USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 35
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chapter and commandery at Roswell, to the Mystic Shrine at Albuquerque and to the Consistory of Wichita, Kansas, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree. His wife is prominent in the Eastern Star and for two years was matron of Roswell chapter, while from October, 1904, until October, 1905, she was grand matron of the grand chapter of New Mexico and was also a delegate to the general grand chapter at St. Louis, Missouri.
William J. Chisum, the second son of James Chisum, is engaged in the real estate business in Roswell. He was born in Denton county, Texas, August 7. 1864, and is one of the most active of the second generation of pioneers in the Pecos valley, doing everything possible to develop the re- sources of the country and make the valley prosperous and a desirable place of residence as well. He belongs to that class who have followed those who have blazed the trail and have exploited the resources and riches of the district to its vast renown and their own profit, having the ability to plan and perform and to co-ordinate powers until success has been achieved and his position in real estate circles is one of prominence.
On the 3rd of July, 1887, William . J. Chisum was married in Dodge City, Kansas, to Lina Tucker, a daughter of Robert Tucker, now of Still- water. Oklahoma, who served in the Mexican war. They have-one daughter, Josephine Branch, born July 25, 1889.
J. C. Gage came to New Mexico in the spring of 1887, locating in the Sacramento mountains, with postoffice at lower Peñasco. He came from Texas for the benefit of his wife's health, but shortly afterward was put in charge of church work as a circuit rider, preaching from White Oaks to El Paso in various school houses and churches throughout the mountainous district. He has traveled altogether for fifteen years in the Territory. He spent four years at James Canyon, one year at Weed and in 1892 located at Hope, where he continued his ministerial labors as a preacher of the Methodist church for ten years. He has been a most valued and important factor in the moral growth and progress of the Territory, especially in its southern section. and has planted the seeds of truth in many a desolate dis- trict. In 1902 he purchased a farm seven miles south of Artesia and in 1904 removed to the town. In 1905 he engaged in ministerial work there and at the same time became a factor in its business activity, purchasing the Artesia Hotel, which he conducted for some time. He was also one of the organizers of the Bank of Artesia, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, and became its president. Whatever he undertakes he carries for- ward to successful completion, utilizing the means at hand and bringing to his labors untiring industry, enterprise and determination.
Mr. Gage was elected one of the aldermen of Artesia on the organiza- tion of the town and held the office until April 19. '1906. He belongs to Artesia Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M., also to Artesia Lodge No. 11, I. O. O. F., of which he is vice grand. During the early vears of his residence in the Territory he devoted his time to preaching the gospel as a repre- sentative of the Methodist denomination throughout the eastern part of the Territory, and in later years has done effective service for his fellow men by planting the seeds of civilization and promoting progress in various localities. He is most highly respected and is loved by all who know him.
David W. Runyan, of Artesia. was born in Indiana, left home when thirteen vears of age and went to Texas with buffalo hunters, undergoing the usual experiences of such a life on the plains. He came to the Terri-
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tory from Mason county, Texas, in the fall of 1885 with the firm of Shriner & Light, owners of large cattle interests. He drove cattle to New Mexico and continued with the company for several years. This was the first firm to locate on the Peñasco, the date being the fall of 1886, at which time they filed the first land on this stream, where the town of Hope now stands. Prior to this period the Peñasco did not flow through to the Pecos river, but since that year, 1886, because of the cattle tramping down the bed of the stream, the Peñasco has flowed on until it has reached the larger body of water. About 1890 Mr. Runyan engaged in the cattle business on his own account on the Peñasco near Hope and has been thus engaged to the present time, covering a period of sixteen years. He located three and a half miles below the present town site of Artesia in 1895 and had cattle all over the country. He now makes his headquarters at Hope, twenty miles southwest of Artesia, and his old ranch, which cost him eighteen hundred dollars and which was located three and a half miles south of his present location, he sold for ten thousand dollars. He has today two hun- dred and eighty acres of land adjoining the town of Hope, which he owns in connection with J. C. Gage and which constitutes a splendidly improved farm. He is a very popular and prosperous stock man, thoroughly familiar with the development of his section of the Territory, and his business activ- ity and energy have been resultant factors in making him one of the pros- perous citizens of this locality.
