USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 7
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Grande, about eighteen miles south of Las Cruces, and three miles west of Anthony, a station on the A., T. & S. F. Earlham, a railroad station fifteen miles south of the county seat, and Colorado, in the western part of the county, five miles from Rincon, are also centers of well irrigated and productice areas.
The Water Users' Association of Doña Ana County was organized at a mass meeting held at Las Cruces, in December, 1904. Representatives gathered from all parts of the district, and the meeting was of a very enthusiastic character. H. B. Holt, of Las Cruces, was elected president, and has filled the office since. Oscar C. Snow is vice-president; H. D. Bowman, treasurer, and Numa C. Freuger, secretary.
The Cass Land and Cattle Company was organized in Cass county, Missouri, in March, 1884, all of the officers being residents of that state. The ranch is located sixty miles northeast of Roswell, on the Pecos river, at Cedar Canyon, and consists of 3,600 acres of land and 20,000 cattle. The enterprise was started with 2,252 cattle. Since the organization of the company its active managers have been Lee Easley (1884), J. D. Cooley (1885). W. G. Urton ( 1886-99), and Mr. Cooley, who has held the position since 1899. The capital stock of the company is $100,000, as originally. Until 1889 the ranch brand was "T. H. L.," but in July of that year the "Bar V" brand was purchased of the estate of J. J. Cox, and has since been retained. An idea of the magnitude of the business con- ducted by the Cass Land and Cattle Company may be gained from these items: Number of cattle branded since organization, 88,336; cattle sold, 46,996 : dividends, $420,000, or an average of 20 per cent on the capital stock for twenty years.
Hon. Jacinto Armijo, deceased, was one of the distinguished native sons of New Mexico who won high official preferment and whose course honored the commonwealth that honored him. He was for many years a resident of Las Cruces. His birth occurred in Socorro, Socorro county, New Mexico, on the 13th of August, 1845. Don Isidoro Armijo, his father and Doña Catarina Montoya de Armijo, his mother, were the first colonists in the Triple expedition of the counties of Valencia, Socorro and Paso del Norte (city of Juarez) to settle the county of Doña Ana. When but three years of age, Jacinto Armijo accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Las Cruces, where he made his home until called to his final rest. He attended the public schools. obtaining the best education afforded in those days. As he grew to manhood his worth and ability were recognized, and he became one of the prominent political leaders of the Territory, eventually advocating Republican principles. In 1873-4 he represented his district in the legislative halls in Santa Fé, and in 1875-6 he was elected by a majority of five hundred votes as a member of the council, representing the southern counties of the Territory, including Doña Ana, Grant and Lincoln. He was probably the first native regent of the Agricultural Col- lege of New Mexico, receiving his appointment to that position from Governor Otero. He held various local offices, being president of the board of county commissioners and school trustee and deputy sheriff. He was likewise probate judge and he was chairman of the Republican county central committee. He was impartial in the discharge of all his official duties, serving the people well and faithfully, for he ever regarded a public office as a public trust-and no trust reposed in him was ever
Saint Armija
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betrayed in the slightest degree. He studied closely the needs and possi- bilities of the Territory and labored along lines of general progress and improvement. His liberal and progressive course won him a most honor- able name in his community, and he was respected alike by Americans and natives. The cause of education found in him a stalwart friend, and eventually connected with the local schools and as regent of the Agricul- tural College hie labored untiringly for the great educational interests of the Territory. Mr. Armijo was married, November 24, 1869, to Miss Juanita Silva, and they became the parents of five sons and two daughters : Isidoro, Catarino, Max. Jacinto. Henry, Josephine and Jennie.
Mr. Armijo departed this life June 9. 1898, and the family still reside in Las Cruces. He was a man of unquestioned integrity, both in public office and in private life, and the consensus of public opinion was altogether favorable regarding his ability and his devotion to duty. He was spoken of as one of the most progressive and esteemed citizens of New Mexico, and he stood as a high type of the citizenship of the southwest.
