USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
At one time Doña Ana was anxious for a union with El Paso county, Texas, but finally settled down to single hlessedness. In 1867 her citi- zens, with those of the county across the line, petitioned congress to erect a new Territory of the districts named and call it Montezuma. They claimed that the area of the united counties would be sufficiently large, and the population much greater than that of most territories upon their organization.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Like those of most of the older counties of the Territory, the records of Doña Ana county are incomplete, being entirely missing for the period 1871-5. The following is as complete a record as can be collected from 1853 to date :
Probate Judges .- 1853-5, Richard Campbell; 1856, Pablo Melendez : 1856-59, Rafael Ruelas ; 1860, Anastacio Barela : 1861, Thomas J. Bull, Frank Higgins: 1862, Frank Higgins, John P. Deus: 1863, Neponi Y. Ancheta, John Lemon ; 1864-8, John Lemon ; 186g. Daniel Fietze, Pablo Melendez; 1870, Pablo Melendez ; 1876, Pablo Melendez ; 1877, Henry J. Cuniffe ; 1878-9, Pablo Melendez ; 1881, Maximo Castaneda ; 1899-1902, Albert J. Fountain ; 1903-6, Marcial Valdez.
Probate Clerks .- 1853, Joseph H. Tucker: 1854-9, James A. Lucas; 1860, G. H. Oury : 1861-2, Charles A. Hoppin ; 1863-5. James M. Taylor : 1866-9, J. F. Bennett, 1870, Ygnacio Orrantia; 1876, Daniel Frietze; 1877-9. William T. Jones (H. F. Ste- phenson appointed in 1879 to fill vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Jones) ; 1880-4, Horace F. Stephenson : 1885-6. Jesus S. Garcia; 1887-96, Horace F. Stephenson ; 1897- 1900, Jose R. Lucero ; 1901-6. Isodoro Armijo.
Sheriffs .- 1853-4. John Jones ; 1855-60, Samuel G. Bean; 1861, Marcial Padilla ; 1862, John A. Roberts; 1853, Fred Burkner ; 1864-5, Apolonio Barela : 1866-8, Mariano
562
HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
Barela 1869-70, Fabian Gonzales; 1881-2, J. W. Southwick; 1897-1900, Patrick F. Garrett; 1901-6, Jose R. Lucero.
County Commissioners .- 1876, Thomas J. Bull (chairman), Jacinto Armijo, Pablo Melendez ; 1877-8, Charles Lesinsky (chairman), John D. Barncastle, Pablo Melendez ; 1879-80, Guadalupe Ascarate (chairman). Eugenio Mareno, Sixto Garcia; 1881-2, Carlos H. Armijo (chairman), Nicholas Galles, Amado Arvizii; 1883-4, R. E. Smith (chair- man), Benjamin E. Davies, Eugenio Mareno; in August, 1884, Jacinto Armijo appointed to succeed R. E. Smith ; 1885-6. Mariano Barela (chairman), John D. Barncastle, Jacinto Armijo: 1887-8, Thomas J. Bull (chairman), Leon Alvarez, Brigado Garcia ; 1889-90, George Lynch (chairman), George W. Mossman, Thomas J. Bull; 1891-4. Tomas Gonzales (chairman), Numa Raymond, Leon Alvares Lopez ; 1895-6, Acheson McClintock (chairman), Charles Miller, Rosalio Baldonado; 1897-8, Charles E. Miller (chairman), Rosalio Baldonado, Jesus Silva : 1899-1900, Frank S. Oliver (chairman). Doyle Murray, Jesus Silva; in 1899, D. M. Sutherland was appointed to succeed Mr. Murray, and in 1900, E. E. Day succeeded Mr. Sutherland; 1901-2, W. B. Murphy (chairman), Charles E. Miller, Agapito Torres; 1903-4, C. E. Miller (chairman), Aga- pito Torres, Samuel Geck: 1905-6, Richard Nietzschmann (chairman), Francisco Jara- millo, Samuel Geck.
Physical Features .- While the surface of the county is mainly com- poses of plains and mesas, there are, nevertheless, the San Andres, Organ and Franklin mountains running north and south, at some distance from the eastern banks of the Rio Grande, which is the only water course of importance. Near the southern boundary between the Territory and Texas, where the Rio Grande sweeps toward El Paso, the mountain ranges approach nearer the river valley. The Organ mountains lie about eigh- teen miles east. Although unique in appearance, they do not derive their name from a fancied resemblance to any musical mechanism, but from the Orajons, a numerous tribe of Indians who inhabited the region in early days. The Spanish word, Orajon, means "long ears," and was given to the tribe on account of the physical peculiarity of its members.
