USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 49
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County Organization .- Judge Theodore W. Heman, of Tucumcari, took the initial steps in the organization of the county, during December, 1902, and received the hearty co-operation of all American citizens. A committee was finally appointed, consisting of A. D. Goldenberg, W. F. Buchanan and J. A. Street, to present the matter to the Territorial legis- lature, with the result that on April Ist, of the following year, Quay county was formally organized. It is worthy of note, in this connection, that the entire cost of organization to the tax-payers of Quay county was only $675. Tucumcari was fixed as the county seat, and the Board of Com- missioners at once let tlie contract for the erection of the court house to local contractors. The structure was completed and accepted in January, 1903, the total cost of its erection being $9.400; and for the price it is believed to be one of the best court houses in New Mexico.
County Officials .- Since its organization, the officials of Quay county have been as follows :
County Commissioners :- 1903-4. I. C. Barnes, Alexander Goldenberg, Jose Pablo Martinez ; 1905-6, S. R. Hendren, Pablo Medina, T. A. Wayne.
Probate Judges :- 1903-4. Theodore W. Heman; 1905-6, J. V. Gallegos. Sheriff :- 1903-6, J. A. Street.
Treasurer :- 1903-6, Donald Stewart.
Assessors :- 1903-4, Harry R. Neal; 1905-6, Pedro Romero.
General Physical Features .- The surface of the county is generally an undulating prairie, dotted by low mountains, the drainage being effected through the Canadian and Pecos rivers, with their tributaries. Springs and pools of water occur along these valleys, and the soil-a sandy loam- is such as to retain moisture to a remarkable degree. This is quite fortu- nate, as the rainfall seldom begins earlier than June. There may not occur during the summer more than one or two general rains, although local showers may frequent the valleys. In only a few instances have dams been constructed to impound the run-off from the water-sheds. There
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is only a limited amount of timber in the county, and it is confined to small areas of rough land which have a growth of pine and cedar.
Tucumcari .- Established by the Rock Island Railroad Company in 1902, Tucumcari has had a rapid growth, its estimated population being 1,300. Especially within the past few months its development has been somewhat remarkable, more than 1,000 of that number having arrived within this period; homestead filings before the United States Court Com- missioner have been made at the rate of twenty a day. The platted site of the town now covers 500 acres.
The owners of the original site were Alex. O. Goldenberg, Zee Smith, J. A. Street and Jacob Wertheim, who organized a town company in 1901, and in the spring of the following year appointed Judge Heman town site agent. Naturally the center of a fine cattle and sheep country, with the coming of the railroads and its establishment as the county seat, the town was destined to develop. A project is on foot, backed by its enterpris- ing Commercial Club, to develop artesian wells, as it is thought by ex- perts that the flow can be reached at about 1,000 feet. If this should prove the case, agricultural and fruit products would soon be added to the resources of live-stock, besides furnishing the town with an invaluable sup- ply of water for all domestic purposes.
Judge Heman appointed A. D. Goldenberg, W. F. Buchanan and Theodore D. Martinez as the first Board of School Directors, and chiefly through his efforts. five months after the county was organized, a mag- nificent school building was erected at a cost of $8,000. This, with the $10,000 court house, are the town's most pretentious structures. It has also a telephone system, a First National Bank, three hotels, two weekly newspapers and substantial business houses.
One of the strongest forces behind this unusual exhibition of town development is the Commercial Club of Tucumcari, organized in Septem- ber, 1904. and reorganized in September of the following year. The present officers are as follows: President, W. F. Buchanan ; vice-presi- dent. Donald Stewart; secretary, Col. T. W. Heman; board of directors, W. F. Buchanan, J. A. Street, Donald Stewart, C. C. Davidson and A. D. Goldenberg.
J. A. Street, serving as sheriff of Quay county, residing at Tucum- cari, came to this place October 28, 1901, and stretched the first tent in the town. In fact, he was one of the locaters and owners of the town site. He had been a resident of the Territory in 1897, at which time he began working as a cow puncher on the Bell ranch. He was instrumental in having the county of Quay established, being one of the committee that went to the legislature for this purpose. He was appointed the first sheriff of the county by the governor, and in 1904 was elected to the office, in which he is now serving.