This is an era of town building in New Mexico and with marvelous rapidity the unsettled districts of a few years ago have been transformed into populous villages and cities and thriving agricultural or horticultural communities. With this work E. A. Clayton has been associated in recent years, He came to the . Territory in 1899 and located at Roswell, whence he removed to Artesia, October 6, 1903. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres from John Boyles, who had homesteaded and commuted from the government this land, all lying west of Rose avenue. It was first owned by Clayton & Company and later the Artesia Improvement Company was organized with J. A. Cottingham as president, S. P. Denning secretary and treasurer and E. A. Clayton as manager. The company first laid out forty acres in town lots and after the town well was completed people came in such large numbers that the remainder of the tract was subdivided into lots. At this time Mr. Clayton is engaged in locating people on the government land around Artesia and the country is becoming rapidly set- tled. He has a farm two miles south of Artesia, where he has one hun- dred acres planted to alfalfa and forty acres in orchards. He is president of the Urton Lake Town Site Company, developing a town fifty-five miles north of Roswell, the district having been platted and the town laid out. Mr. Clayton is a very successful and vigorous promoter, towns springing up under his guidance as the corn springs from the fields which have been cul- tivated by the farmer. His labors are of a most practical nature and al- ways accomplish results. Moreover he is a public-spirited citizen, and while promoting individual success also advances the general welfare.
The town of Lakewood was originally known as McMillan. It was just a siding placed at the time the railroad was built through in 1894. At that time or shortly afterward a store was established by T. J. Scott. The next building was a saloon put up by L. W. Holt and G. M. Hogg. This was followed by a drug store, the property of Dr. Shedloski. The postoffice
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was removed from Seven Rivers to McMillan. In 1905 a town site com- pany was organized, purchased the land from J. M. Coburn and E. C. Cook, and the town was laid out, being called Lakewood. The discovery of arte- sian water here was the motive factor in laying out the town.
D. H. Burditt came to the Territory in 1884, located at Seven Rivers and was connected with business firms in that historic old town for two years. He then turned his attention to the stock business in this valley, in which he continued until 1904, when he located in Lakewood and engaged in the real estate business. He bought out and has since conducted the Seven Rivers Real Estate Company. He is engaged in immigration work from the middle states and has been largely instrumental in securing many families to establish homes in this part of the Territory, his efforts being not only a source of income to himself but of direct and permanent benefit to this section. In addition to his realty operations he is also engaged in the stock business.
M. W. Fanning, who came to the Territory from Texas in October, 1879, had served for four years as a Texas ranger in the employ of the Lone Star state. In 1880, with Peter Corn, he located a place in the Seven Rivers country and started to improve property there. They began business together and both have since figured in the material development and prog- ress of this portion of the Territory. Mr. Fanning has six hundred and forty acres of good land near Lakewood, where he is engaged in the rais- ing of cattle, sheep and horses. He is one of the oldest of the pioneer set- tlers of the Pecos valley and has remained in the Seven Rivers country since coming to the Territory more than a quarter of a century ago. He is now well known as an extensive stockman of large and profitable business interests.
Peter Corn, of Lakewood, who came to the Territory in the fall of 1879, located a place two and a half miles southwest of the old town of Seven Rivers in the spring of 1880, at which time there were but four families living there, and this was the only settlement between Roswell and the Texas line on the west side of the Pecos river. In 1882 Mr. Corn en- gaged in the sheep business, in which he continued until the spring of 1888, when he removed to Hope. There he resided until 1896 and was connected with stock-raising interests until 1903, when he began farming here. He has five hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land and his labors are demonstrating the possibilities of the locality for successful farming operations. Mr. Corn is well known as a pioneer settler and one highly respected.