The county slopes from north to south. Rincon, at the northern end, is 4,031 feet above the sea; Anthony, at the southern, 3.789 feet. Organ peak is 9,108 feet in height, and Florida station, on the Santa Fé, near the western boundary of the county, is 4,484 feet in altitude. What was acquired from Mexico by the Gadsden treaty of 1853 is mostly embraced within the limits of Doña Ana county, and the famed Mesilla valley lies entirely within it.
The plains of the county furnish an abundance of gramma grass, an unexcelled forage plant for beef cattle. The most progressive stockmen, how- ever, raise or lease large alfalfa fields, on which they give their cattle a final feeding before sending them to market. Doña Ana has acquired a high reputation for her vintage, the vineyards yielding from 1,300 to 1,500 gallons of wine per acre. Bee culture is also a growing source of profit, the wide-stretching alfalfa fields yielding a peculiar variety of honey, which is said to be very efficacious in all throat and pulmonary diseases.
The principal mining is carried on in the Organ mountains, the ores occurring on the contact line between limestone and porphyry, and embrace silver, galena and sulphuret of iron.
The Mesilla Vallev .- This far-famed region has given a special reputation to Doña Ana county, as it was the first portion of New Mexico to attract the attention of the Anglo-Saxon and secure settlement.
In the early days its richness attracted immigration from the four corners of the earth, and its fame had reached to the oldest Caucasian
563
LOCAL HISTORIES
cities. The era that succeeded the war, during which the great trans- continental roads were building, drew off from it the tide of immigration. It is one of the most fruitful areas in the world. At Fort Selden the valley spreads out to a fertile plain, some six miles in width and forty miles in length. Through it the Rio Grande meanders to where it enters the canyon above El Paso, Texas. On the east, some seventeen miles dis- tant, rises the range of mountains whose tall pinnacles resemble the pipes of a monster organ, while on the west the walls of the table land rise some 200 feet above the level of the valley.
The agricultural crops of Doña Ana, and especially of the Mesilla valley, are alfalfa, fruits and the cereals. In the gardens and vineyards the finest fruits of the temperate zone reach perfection. Nowhere does alfalfa flourish better or produce a greater tonnage. Indian corn grows to an almost fabulous height. But it is of its fruits that the valley is justly proud.
All hardy fruits reach perfection in Doña Ana county. Peaches, pears, plums, apricots, quinces, prunes and, above all except peaches, apples flourish. There are many large orchards. The earliest ones were entirely of apples, the future trees having been brought out on the stages of those days in the form of root-grafts.
The vineyards of this valley have long heen famous. For a long time they were composed entirely of the Mission grape, but a large number of other foreign varieties have been introduced with great success. These include the Muscat of Alexandria, Flaming Tokay, Rose of Peru, Gros Coleman, Cornichon, Black Burgundy, etc.
Las Cruces .- Las Cruces, the county seat, is situated nearly mid- way in the Rio Grande valley as it passes through Doña Ana county, and is on the branch of the Santa Fe road running from Rincon to El Paso. Various origins are given for the name, "The Crosses." One is traced to the crosses on the old mission. It is also said that a number of travel- ers were killed a little north of the present site of the town in 1848, and over their bodies, which were buried by soldiers, were erected two crosses. The present town has a fine court house, churches, an academy conducted by the Sisters of Loretto, and is the seat of the Territorial Agricultural College. Attached to the college is an experimental station.
With this general description of the town and the county, the sketches of several worthy pioneers who have materially assisted in the develop- ment of the Mesilla valley are presented below.
Horace F. Stephenson, for many years probate clerk of Doña Ana county, and one of the pioneers of 1853, is spending the closing period of his life as a resident of Las Cruces. He was born in Mexico in 1834, and in early life assisted his father in a general merchandise store in Texas. He did not come to New Mexico to reside permanently until 1869, when he located at Victoria, Doña Ana county, and engaged in trade. For sev- eral years thereafter he was in the stock business.
Among those who lived in Dona Ana county in the '50s, Colonel Samuel P. Jones was one of the most striking of the many picturesque frontier characters of those days. Colonel Jones was the last collector of United States customs to be located at Las Cruces, occupying the office in 1863, when it was removed to El Paso. He had served as sheriff in Kansas during the border troubles, and was an eye-witness to the burn-
564
HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
ing of Lawrence. In fact, he was one of the class of men known by the people of Kansas as a "border ruffian," and was a Confederate sympa- thizer. He was one of the early United States marshals for New Mexico, his first location being at Mesilla. He also practiced law, and United States Senator Stephen B. Elkins was at one time a student in his office. Colonel Jones was a man of excellent education, fine personal appear- ance, and unusually courageous. He finally removed to Silver City, where he lived in retirement until his death.