Mr. Street also has profitable business interests. On the Ist of Octo- ber, 1905, he established a livery business, which he is still conducting. He is also engaged in cattle raising and ranching. He had considerable trouble with the rustler element when the county was first organized, but he has been prompt and fearless in the performance of his official duties, standing as a strong conservator of law and order, and he has thus be- come a menace to the evil-doer, while the law-abiding citizens look upon him with a feeling of security and protection. In his social relations he is
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connected with Tucumcari Lodge No. 29. K. P., and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 408, of Las Vegas.
The rapid growth of New Mexico finds illustration in the history of Tucumcari, which has had an existence of only five years, and yet is a thriving and enterprising town supplied with many of the modern im- provements known to the east. The rapid advancement of this section of the country has offered an excellent field to the real estate dealer and operator, and Col. Theodore W. Heman is now successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Tucumcari. He located here in 1901 and engaged in railroad construction work, and later was appointed agent for the town site company. He had previously resided in White Oaks, New Mexico, where he had taken up his abode in 1881. He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and, removing to the Territory, spent twenty years in mining interests at White Oaks. He has done much for the substan- tial improvement of Tucumcari, and is now serving as secretary of the Commercial Club. He is active in all branches of development, and was largely instrumental in having the county cut off from Guadalupe county in 1903. He was appointed the first judge of the Probate Court of Quay county. He is especially interested in educational matters, and the public school system has found in him a warm and stalwart . friend. He was a soldier of the Civil war and was lieutenant-colonel of a Missouri regiment, and is now serving as aide-de-camp on the staff of the commander-in- chief of the Grand Army of the Republic of the department of New Mex- ico, and is the department commander of the G. A. R. of New Mexico. Having the prescience to discern what the future has in store for this great and growing section of the country, rich in its natural resources and possibilities, he has allied his interests with a new, but rapidly devel- oping district, and is garnering in the fullness of time the harvest of his labors, while the community is benefiting thereby, his efforts in behalf of public progress being an elemental and beneficial force in the rapid growth of this section.
James A. Tomlinson, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine in Tucumcari, is a native of Indiana. He came to the Territory in 1877, making his way to Las Vegas, and in January, 1878, removed to Lincoln, where he entered upon the practice of medicine, being the first practitioner of that place. He continued there until 1880, when he removed to White Oaks and built the first house in the town. He was the probate judge that authorized the town site of White Oaks, being elected to the office in 1880 and serving for one term. On the expiration of that term he returned to Lincoln in 1884 and continued in the practice of medicine there until 1890, at the same time conducting a drug store. He likewise spent four years in Eddy in the drug business and in the practice. of medicine, and for two terms served as probate judge of Eddy county. He afterward practiced in Hagerman, La Luz and other places, and in 1902 came to Tucumcari, where he opened a drug store in connection with his office and has continued in merchandising as well as in the practice of medicine to the present time. His professional education was acquired in Fort Wayne (Indiana) University, and by subsequent reading, investigation and research he has kept in touch with the onward march of the profes- sion, and is an able and well read member of the medical fraternity.
Donald Stewart, a resident of Tucumcari, who is serving as county
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treasurer of Quay county, came to this place in charge of the Gross-Kelly Mercantile Company, which established business here at the planting of the town in 1901. The company sends its supplies over a radius of fifty miles. The store is well equipped with a large line of general goods, and the trade is constantly growing as the country becomes settled.
Mr. Stewart was first called to the office of county treasurer by ap- pointment, and in 1904 was elected to that position, which he is now filling. He is also the vice-president of the Commercial Club and one of its directors. He is active in public development and is a promoter . of many progressive measures. Bringing to the southwest the enterprise and activity which dominate other sections of the country, there are found here men of marked business activity and with progressive ideas concern- ing citizenship, and to this class Mr. Stewart belongs. His efforts are of a practical character, and those who know him recognize his worth as a citizen and individual.
