USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume II > Part 8
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On the 2d of October, 1889. Mr. Lohman was married in Las Cruces to Miss Alice B. Cuniffe, a daughter of Henry J. Cuniffe, one of the old- time settlers of the Territory and American consul at Juarez during the Maximilian rule. To Mr. and Mrs. Lohman have been born three sons and two daughters. Mr. Lohman's fraternal connection is with Aztec Lodge No. 3, A. F. & A. M., of Las Cruces: Polma Camp, Woodmen of the World, and the Improved Order of Red Men. His military experi- ence consists of two years' service as captain of Company A of the First New Mexico Infantry Regiment of the National Guard.
Edward Clemens Wade, an attorney practicing at Las Cruces, was born in South Carolina, but was reared in Georgia, and during five years of his youth was a student in the schools of England. He returned to America in 1872 and secured a position in the postoffice department in Washington. He afterward read law and was graduated from the National University Law School in 1876, being admitted to the bar the same year. On the Ist of February, 1880, he made his way to Santa Fe on the first passenger train reaching that point, and for a year practiced in that city. He was also collector of customs in 1881-2, and in 1883 came to Las Cruces. He has, however, since resided on the Pacific coast for a few years, but has remained permanently in Las Cruces since 1898. In January, 1884, he was commissioned district attorney of Doña Ana county for two years, but the term was extended to three vears by a change in the law. He was then removed by Governor E. G. Ross in 1885, S. M. Ashenfelter being ap- pointed his successor. He contested the right of the governor to remove him, however, and won his case, but Ashenfelter appealed and the case was afterward compromised. The term expired in 1887. The Republicans had a majority in the legislature and took the power of appointment from the governor and conferred it on the council, and the council reappointed Mr. Wade in 1887. He then served for seven years, save for the brief period of a year and a half, when his position was contested hy Ashenfelter. This brought forth a decision on a point of law which had never been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, concerning the power of the governor to remove officers appointed by the council. This case attracted widespread attention, heing the only one of the kind on the legal records of the country. Mr. Wade in his practice confines his attention largely to
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the litigation of his district. In politics he has always been a Republican.
In 1886 Mr. Wade was married to Hattie B. Wilson, a native of Wash- ington, D. C., and they have three children: Edward C., Wilson and Marion.
W. B. Murphy, a merchant of Las Cruces, was born and reared in Steubenville, Ohio, and in 1876 went to Austin, Texas, for the benefit of his health. Thence he went to Socorro, New Mexico, in 1882, and soon afterward went to Kingston, being there at the time of the great strike of that year. He took up claims, but was not successful in his mining opera- tions, and turned his attention to freighting from Kingston to Nutt station. In 1884 he went to Las Cruces and leased an orchard on the river bottom. For a year his attention was devoted to horticultural pursuits and his labors resulted successfully. He then bought land adjoining Agricultural College and endeavored to establish a vineyard. On selling that place he purchased a tract of land above the town of Las Cruces, where he engaged in fruit growing. In the time of the "boom" started by the Rio Grande Land Company, about 1887, when Mesilla Park was established, he sold out to the company, and soon afterward, in 1888, established a mercantile enterprise in Organ. Since that time he has been interested in mining in the Organ mountains. He continued to conduct his store in the town until 1896. when he returned to Las Cruces, where he established a general mercantile business, which he is now successfully conducting. He keeps a well appointed store and has a good patronage, and his business methods are characterized by system, by honest dealings and unfaltering enter- prise. He is likewise interested in Las Cruces real estate, and through judicious investment in property has added materially to his income.
During a part of his residence in Organ, Mr. Murphy served as post- master of that town, and for one term has been county commissioner of Doña Ana county. In 1876 he became a member of Steuben Lodge No. I, K. of P., but is not now affiliated with the order. His wife died in 1897.
William Spencer Gilliam, a farmer and fruit grower at Mesilla Park, has made his home in New Mexico since 1888. He was born in Arkansas in 1850, a son of William T. Gilliam, who was a native of Tennessee, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He died in 1864. He was a strong Union man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Spencer, was a native of North Carolina.
William Spencer Gilliam was reared to the occupation of farming, spending his youth largely in Arkansas. In 1888 he came to New Mexico and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land at Berino, and fur- ther added to his property until he had a total of 209.5 acres. In Septem- ber, 1899, he came to Mesilla Park, where he has since resided. In 1905 he started a fruit orchard, making a specialty of peaches and small fruits, which are especially adapted to the soil and climate, and his orchards give every evidence of healthful growth and a promise of good crops for the future.