Stephen B. Elkins crossed the plains to New Mexico as a "bull- puncher," arriving in Mesilla with less than a dollar in his pocket. He prepared for the practice of the law in that town, and for a time was associated with Thomas B. Catron. The two made a strong combination -Catron as a lawyer, Elkins as a politician. He was early recognized as being extremely shrewd and diplomatic, and quick to take advantage of the slightest technicalities in the crudely framed early laws of the Terri- tory. One of his early undertakings in New Mexico was in the capacity of clerk in the Quartermaster's Department at Mesilla. Mr. Elkins might have remained there indefinitely and missed a brilliant career, had he not spelled the name "Arizonia" in one of the reports he was writing for his superior. This resulted in his immediate discharge, and he concluded to study law.
Numa Raymond was another of the "old-timers" of Doña Ana county and of the Territory. Born in Switzerland, he came to New Mexico as a boy in the late '50s. He was industrious and keen to seize advantages in the new country, and as years passed obtained quite a monopoly in the management and ownership of the old coach lines which traversed New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas. His chief source of profit in those days was the carrying of the government mail, for which he held a large num- ber of contracts, and in the defense of which he and his agents had their full share of fierce encounters with Indians and outlaws.
Mr. Raymond prospered financially, and, being a man of intelligence and good character, was a prominent participant in the public affairs of the counties in which he resided at different times. He served as probate judge of Socorro county, and when the railroad reached Las Cruces lo- cated there to engage in mercantile pursuits. With the development of the cattle industry he secured large interests in Lincoln county. He was sheriff of Doña Ana county, and a member of the first Board of Regents of the Agricultural College, being largely instrumental in securing its location at Las Cruces.
Still another pioneer of the county and widely known throughout the Territory was ex-Governor Arny, who, in November, 1881, died very suddenly in Topeka, Kansas, while on his way from New York to New Mexico. He had visited England in behalf of the heirs to the great Hyde estate. and is said to have had in his possession papers disposing of prop- erty amounting to $450,000,000. In the prosecution of these cases the deceased had spent all his money, mortgaged his home, and based his livelihood and his reputation upon the eventuality of establishing the rights of his clients; but sudden death cut him off when success seemed near at hand.
A Picture of the Sixties .- A copy of the Mesilla Times of October 10, 1861, gives a fair idea of those actively engaged in business there, at
565
LOCAL HISTORIES
Las Cruces, and at other points in the county. It also indicates that the people of New Mexico were having troubles of their own, besides the Civil war.
At the date mentioned, R. P. Kelley was editor of the Times, and B. C. Murray & Co. publishers, and the copy of the paper is now in pos- session of John D. Barncastle, of Doña Ana. From its columns it is seen that in 1861 the following business and professional men were located at Mesilla : Freitze & Applezcler, bakers; M. H. Macwillie, lawyer ; Pedro Duhalde, merchant; W. Claude Jones, lawyer: Dr. J. A. Butler, physician and surgeon ; Hayward & McGrorty, merchants; E. Angerstein, merchant ; Kelley & Hughes, steam flour mills; Buchoz, Grangdeau & Co., general merchants; R. P. Kelley, surveyor; Joshua S. Sledd, saloon and market ; John Muns, proprietor of Casino Hotel.
John G. Ward was located at Las Cruces as proprietor of the Las Cruces Hotel, and M. Cahan was the jeweler and watchmaker of the town. Buhl & Gross advertised their Pino Alto House, on Bear Creek ; Samuel G. and Roy Bean called attention to their large saloon at Pino Alto; Sweet & Lacoste were merchants at Santa Rita, and A. T. Swa- bocher & Co. had a sawmill at "Tuleroso."
A news item, referring to the Indian troubles in the fall of 1861, says: "A meeting of the citizens of Mesilla was held at the court room for the purpose of organizing two companies of vounteers for three months' service against the Apache Indians. Isaac Langston had been commissioned as captain of one of these companies by Lieutenant-Colonel Baylor. The meeting chose the following company officers: Anastacio Barela, captain ; Stanislaus Albillar, first lieutenant ; Juan Jose Duran, second lieutenant : Vincenta Mestes, third lieutenant. The other officers of Langston's company were: Cayetano Goningus, first lieutenant ; Juan Maribal, second lieutenant ; Erangastur Charvis, third lieutenant."