A. B. Simpson, a merchant of Tucumcari, came to this city in 1901 and established a store on the organization of the town. Although he carried a general line of goods his stock was more largely hardware. He has continued in the trade to the present time and supplies the country for a large radius. His business has constantly grown with the settle- ment of this part of the Territory and his trade is now extensive and profitable. In addition to his mercantile interests he is vice-president of the First National Bank of Tucumcari. He is a native of Missouri and was reared to the occupation of farming. He resided on a ranch in Texas for some time, and came to the Territory where he established his home in the newly organized town and opened the store which he has since conducted. He now resides on his ranch, ten miles south of Tucumcari.
The business interests of Tucumcari find a worthy representative in M. B. Goldenberg, who dates his residence in the Territory from 1876, in which year he went to Santa Fe. In 1880 he turned his attention to the sheep industry as manager for Charles Ilfelds, extensively engaged in sheep raising, and was thus engaged for a number of years. In 1900, with the capital he had acquired through his own labors, he invested in a stock of merchandise and established a store at Tucumcari under the firm name of M. B. Goldenberg & Company, his partner being his brother, A. D. Gold- enberg. This relation has continued to the present time, and their trade has increased with the growth of the county, the business being now large and profitable. Mr. Goldenberg was also one of the incorporators and is agent of the Tucumcari Town Site Company. He is one of the best authori- ties on sheep in the Territory. His mercantile enterprise is a distributing point for a section of country covering a wide area. Public spirited, Mr. Goldenberg is interested in educational matters and public improvements and co-operates in many progressive measures that have been of direct benefit to this section of the Territory. Fraternally he is connected with Tucumcari Lodge No. 29, K. P., and is esteemed in social as well as busi-' ness circles.
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ROOSEVELT COUNTY.
Roosevelt county was organized March 31, 1903, being cut off from Chaves and Guadalupe. It lies in the easternmost tier of counties south of Quay, which was erected at the same time. Its western portions are included in the valley of the Pecos and its numerous tributaries, the cele- brated Llano Estacado, or staked plain, extending from Texas into its eastern section. The western part of Roosevelt county is also the scene of the important irrigation project, now being prosecuted by the Reclamation Service of the Interior Department, and which centers in the Urton Lake reservoir. . The land in that locality has therefore been withdrawn from the market by the general government until the irrigable area has been defined and the preliminary surveys been completed. The plan contem- plates the taking out from the Pecos river, north of Roswell, a canal run- ning to a large natural reservoir north of that place; from this reservoir the water will be conducted south and distributed over the rich lands be- tween the reservoir and Roswell, and will bring under cultivation 75,000 acres of land tributary to Roswell. This Urton Lake proposition has been thoroughly investigated by the government engineers, all preliminary work done, and the reservoir passed upon most favorably. It now only awaits action, pending the completion of the Hondo reservoir.
The Portales Forest Reserve was established by proclamation of Presi- dent Roosevelt, October 3. 1905. and consists of about 181,000 acres in the central part of the county. At present there is no timber on this great tract of land, but the government foresters intend soon to commence the planting of such trees as black locust, pine, cottonwood and poplar. A. Z. Chester is the ranger in charge of the reservation.
The filings for homesteads have been gradually increasing since the organization of the county, about one-half the entire area being now taken up : the filings for the month of January, 1906, numbered 234. An espe- cially large migration of homeseekers has been noted from Kansas, Mis- souri, Texas. Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
Resources of the County .- The eastern part of the county is primarily adapted to the raising of stock. The pasturage is the native gama grass, which, although of short growth, is always nutritious, and seems to thrive as well in dry weather as in seasons of average rainfall. The result is that, unlike most range cattle, who do not have the benefit of this forage, those who feed on gama grass come from the pastures in the spring as fat as in the fall. The climate is also mild. In the Pecos valley both cattle and sheep are generally of the better breeds. Dairying is also mak- ing much progress in that section of the county.
It is in the western sections of the county, watered by the Pecos and its affluents, that the great development in all products of the soil and
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the more advanced processes of stock-raising are progressing. It is also a district of living springs, and late experiments and borings give reason to believe that it is within the artesian field which has done so much to ad- vance the country further to the south. It has been demonstrated that the Pecos valley, within Roosevelt county, is a fine country for melons, and that, on irrigated soil, such vegetables as sweet potatoes, beans and onions grow almost to perfection. Broomcorn, kaffir corn and maize have also been abundantly and profitably raised in the country surrounding Portales and in other sections. Indian corn ranges in yield from 23 to 53 bushels per acre.
