conway continued as proprietor of the restaurant until July, 1905, when he purchased the Normandie, which he has since conducted. He is an enterprising business man and has been a factor in progressive citizen- ship. For four years he served as county superintendent of schools.
Norman L. King, chief draftsman in the surveyor general's office at Santa Fé, was born in Washington, D. C., in 1871, and acquired his educa- tion in the Maryland Agricultural College. He came to Santa Fé in February, 1895, and has since been connected with the surveyor general's office as a draftsman. He was made a Mason in Montezuma Lodge No. I, A. F. & A. M., in which he is now junior warden, and he is also exalted ruler of the Elks.
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HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
MORA COUNTY.
On February 1, 1860, the original Mora county was created from Taos, and constituted all the territory east of the Rocky Mountains, or the pres- ent limits of Taos county, to the territorial boundary. By act of January 18, 1862, its boundaries, which were substantially the same, were defined as follows: On the north and east, the limits of the Territory of New Mexico; on the southi, the northern limits of the county of San Miguel; and on the west, the tops of the ridge of mountains which divide the valley of Taos from Mora and Rayado. In 1868 the boundary between Mora and Taos counties was relocated. in 1869 the northern part of Mora was set off to form Colfax county, and in 1893 Union county was organized ; thus the county was reduced to its present bounds.
As now constituted Mora county has an area of 10.304 square miles, being slightly smaller than Taos. It lies in the northeastern portion of the Territory, in the second tier of counties both from the east and the north. It has a population of 2,500, half of which is included in Mora, the county seat.
Physical Features and Resources .- The physical feature which gives Mora county most of its beauty, and at the same time is of greatest practical value, is its series of magnificent valleys. As one enters the county from the southwest the first garden spot that attracts attention is the beautiful emerald green of Cherry Valley and Watrous. These beautiful valleys are watered by the Sapello and Mora, from which lead irrigation ditches in all directions. The streams are banked with cotton- wood, elder, wild plum and cherry trees, and the fields spread with or- chards, gardens and lovely homes, while great fields of alfalfa wave green and purple. This was the first section in New Mexico to be settled by American farmers. The Mora Valley itself, surrounding the town by that name, extends for nearly fifteen miles along the river, with a width vary- ing from half a mile to a mile, and contains about 6,000 acres. It is divided into small farms, all highly cultivated and especially celebrated for its wheat. Surrounding the valley on all sides are lofty mountains, clothed with gigantic pines. Another charming valley, larger in extent, is that of La Cueva, situated just outside of the Canyoncito of the Mora, and watered by the Cebolla and Coyote. It lies in a perfect amphitheater of hills, and these are overtopped with mountains. The floor of the valley is a smooth plain, over 50,000 acres in extent. and is the scene of the great operations of the La Cueva Ranch and Cattle Company, noticed at length elsewhere.
The western half of the county is a beautiful farming country, being protected from high winds by the main range of the Rocky Mountains. Within the main valley flow the Mora, the Coyote. Cebolla. La Jara and Sapello, each of which runs through a fertile valley of its own. The
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prairies are covered with gama and blue-joint grass, and, as they are cut with ravines, furnish plenty of shelter for cattle and sheep, the raising of which still forms the main industry of the county. Wheat, oats and corn are all grown on irrigated lands, although the nights are too cool in the western portions of the county to raise some varieties of the latter grain with great success.
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