Another item conveyed the following intelligence: "An express reached here on the 8th from Pino Alto bringing most urgent appeals for assistance. The Indians have Pino Alto, the copper mines and several large trains at different points, and even a company of forty armed men from this valley, perfectly besieged. The expressman had a horse shot from under him a mile from Pino Alto by the Indians, but started again and succeeded in making the trip alone and safely. Captain Mastin of the Arizona Guards is in a critical condition. The main artery of his arm is injured, and has begun to bleed several times, and unless he receives speedy surgical relief death must ensue. We are informed that Major Waller will also go to Pino Alto with a command of eighty men. He will be accompanied by about the same number of citizens of Mesilla, under command of Captains Anastacio and Barela."
MESILLA.
Until 1880 Mesilla was the county seat, and the headquarters of the United States land office and of the Third Judicial District. The town is chiefly noted for its magnificent orchards and vineyards, its streets being regular and lined with beautiful shade trees. Besides fruit and wine, its principal resources are the hay and grain raised in the surrounding dis- tricts. An abundance of water is obtained by means of irrigating ditches
566
HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO
from the Rio Grande and from drive wells. The town is about two miles west of Las Cruces.
A visitor to the peaceful, beautiful little village can scarcely conceive that its streets were the scene of one of the bloodiest tragedies which has ever marred the history of the Territory. It was a political riot of thirty-five years ago, which created widespread consternation throughout the Mesilla valley, and the story of its origin, occurrence and results is told by S. M. Ashenfelter, in an article furnished to the Silver City Independent. He says :
Col. J. Francisco Chaves and Jose M. Gallegos, familiarly known as "Padre" Galle- gos, were opposing candidates for the office of delegate to Congress. The Republican and Democratic parties were both thoroughly organized, in Doña Ana county, the former under the leadership of Col. W. L. Rynerson and John Lemon, the latter led by Pablo Melendrez and Mariano Barela, Democratic candidates, respectively, for pro- bate judge and for sheriff. From the opening of the campaign, intense party feeling had prevailed, and the struggle had assumed a bitter personal, as well as partizan, as- pect. Both parties appeared to be ready for serious trouble and eager to invite it.
It had been announced that, on Sunday, the 27th of August, 1871, a Democratic mass meeting would be held in the plaza of Mesilla, to be addressed by Mr. Gallegos. This was followed by an announcement that the Republicans, also, would hold a mass meeting at Mesilla, on that day. Among the best people, there was at once a general expression of fear that the two meetings could not be held without danger of serious collision. So strong was this belief that, at the request of the business men of Las Cruces and Mesilla, the leaders of the two parties came together in the interest of peace, and it was agreed that the Democrats should have the plaza, as originally arranged, and the Republicans would hold their meeting in front of the residence of John Lemon. This program was carried out, and with what appeared to be most satisfactory results. Both meetings had been held, and many of the people had departed for their homes in other precincts. So general was the impression that all danger of collision had passed, that Horace Stephenson, who, in support of Mr. Gallegos, had come up from La Mesa with over one hundred mounted men, mostly armed, withdrew from the plaza with his followers, started for home, and was out of hearing, before the trouble com- menced.
But the agitators were not satisfied. On one side, it was suggested that it would be a fitting ceremonial to close the day by forming in procession and march- ing around the plaza. On which side this suggestion first took form, it was im- possible to determine, that day; and it cannot be determined now. But, the other party, not to be outdone, immediately followed the example set, with the result that the two processions marched in opposite directions around the plaza. And the cheapest of whisky had flowed freely.
The two processions met, nearly in front of the Reynolds & Griggs store. I. N. Kelley, a printer. on the Democratic side, and John Lemon, on the Republican side, engaged in angry political discussion, as the heads of the processions came together. In the excitement. Apolonio Barcla, intentionally or otherwise. fired his pistol into the air. Immediately upon the firing of the shot. Kelley, who carried a heavy pick handle, struck Lemon a fierce blow upon the head, felling him to the ground. The next instant, Felicito Arroyas y Lueras shot Kelley, inflicting a mortal wound. and. in turn, was shot through the heart by some person unknown. Then,
the fighting became general, and. during about ten or fifteen minutes, the sound was that of a sharp rattle of musketry. The plaza was crowded, and that no greater fatalities resulted, seems marvelous. Men, women and children, in confused masses, rushed for the streets leading cutt from the corners of the plaza. In the narrow street between the residence of Col. Bennett and the building then used as a court house, several women and children were severely injured in the crush of the frantic mob. Terror stricken people. as they fled. screamed aloud in an agony of fright. the continued sound of pistol shots adding to the wildness of the panic which pre- vailed.