WV. P. B. Willburn has been closely associated with the history of the Territory and deserves mention by reason of the fact that he and his brother, Frank Willburn, brought one of the first droves of cattle to this country in 1867. Mr. Willburn returned in 1872 and with his brother lo- cated on a ranch where the town of Roswell now stands. They had an old adobe dwelling, a storehouse and shops across from the present loca- tion of the court house and they remained here in the cattle business until 1878, when the "Lincoln county war" was waged, when they left the Ter- ritory and returned to Texas. In the days of their early residence in the Territory there was not a ranch between Roswell and St. Angelo, Texas.
In 1895 W. P. B. Willburn returned to the Territory from Texas and located near Hope, where he now lives, his place being about four miles Vol. II. 17
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east of the town. He has a good property, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and improved with many modern equipments and good buildings.
"Linn" J. C. Richards came to New Mexico in 1898 from Texas and located in Hope settlement below the town of Hope, where he engaged in the stock business. In 1903 he removed to his present place, a mile and a half west of Hope. Here he has an excellent farm property, owning alto- gether five hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, which responds read- ily to cultivation. He has ninety acres devoted to various crops and in ad- dition fifteen acres is planted to alfalfa, while a fine orchard covers twenty- four acres. Mr. Richards, Mr. Riley and Mr. Read were the first men to ship apples by car-load from Hope, making the first shipment in 1904, and in 1905 the shipment reached fourteen car loads. Mr. Richards is doing much to demonstrate the possibilities of this locality as a fruit-producing center and is thus contributing to his own success and at the same time leading the way that others may follow and enjoy the benefits of horticult- ural development and progress in this part of the country.
Joseph T. Fanning, one of the oldest and most substantial citizens of the Territory, now farming near Hope with a property embracing three hundred and twenty acres of land, canie to New Mexico from Texas in 1880 and located at Seven Rivers. He engaged in business there for about fifteen years and was also prominent and influential in community affairs. He was serving as deputy sheriff under Pat Garrett at the time when Billy the Kid was leading his band of lawless followers in many depredations, only to be ultimately apprehended by Garrett.
In 1900 Mr. Fanning came to the Hope settlement and located at his present place, which he purchased of W. F. Daugherity. He has three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he is bringing under a high state of cultivation. While in Texas he served for two years as a Texas Ranger. He was county assessor of Eddy county in 1901-02, and is one of the oldest and most substantial citizens of the Territory, working toward those ends which are of permanent benefit in the Territory's development.
W. P. Riley came to the Territory in the fall of 1887 and spent the winter at La Luz. In the fall of that year the Peñasco went through to the Pecos, and in 1888 the first ditch was taken out of Peñasco by John A. Beckett. It was also in the fall of 1888 that Mr. Riley filed on his present place, two and a quarter miles west of Hope. He has four hundred acres here, including a large orchard and fine fields of alfalfa. The orchard covers fifteen acres and he produces some excellent fruit. He has raised some pears weighing two pounds each.
Mr. Riley is a very progressive citizen, constantly seeking out new methods for improvement and advancement, and is one the prominent and influential men of the community. Recently he has established an automobile line from Artesia to Hope, with two machines. He is in touch with modern advancement and has conducted his interests along lines of improvement which make him a leader in the movements.
Robert Weems Tansill, who was very active and prominent as a pro- moter of the Pecos valley, his business enterprise, capacity and diligence contributing in substantial measure to its development and settlement, made his home at Carlsbad, where he passed away December 29, 1902. He was born August 20, 1844. in Prince William county, Virginia, and was the
yours Very Truly, R. r. Jansill,
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LOCAL HISTORIES
only child of Robert and Fanny (Weems) Tansill. In the maternal line he was a direct descendant of Mason Lock Weems, a well-known historian of the Revolution and the author of the Life of Washington. It was he who wrote the hatchet story. He was also an Episcopalian clergyman, hav- ing charge of the church at Alexandria, Virginia, near Mount Vernon, of which General Washington was a communicant.