Jose Ramon Lucero, sheriff of Doña Ana county and regent of the Agricultural College of New Mexico, makes his home in Las Cruces. He was born in Doña Ana county, February 19. 1867. a son of Barbaro and Macedonia ( Trujillo) Lucero. His father is operating a flour mill at Las Cruces and is a representative business man of the city. He was born in Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1837, and when seventeen years of age was employed by the government of the United States to assist in making the survey of the boundary line of the Gadsden purchase under Major Emory. He was at Mesilla in 1854 when the first American flag was raised there, and he has since resided in New Mexico, and is a prominent cattleman of this part of the country, having extensive and valuable ranches, mostly in Doña Ana county. In late years, in connection with his son, Jose R., he has operated a roller flour mill and is yet associated with this enterprise. He is a strong Republican, active in support of the party and thoroughly in sympathy with its policy and principles, yet he does not seek nor care for office.
Jose R. Lucero pursued a common school education, and after putting aside his text-books was engaged in the sheep raising industry with his father for six years. He then sold his interest in the sheep business and turned his attention to cattle raising. also becoming connected with the milling business as manager of his father's mill. He still has cattle interests in the county, having a good ranch which is well stocked. In 1896 he was elected probate clerk, serving in the office for four years, or until 1900. He was then elected sheriff, and was re-elected in 1902, and again in 1904, so that he is for the third term the incumbent in the position. He has also been school director of Las Cruces, and is a Republican in his political views. In April, 1890, Mr. Lucero was married to Miss Simona Lopez, and to them have been born four children: Adela, Jose, Arturo and Jacobo.
Captain Thomas Branigan, a fruit grower and mine owner of Las Cruces, whose varied experience in the west have made him thoroughly familiar with its history in all its phases, was born in Edinburg, Scotland, in 1847, and when two years of age was brought to the United States, the family home being established in Ohio in 1849. He was educated in the public schools of Ohio, where he spent his early youth. In 1862, at the
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extremely early age of fourteen years, he enlisted for service as a private. of Company I, One Hundred and Third Regiment of Ohio Volunteers .. He participated in the siege of Knoxville under Burnside, in the battle of Armstrong Hill, and many engagements in eastern Tennessee. In May, 1864, the Army of Ohio joined Sherman near Dalton, Georgia, and he thus became a part of Sherman's magnificent army during the memorable Atlanta campaign. On the 14th of May, 1864, the brigade to which he belonged, consisting of the regiments under General Manson, made the charge at Resaca and took the first line of works in the fierce fight which ensued. He was wounded at Resaca, but continued with the command and was in many engagements during the advance upon Atlanta. Captain Branigan was the first man of Sherman's army to cross the Chattahoochee river in front of Atlanta, and thus lead the way across that historic stream. The hazardous feat was accomplished in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties and after the failure of a detachment of troops from Colonel Cameron's brigade to effect a crossing of the wide and rapidly flowing stream. The thunder of a rebel battery concealed about ten hundred yards down the river, and the possibility of unknown foes on the opposite bank, only spurred this boy of scarce sixteen years to greater effort. He struck boldly into the water, and upon reaching the opposite shore, finding the field clear, signaled to Colonel Casement, whereupon he was quickly fol- lowed by his own company under Captain George Redway, then by the One Hundred and Third Ohio, and eventually the whole Twenty-third Corps was thrown across on pontoons. According to the diary of Captain George Redway, of the General Land Office, Washington, D. C., this occurred on July 8, 1864. In recognition of this meritorious service the boy was made a corporal. After the close of hostilities he was mustered out on the 12th of June at Raleigh, North Carolina, being then but seventeen years of age; yet on the field of battle he displayed valor and loyalty equal to that of many a veteran of twice his years.
When the war was over Captain Branigan entered the Mennonite Col- lege at Wadsworth, Ohio, continuing his studies for a year, and in the spring of 1867 came to the west. He first engaged in buffalo hunting, killing those animals on the plains for Shoemaker for a few months, but later went to Fort Lyon, where he remained in the government employ until the fall of 1867, when he made his way to the Elizabethtown mines in northern New Mexico. Losing all he had here in a mining venture, in 1868 he went to Denver, attracted by the Pike's Peak gold discoveries, and entered the employ of the well known stage owner, Holladay, acting as a driver on his stage line from Denver to Cheyenne. He next turned his attention to bridge building. and became an expert in that line in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. These early days on the plains of the middle west and over the old Santa Fe trail. when law and order were left behind at the Mississippi river, and where the wild Indian and buffalo roamed the lonely wastes, were years full of adventure and thrilling ex- perience. Captain Branigan has volumes of plain lore and personal ex- perience with which to fill the willing ear. He had an intimate acquaintance with many of the well known characters of the frontier. The famous "Wild Bill," Will Hickox. and the hrave Tom Smith, of Abilene, Kansas, fame, were comrades in many a stirring incident of frontier life.