County Officers .- Since the organization of Roosevelt county, in 1903, its officers have been as below :
County Commissioners :- 1903-4, W. O. Oldham, Robert Hicks, B. Blankenship ; 1905-6, J. D. Crawford, W. H. Montgomery, E. C. Price,
Probate Judges :- 1903-4, Charles L. Carter : 1905-6, H. F. Jones. Probate Clerks :- 1903-4, W. E. Lindsey; 1905-6, B. F. Birdwell. Sheriffs :- 1903-4, W. W. Odem: 1905-6, Joseph Lang.
Treasurers :- 1903-4, C. O. Leach; 1905-6, J. M. Faggard.
Assessors :- 1903-4, W. K. Breeding; 1905-6, J. E. Morrison.
Towns .- Portales, the county seat, was established by J. J. Hager- man, the promoter and builder of the Pecos Valley & Northeastern Rail- road. The first house occupied on the town site was not erected there, but was brought on wheels and placed on the ground in November, 1898. The site of Portales was originally owned by the railroad, but has passed into the possession of a corporation known as the Portales Townsite and Land Company. with the following officers: President, W. K. Breeding; treasurer. W. O. Oldham, and secretary. W. E. Lindsey. The first mer- cantile house established in Portales was by Charles Woodcock and W. P. Seymour. The latter retired, and Mr. Woodcock continued alone until 1901, when he formed his present partnership with Mr. Blankenship.
The extension of the railroad from Roswell into Texas, via Portales, called attention of frontiersmen to the advantages of the locality, and in the fall of 1900 quite a number came from the Lone Star state. At this time there were three business houses within the town limits. The first rapid growth began with the formation of the county and the fixing of the county seat. Since then its development has been steady, a very good class of citizens having settled in Portales and the surrounding country from the country to the east and northeast. It is becoming quite an im- portant shipping center for live-stock, feed, and agricultural and dairy products.
The contract for the court house at Portales was let to local con- tractors by the first Board of Commissioners. It was completed in 1905, at a cost of $10,000, and is splendidly finished and furnished. The struc- ture is composed of concrete manufactured in Portales, and the jail, now in process of erection, is of the same material. Another building which will greatly add to the substantial appearance of the town is the school house, whose cost will be $11,000. Briefly, Portales is a town of good prospects, in the extreme northeastern portion of the county, on the Pecos Valley & Northeastern road. It has three churches, two banks, good schools. the usual mercantile establishments, a fine court house, and, al- though it is outside the artesian district, its supply of well water and con-
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stancy of rainfall give assurances of substantial agricultural development of the surrounding country.
The town of Elida, a station on the Pecos Valley & Northeastern line, southwest of Portales, was founded by W. E. Lindsay and John H. Gee, in 1902. The first business house in the place was erected in January of that year, and practically all the land within five or six miles from town has been homesteaded since 1902.
A. L. Chesher, a rancher and ranger in charge of the Portales Forest Reserve, came to New Mexico in 1900, and entered ranching and stock- raising. He has since been engaged in these lines and has been very suc- cssful in developing the resources of the new county. He was appointed chief ranger in charge of the Portales Forest Reserve, and is now dis- charging the duties of the position in connection with the management of his private business interests. With firm faith in the Territory and its future, he is working along progressive lines for its advancement and de- velopment and his labors are proving of direct and immediate service- ableness.
Judge W. R. McGill, who came to the Territory in October, 1900, from Seymour, Texas, where he had served as judge of the district court, has, during the past six years, been identified with territorial interests and his business activity has been of a character which . has contributed to general improvement as well as individual success. He came with cattle and located eight miles north of La Lande in Guadalupe county, New Mexico. In February, 1905. he sold his cattle interests and removed to La Lande, where he became interested in the townsite of La Lande with the Santa Fe Railroad Company. He is now engaged in making improve- ments, building the town and developing the surrounding country, and is thus a pioneer of the locality whose efforts are directed toward the utiliza- tion of the natural resources of the Territory along lines that are proving fruitful with success for both the general territory and for himself as well. He is the United States Court Commissioner at La Lande, and is taking great interest in settling the country with emigrants from the states.