Robert W. Tansill was educated at Alexandria, Virginia, and in Georgetown University, at Georgetown, District of Columbia. In the spring of 1861 he accompanied his maternal grandparents to Illinois, and shortly afterward went into business at Clayton, engaging in the confec- tionery trade and the jobbing of cigars. On the Ist of January, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Motter, and in 1868 they removed to Chicago, where he continued successfully in business until the disastrous fire which swept over the city in October, 1871. He lost everything but his determination and enterprise, and he soon afterward resumed business, confining his attention exclusively to the cigar trade. Shortly afterward he originated the "Punch" cigar, which won him fame and fortune. It proved to be a ready seller and the demand for it was so great that he had to increase his working forces in order to meet the call of the trade. He was the originator of the premium method of advertising. Through the conduct of his cigar business he accumulated a large fortune, but overwork and an inherited tendency to pulmonary disease undermined his health, so that he had to retire from business in 1887. He visited the most cele- brated health resorts of America and of Europe, and in 1888, while in Colorado Springs, he met C. W. Greene, of Chicago, and through him be- came interested in the Pecos valley. He was one of a large number of Chicago 'people Mr. Greene piloted to the valley in September, 1888, and from this visit resulted the original Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company.
It was Mr. Tansill who first interested J. J. Hagerman in the Pecos valley. When the money shortage of 1893 to 1897 irretrievably embar- rassed the old irrigation company, Mr. Tansill was appointed receiver, July 19, 1898, and it was almost wholly due to his efforts that the affairs of the company were straightened out successfully and put upon a paying basis. In 1888, when the party of Chicagoans arrived in this country, there was nothing here but prairie dogs, jack rabbits and wild, open country. The party camped at the Eddy Brothers' ranch, the rock house, which was lo- cated about two miles north of Carlsbad. At that time C. B. Eddy, who afterward became a promoter of this country, was engaged in the cattle business. While talking to Mrs. Tansill he told her that it was the inten- tion of several people of the locality to start a town, and she suggested that the proposed village be called Eddy. This was done, but in later years Mrs. Tansill suggested that the town be called Carlsbad, from the fact that some springs had been discovered near the town, and they were called Carlsbad from the famous springs of Germany. Mrs. Tansill agitated this change until it was finally adopted by a vote of the people. A circular, "To the Citizens of Eddy," by R. W. Tansill, furnishes the following his- torical facts and arguments :
"Mr. Charles B. Eddy had determined to give this town the Spanish name 'Halagueno.' This was in October, 1888. Admiring friends, wish- ing to honor him, suggested the name of 'Eddy.' Later the county was
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HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
named 'Eddy.' The desirability of changing the name has been dis- cussed ever since the curative properties of our springs have been demon- strated.
"About a year ago the name of 'Carlsbad' was proposed for our city. It struck me at once as being not only appropriate, but suggestive as well. up to that time our celebrated 'Carlsbad Springs' had been known as 'Tan- sill Springs.' No, I will not say known, for as 'Tansill Springs' no one ever gave them a second thought. I suggested applying the name of 'Carls- bad' to the springs, owing to the resemblance of the waters to those of their German namesake. It was done, and the effect has been electrical. I cer- tainly meant no reflection upon the name of Tansill by removing it from the springs, to which it did not apply, any more than do I mean any reflec- tion upon the name of Eddy by favoring the name of Carlsbad vs. Eddy. But before forming a definite opinion I tested the name of 'Carlsbad,' as explained, and the results have thoroughly convinced me that the name of Tansill as applied to the springs was as great a mistake as it would be, in the light of experience, to continue the name of Eddy for our city.
"What has been our experience? Briefly stated, since September, 1888, more than $10,000,000 have been invested here, approximately as fol- lows: Over $5,000,000 in the railroad, over $2,500,000 in the P. I. & I. Company, and the remainder in other companies and by private individuals. Give us people and our prosperity is assured. If any one will tell me how we can secure them, except through united effort and advertising, I shall be glad to learn. Since our town was named, the curative properties of these springs have been demonstrated. I believe this fact to be worth millions of dollars to this town and valley, if properly advertised. Such a boon rarely falls to the lot of any community, and certainly no people in- heriting such a valuable curative agent should, for one moment, hesitate about giving it the widest publicity possible. With these facts before 11s, I ask, do you consider it wise to continue for our town a name that has neither meaning or significance, and one which we do not and can not ad- vantageously advertise? Personally, I would distinctly say no. The major portion of my life has been devoted to practical advertising, and after a most thorough and exhaustive investigation I am convinced that the proposed change of name will bring with it inestimable benefits and sup- port which will greatly stimulate every business interest of this town and valley."