The firing commenced about half past three o'clock in the afternoon. Half an hour before, Generals Gregg and Devin, deeming the events of the day to be con- cluded, had started upon return trip to Fort Selden. Two companies of the Eighth
567
LOCAL HISTORIES
Cavalry were stationed at that post, and, shortly after the outbreak, a federal officer then at La Mesilla, dispatched a messenger asking for the aid of troops to restore. order. The messenger overtook the two officers on the road, delivered his message, and thereupon, these officers pushed forward to the post with all possible speed. "Boots and saddles" was sounded, and, about ten o'clock that night, a command of sixty cavalrymen drew rein in front of the residence of Colonel Jones, just at the- outskirts of Mesilla. Major Kelly, with a small detachment, moved into the plaza. He was met by a few citizens, among whom were men of both parties, and who joined in a request that the entire body of troops should be brought in. The bugle was sounded, and the rest of the troops came up at a gallop. These troops camped in the plaza that night. The next day the main body withdrew, and Major Kelly was left there with a detachment of twenty men; and with an additional detachment of fifteen men under Lieutenant Godwin, established at Las Cruces. These detach- ments remained in the valley about a fortnight, and were of service in preventing another outbreak when Colonel Chaves made his visit to the county, and addressed a meeting at Mesilla.
Nine men were killed, and between forty and fifty were wounded, in this ugly affray. Only partial lists can be obtained at this date. John Lemon, whose skull was fractured by the blow he had received, was removed to his home, where he died that evening. Among the others killed. were I. N. Kelley, Sotello Lopez, Fran- cisco Rodrigues, Felicito Arroyas y Luera, Fabian Cortez, the Chihuahua bully, and an idiot boy who was shot down while standing beside Mariano Barela. It was never possible to get even an approximate list of the wounded. Many were taken to their homes and treated in secrecy. Those who were known, are as follows : Pedro Garcia, Hilario Moreno, Jose M. Padilla, Cesario Flores, Oraquia Luna, Juan de Dios Sais, Jesus Calles, Dr. Black, Manuel Nevares, Simon Gallegos, Jesus Barela, Jose Quesada, Isidoro Apodaca, Leandro Miranda, Mateo Madrid, Francisco Lopez, Jesus Lopez and Pilar Caudelario. Daniel Freitze, who was running for probate clerk on the Democratic ticket, had a narrow escape, no less than four bullets passing through his clothing. That many women and children were not killed or injured is considered one of the marvels of that day. Of the crowd in the plaza they were thoughit to be in the majority.
We had no judge of the district court. in this third judicial district, at that time. In truth, the country was a trifle "wild and woolly," and Waters, the last appointee, had recently resigned and gone home, after holding one term of court. A few partisans, in hasty judgment, got together and wrote to Judge Hezekiah S. Johnson, of the second district, to come down and hold an investigation. He came, stayed three days, made up his mind that it would he dangerous to do any investi- gating, became demoralized, and returned to his home without action. The matter never was investigated. Nobody was ever punished by law for an act done that day. A few men were arrested the night of the riot, but they were immediately released by the arresting officer, on their own rcognizances. The leaders on both sides called a halt. Both had had enough, and both knew it.
The first effects of this riot were felt in Grant county, numbers of people aban- doning their homes in the Mesilla valley, and making settlements along the Mim- bres. But the most marked effect was the etsablishment of a colony from Doña Ana county, in the Republic of Mexico. Fabian Gonzales, then sheriff of Doña Ana county; Ygnacio Orrantia, the United States deputy marshal for southern New Mexico; Fred Buckner, the postmaster at Mesilla; Apolonio Barela, and some thirty or forty others, residents about Las Cruces and La Mesilla, formed a colony, sent emissaries to Mexico City, and procured a land grant on the stream above and below the site of what is now the town of Ascencion in Mexico. They removed* to the new settlement in the early days of 1872. feeling that they were driven to seek safer homes. Of this party. Apolonio Barela afterwards came to Silver City, and resided here for several years, finally returning to Ascencion.
Other Towns .- Doña Ana is in the central portion of the county, sur- rounded by a rich country, devoted to the cultivation of the grape, fruits and vegetables. Mesilla Park is a village and railroad station adjoining the- Agricultural College, being mainly a residence suburb. Chamberino, a busy little town, drawing its prosperity from an outlying country of good ranches productive gardens and fruitful orchards, is on the west bank of the Rio-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.