Manuel Abreu is one of the New Mexico's native sons and a represent- ative of one of the old, distinguished and prominent families of the Terri- tory. His maternal grandfather, Santiago Abreu, was governor of New Mexico under Spanish rule, coming here from old Mexico to enter upon the duties of that position. He was accompanied by his brothers, Mar- cilino and Ramona Abreu. His father, Henry Maken, was a Frenchman, who came from Canada and married a daughter of Governor Ahreu. He (lied, however, when his son Manuel was but six months old, and the latter afterward took his mother's maiden name.
Manuel Abreu was born in Santa Fe. New Mexico, in June, 1857. and in 1873 went to Fort Sumner, where he engaged in the sheep business in connection with his brother-in-law, Pahlo Beaubien, a son of Charles Beaubien, who was the original owner of the Maxwell land grant. Carlos Beaubien and Miranda were the original grantees from the Spanish gov- ernment. Lucien Maxwell. a French-Scotchman, horn June 24. 1829, mar- ried Luz Beaubien, a daughter of Carlos Beaubien, and Mr. Maxwell later bought the largest part of the grant from Mr. Beaubien, and after his death purchased the remainder from the heirs. About 1870 Mr. Max-
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well sold the grant to a company for six hundred thousand dollars, at which time he removed to old Fort Sumner on the Pecos river, then located in San Miguel county. He purchased the improvements at the fort from the government and turned his attention to cattle and sheep raising and farming. He began to further improve the property, taking ditches from the Pecos river, and soon developed a beautiful place. He died in 1875 and Pete Maxwell, his son, took charge of the property, but did not keep it up very well, and about 1885 sold out to the Fort Sumner Land & Cattle Company, while he and others moved down the river, one mile, and started the town of Fort Sumner, which is in existence today. There Pete Max- well, who was born April 27, 1848, lived until his death on the 21st of June, 1898.
Manuel Abreu began sheep raising in 1873, and has continued therein to the present time. He also conducts a store in Fort Sumner in connec- tion with his sheep and stock business. He is a representaitve of one of the prominent old Spanish families of the Territory and is displaying modern business enterprise in the conduct of his interests here.
A. B. Harris, a native of Tennessee, became a resident of Texas, going to Colorado, that state, where he arrived on the 12th of July, 1879. In November of the same year he removed to New Mexico, locating in Colfax county, about forty-five miles south of Raton, where he engaged in the stock business until 1882. He then removed to Fort Sumner and became manager of the McBroom ranch, located forty miles north of the town and known as the Coniva ranch. He continued as manager of that place until 1891, when he engaged in the stock business on his own account on the Coniva ranch, being thus engaged until 1895. In that year he removed to Fort Sumner, where he continued in the stock business until 1904, when he sold out and devoted his energies to the conduct of a mer- cantile enterprise. He also had a branch store at Sunnyside, but has now combined the two interests, and is successfully carrying on the business at the latter place, having a well equipped store and drawing his patronage from a large area of the surrounding territory.
Charles H. Sims, who is engaged in merchandising in Elida, New Mexico, where he has resided since January, 1904, erected the first mer- cantile store in this place and has since continued in the conduct of the business. He is a native of South Carolina and lived in Texas before coming to New Mexico. On his removal to this county he took up a homestead and is carrying on ranching. He has also engaged in the bank- ing business. The Elida Savings Bank commenced business May 28, 1906, officered by J. P. Stone, president; L. T. Lester, vice-president, and Mr. Sims, cashier. Many new towns have been established in New Mexico with the advent of the railroads, and are attracting to the various centers men of enterprise, ability and executive force, who, recognizing their op- portunity, are developing towns along modern lines of progress and ad- vancement. Of this class Mr. Sims is a representative and his enterprise is one of the strong and forceful elements in the growth of Elida.
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