Since the death of Mr. Tansill his wife has conducted the business affairs left by him, and has continued in the work which her husband began of promoting the Carlsbad country, inducing immigration and advancing its interests through the development of its material resources.
Will H. Merchant, living in Carlsbad, is deputy county treasurer of Eddy county. He is a son of Clabourn W. Merchant, a pioneer cattleman of New Mexico and Arizona, who resides in Texas. The son was born in Denton county, Texas, November 1, 1874, and was reared in the Lone Star state. Having acquired his education, he spent five years in the cattle in- dustry in the Indian Territory, and since February, 1897, has resided in Eddy county, save for the brief period of one year spent in ranching in North Dakota.
In his political views Mr. Merchant is an earnest Democrat, and since February, 1904, has filled the office of county treasurer, in which position
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LOCAL HISTORIES
he is found to be prompt, methodical and reliable. He is a Mason, be- longing to Carlsbad Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M., and in the community where he resides he has a wide and favorable social acquaintance.
W. F. Daugherity, engaged in farming, with three hundred and sixty acres of good farming land near Dayton, and also owning a half interest in a forty-acre addition to the town site, is prospering in both branches of his business. He came to the Territory in 1883 from Texas and located at Las Vegas, where he remained for a year. In 1884 he removed to Lin- coln county, settling on Benito, near Fort Stanton, while in 1885 he re- moved to James canyon, on one of the heads of the Peñasco. He was the first man to put a board roof on a house in that canyon. In 1892 he removed to Hope and built the third house in that settlement. Making his headquarters there, he had sheep over the valley and was suc- cessfully and extensively engaged in the sheep-raising industry until the fall of 1900, when he sold out. In 1901, however, he again engaged in the sheep business as a partner of George Beckett. with whom he con- tinued until he disposed of his interests in January, 1905.
In 1897 Mr. Daugherity took up his abode upon his present place near the town of Dayton and purchased the property in 1901. Since disposing of his sheep he has been engaged in farming here, having three hundred and sixty acres of cultivable land, from which he is now producing good crops. He is also interested in the Dayton town site, owning a half interest in a forty-acre addition thereto. His property is valuable and is being rapidly developed. He has great faith in the future of this country, and that his trust is well placed is indicated by the rapid rise in realty values and the substantial manner in which the work of agricultural and horti- cultural development and of stock-raising is being carried forward.
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HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
CHAVES COUNTY.
Chaves county is in the southeastern portion of New Mexico, the sec- ond county from the southern territorial boundary, north of Otero and Eddy. It lies south of Roosevelt and throws up a narrow strip of terri- tory into Lincoln. It has an area of 11,520 square miles and a population of nearly 5,000 people. Roswell, the county seat, is one of the brisk, at- tractive and somewhat remarkable cities in New Mexico, situated in the midst of a wonderful artesian belt and a rapidly developing district of farms and orchards, and being only eight miles northeast of the great Honda reservoir, under process of construction by the United States gov- ernment and designed to irrigate 10,000 acres of land immediately adjoin- ing that city.
Chaves county comprises a section of country about a hundred miles square and is the heart of tlie Pecos valley, through whose western third flows the river by that name, the second largest in the Territory. The affluents of the Pecos, from the west, are the Rio Hondo, Rio Felix and Spring river. The eastern half of the county is occupied almost wholly by the Staked Plains.
Organization and County Officials .- By an act of the legislature, passed in 1889, two new counties, named Chaves (with Roswell as the county seat) and Eddy (with Eddy as the county seat), were cut off from the eastern half of Lincoln county. The continuous roster of county offi- cials commences with 1891 and is given below :
1891-2 :- County commissioners, E. T. Stone (chairman; died Jan. 25, 1891), Henry Milne (appointed by Governor to succeed Stone), A. B. Allen, W. P. Chisum; clerk, Frank H. Lee; sheriff, C. C. Fountain ; treasurer, James Sutherland ; assessor, C. S. McCarty.
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