Later Captain Branigan returned to Ohio, where, in company with
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his brother, he operated successfully in lands and stock. Subsequently he spent two years as an officer at the Ohio State penitentiary, and in 1882 went to the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation as captain of Indian police and chief of scouts, which position he occupied until the fall of 1885, when he resigned. In the capacity of chief of Indian scouts he had marked success and an interesting and varied experience. He brought his com- pany of Indian scouts to a high state of training and soldierly discipline, which enabled them to protect themselves and the people living on the frontier. The following year he was appointed head detective on the Texas Pacific Railroad, and in August, 1886, he received a telegram from General Bradley, commander of the department, asking him to go to the reservation and raise a company of scouts for campaign service against the Indian chief, Geronimo, and his band of hostile red men, for the Apache war was then on. Captain Branigan immediately responded to the re- quest and served with a scouting party under Lieutenant Wrenn, guarding the waters of southern New Mexico and of old Mexico. In the fall, after the capture of Geronimo, he went to Fort Stanton and called for his dis- charge. He then came to Las Cruces, purchased land and began the raising of bees and the production of honey. At the same time he was interested extensively in gold mining in Sierra county. After disposing of a part of his mining property, he settled on a ranch near Las Cruces, and has since been engaged in the raising of fruit and alfalfa farming, and in copper, gold and silver mining. His land is well watered, and he has met with a creditable measure of success in his horticultural pursuits. On June 1. 1897, he was married to Miss Alice B. Montgomery, at Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Captain Branigan has also been called to public office during his resi- dence in Doña Ana county. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county assessor for the years 1899 and 1900. For eight years he has been a member of the Doña Ana county Republican central com- mittee, and during this time treasurer of said committee. He is a com- missioner of the Las Cruces Ditch Association and secretary and treasurer of said organization. He is also one of the two appraisers on the board of the Doña Ana Bend Colony Grant. He is at present and has been for several years a member of the board of education of Las Cruces, and dur- ing said term of service has been clerk of said board. Captain Branigan has taken a great interest in the educational affairs of his community and has given liberally of his time and energy in this behalf, especially during the erection of the handsome new high school building which has just been completed at a cost of $20,000. He had assisted materially in raising the grade and improving the condition of the public school of his town.
Captain Branigan belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to Phil Sheridan Post No. 17. G. A. R., and is at present junior vice-com- mander of the department of New Mexico. He is and has been at all times during his long residence in the Territory closely identified with its substantial progress and improvement, co-operating in all movements that are of direct benefit to the community in which he resides.
John Martin, a pioneer of New Mexico of 1861. now deceased, was born in Caledonia, New York, in 1829. At the age of fifteen years he ran away from home and joined General Winfield Scott's army as a drummer boy. He was at the storming of Chapultepec, and after the war he rounded
Vol. II. 4
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Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco probably in the year 1849. There he remained until the call for volunteers, when he was elected first lieu- tenant of Company D. First California Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Carle- ton commanding. The regiment marched from San Francisco to Rio Grande, and as the captain of the company deserted at Fort Yuma, Lien- tenant Martin assumed command and brought the troops through. He was in active service, largely engaged in suppressing the Indian depreda- tions. For some time he was stationed at Jornada, and with his company was engaged in escorting mail until mustered out at Las Cruces. New Mexico. Captain Martin was married in Las Cruces to Esther Catherine Wadsworth in 1865. He then went to Fort Seldon, a mile below the crossing of the Rio Grande, where he built and conducted a ferry-boat, while his wife had charge of the officers' mess. In 1867 he went to Aleman, on "La Jornada del Muerto," to prospect for water. He dug to a depth of one hundred and sixty-four feet, the well being four by six feet and the cost was twelve dollars per foot. He struck water at eighty- three feet. He then established a horse and cattle ranch and stage stand. and his place was known as the Aleman ranch, or Jack Martin's well. It was also the government forage agency. Mr. Martin conducted his stock raising there until 1875, when he went to Santa Fé, where he re- mained until his death, in 1877. In that city he was proprietor of the old Exchange Hotel, then called the Fonda, continuing in the business up to the time of his demise. It was the only place on the Jornada for years where a traveler could secure entertainment. Ahout 1874 Adolph Lee built a place at Point of Rocks, hauling water from the river, and about 1877 Henry Toussaint built a place at Round Mountain, these being all on the overland stage route. For a long time, however, Captain Martin's place was the only point for a stretch of ninety miles where water could be secured.
To Captain and Mrs. Martin were born six children, of whom four are living: William E., a resident of Socorro; John S. A., living in Colo- rado; Benjamin C., a resident of Garfield, New Mexico, and Katherine, the wife of Orrin Rice, at Manhattan Beach, California. The other two died in youth. Captain Martin was master of Las Cruces lodge. He was a typical pioneer resident of New Mexico, living in the Territory in the early staging days, when mammoth tracts of land were held by ranchers and when much of their range was "open." He became well known to the visitors to the Territory and to business men throughout this part of the country, and he aided in shaping the early historic annals of the Ter- ritorv.
William Edward Martin, of Socorro, clerk of the Third Judicial Dis- trict of New Mexico, was born at Fort Seldon, February 16, 1867, and is a son of Captain John Martin. He was educated under private instruction in his own home by Nicholas Galles and through attendance at St. Michael's College in Santa Fé, from which institution he was graduated in 1880. He then returned to the ranch to live, and was elected deputy clerk of the third district, which position he filled from July, 1889, until 1891. He then resigned to become chief clerk in the United States land office, where lie remained for more than a vear, when he resigned that position to become interpreter to the fifth judicial district, filling the office until Judge Free- man retired from the bench. In the meantime, in 1894, he was elected to
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the lower house of the territorial legislature from Socorro and Sierra coun- ties, and in 1896 was chosen a member of the council of Socorro, and two years later was elected mayor. On the Ist of May, 1899, he was appointed assistant superintendent of the New Mexico penitentiary under H. (). Bursum, in which capacity he remained until January 21, 1904. He was then appointed clerk of the fifth judicial district by Judge Pope, and when a change in the judicial districts occurred he was appointed by Judge Parker clerk of the third district. He was twice interpreter of the council and three times chief clerk. Almost continuously in public office during the period of his manhood, he has made a creditable record, over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. His political allegiance has always been stanchly given to the Republican party, and fraternally he is connected with the Elks at Santa Fé. He has busi- ness relations as one of the stockholders in Socorro Light, Heat & Power Company, of which he was also one of the incorporators. This was organized in November, 1905, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars.
William E. Martin was married, June 3, 1891, to Miss Louisa New- comb, a daughter of Jerome Newcomb, of Huntington, Indiana.
Elias E. Day, vice-president and manager of the F. H. Bascom Com- pany of Las Cruces, came to that city from Massachusetts on the 29th of March, 1886. He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, pursued his preliminary education in the public schools, and was graduated from Tuft's college with the bachelor of arts degree. He saw reports of the immigration bureau at Washington, and being just out of college, he de- cided to try western life. Going to Las Cruces, he began farming, but found that pursuit was neither congenial nor profitable, and he afterward acted as bookkeeper for a contractor and also learned the business, remain- ing in that position for a year and a half. In August, 1889, he entered the hardware store of F. H. Bascom, familiarized himself with the trade, and when the business was incorporated on the Ist of January, 1902, under the firm style of F. H. Bascom Company, he became one of the stock- holders, and is now the vice-president and manager, with F. H. Bascom as president and G. W. Frenger secretary and treasurer. They draw thirty per cent of their trade from Las Cruces, and the rest is divided over the district from the Texas line on the south to the Sierra county line on the north, to Deming on the west, and on the east to the east side of the Organ mountains. Their establishment is an extensive one, supplying all this district, and the firm also does a large business as builders and contractors. They introduced the typical mission architecture with modern improvements, and the firm has recently erected a convent in mission style for the Sisters of Loretto. Mr. Day devotes his time prin- cipally to the contracting and building branch of the business. The trade of the house is constantly and rapidly gaining.
In 1893 Mr. Day was married to Miss Grace Center, a native of Massachusetts. and they have three daughters. Fraternally he is con- nected with Aztec Lodge No. 3. A. F. & A. M .; Palma Camp No. 8, Woodmen of the World; Modoc Tribe No. 12, Improved Order of Red Men. He likewise belongs to Valley Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., Ridgly Encampment at Silver City ; Canton D, El Paso, Patriarchs Militant. He is also a member of Deming Royal Arch Chapter and is past grand master
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of Masons of New Mexico. Interested in community affairs, he was appointed county commissioner for Doña Ana county in 1899 by Gov- ernor Otero, and was superintendent of schools of the county in 1901-2. He was the first president of the Mesilla valley chamber of commerce, and is closely identified with many movements for public progress and substantial improvements.
Demetrio Chavez, who was a pioneer merchant at Mesilla and is now deceased, was for a long period a representative business man of the Territory, whose labors proved an effective force in promoting general progress and upbuilding. He was born in Valencia county, New Mexico, in 1853, and was educated in St. Michael's College at Santa Fé. His edu- cation completed, he entered business life, and for a time was employed by the firm of Reynolds & Griggs. Later he established a mercantile busi- ness at Mesilla. This was about 1872 or 1873, and he continued in the conduct of the store until his death, which occurred on the 22d of March, 1905. He was also interested in the cattle industry, and operated quite extensively in real estate in Mesilla. He was a business man of marked enterprise and broad outlook. He quickly recognized and improved oppor- tunities and utilized his force and advantages to the best ability, producing excellent results.
Mr. Chavez not only prospered in his business undertakings, but was also an active and influential factor in affairs relating to the welfare of the Territory. He served as probate judge of Doña Ana county, was also treasurer and collector of the county, and was regent and treasurer of the Agricultural College. His political support was given to the De- mocracy. Mr. Chavez was married in Mesilla to Miss Louisa Gonzales. Eight children were born: Manuel R., Maria A., Candelaria N., Louisa R., Josefa E., Adelina F., Pomposa N. and Demetrio J. Having spent his entire life in the Territory, Mr. Chavez was widely known, and his recognized ability and many excellent traits of character won him business success, political prominence and the warm regard of many friends.
Manuel R. Chavez, the eldest son, now owns and manages the mer- cantile business established by his father. He was born May 22, 1882, and supplemented his early education by study in St. Michael's College at Santa Fé and by three years' study in the Agricultural College at Las Cruces. His education completed, he became associated with his father in business, and they continued together until the father's death, since which time Manuel R. Chavez has been proprietor of the store, which is a well conducted general mercantile establishment. He has by close and earnest attention to business enlarged the trade and become a recognized factor in commercial circles in Mesilla.
Oscar Lohman, treasurer of Doña Ana county, who also owns and operates a ranch, came to Las Cruces in 1884. He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and at the usual age entered the public schools there, continuing his studies until he had completed the high school course. He afterward engaged in bookkeeping in a wholesale grocery house, where he remained until coming to New Mexico in 1884. For two years there- after he was employed as a clerk in a mercantile establisliment in Las Cruces, and 1886 he established a retail grocery business, which he sold in 1892. In that year he was appointed deputy sheriff of Doña Anla county for a term of two years, and was continued in the office of deputy
Demetria Chavey
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collector by various reappointments from 1894 until 1901. In the mean- time, in 1895, he had established a meat market, which he is still conduct- ing in Las Cruces. In 1901 he was elected county treasurer and collector of Doña Ana county, and his capability in office is indicated by the fact that he has twice been re-elected and is now acting in that capacity. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party, and in 1900 he was chosen for the office of county school superintendent, in which position he served for two years. He has thus continuously been in office for a long period, and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, for his course has been actuated by fidelity to duty and by faithfulness in the discharge of every task devolving upon him. While discharging his official duties he has at the same time continued an active factor in business life, and is engaged in the raising of cattle and goats, having a ranch in the Organ mountains, where he runs about four thousand head of goats, being the largest raiser of goats in this part of the Territory.
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