In 1878 Mr. Gilliam was married to Miss Della Davis, a native of Texas, who died in 1890, leaving three children: Rexie E. and Carmen, who are attending the Agricultural College, and Rodney, who is a student in Las Cruces. Since losing his first wife Mr. Gilliam has married Jose- phine Newton, a native of Texas.
Isidore Armijo, clerk of the probate court and a resident of Las
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Cruces, was born February 15, 1871, in the city where he yet resides, and after attending the public schools of Las Cruces, continued his education in the Agricultural College. He conducted a store in Las Cruces for three or four years, and has since been in public office, first acting as official interpreter in the third district under Judge Parker for several years, the district then comprising Doña Ana, Grant and Sierra counties. He re- signed to become a candidate for probate clerk in 1900, was elected in that year, again in 1902, at which time he had no opposition, and for a third term in 1904. He is a strong and stalwart supporter of Republican principles, but not a machine man, and is strenuously opposed to misrule in public office. He served for three years as a member of the school board, or until October, 1905, and was the first man to propose the erection of the new school house in Las Cruces, being still a member of the board when the building was completed in the summer of 1905.
Mr. Armijo was married, January 18, 1901, to Miss Jennie Archibald, a native of Trinidad, Colorado, and a daughter of Ebenezer and Anna (Wheaton) Archibald. Their only child is Ernestina, two years old, the pride of parents and town.
Mr. Armijo enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war with the Rough Riders, under Major W. H. H. Llewellyn, but the company was not accepted. He has served, however, with the national guard, has been quartermaster sergeant of the regiment, and a member of the third battalion staff of the First Regiment Infantry. He was commissioned December 5, 1899, and served for two years. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men and with the Fraternal Brotherhood.
W. N. Hager, who is engaged in real estate and ranching operations, making his home at Mesilla Park, was born in Shelbyville, Illinois, in 1859, and when but twelve years of age went to Kansas. While in that state he learned telegraphy, and in 1881 he came to New Mexico, settling at Albuquerque as operator for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Rail- road. He spent two years in that city, after which he went upon the road, being employed in different capacities until 1890, when he became station agent for the railroad company at Mesilla Park, filling the position ac- ceptably for twelve years, his courtesy and consideration making him a popular official, while his devotion to the interests of the corporation was never called into question. With the money saved from his earnings he embarked in ranching and also in buying and selling hay. He is likewise engaged in real estate dealing as agent for the Rio Grande Land Com- pany, and as its representative has erected a number of houses, which have contributed to the improvement and progress of this part of the state.
Mr. Hager was married in 1893 to Mrs. Tucker and has a son and a daughter. He is now associated with two important business interests having direct bearing upon the progress and upbuilding of the Territory, and at the same time they are proving a very desirable source of income to him.
John Baumgarten, proprietor of a grocery and bakery at Las Cruces, was born in Lorraine, Germany, and acquired his education in his native land. He came to the United States in 1873 to avoid service in the German army, and for three years was employed in different ways in the east. He then enlisted for service in the United States army in 1876, becoming a member of Company B, Eighth United States Cavalry, with which he was
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connected for five years. He did service in Texas, being engaged in scouting duty and in keeping down the Indians until discharged in 1881, when he came to New Mexico. He made his way to the Territory from San Antonio, Texas, proceeding up the Rio Grande valley to El Paso, where the Southern Pacific Railroad was in course of construction. He was ac- companied by a friend who had also just been discharged from the army. They did not like El Paso, however, and came on to Las Cruces, where they had been on scouting duty while in the army. They continued on to Santa Fé, where they sold their outfit. Mr. Baumgarten then proceeded to the San Pedro mining camp and secured employment in a large hotel. He was afterward employed in a smelter until disaster overtook the camp, after which he returned to Santa Fé and worked in a bakery. He later went to Socorro, New Mexico, where he was employed for one month in a smelter, and in 1884 came to Las Cruces, where he worked for a short time in a hotel. He then established a restaurant, which he conducted for two and a half years. On selling out he turned his attention to ranching, but this venture proved unprofitable and he lost all that he had. After about a year and a half he returned to Las Cruces, where he again opened a res- taurant, which he conducted for a year and a half. Later he returned to ranching and devoted four and a half years to the dairy business, but in 1891 again came to Las Cruces, where he established the bakery and grocery which he now conducts and manages. He has prospered since embarking in this line of trade, and has a well-equipped establishment.
Mr. Baumgarten is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He was married in Santa Fé to Miss Anne Klauer and they are well known in Las Cruces and this part of New Mexico, where Mr. Baumgarten has lived for almost a quarter of century, thus being one of the pioneers.
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SAN MIGUEL COUNTY.
In area San Miguel county is the largest in New Mexico, embrac- ing within its borders nearly 5,400,000 acres. In population it is second to Bernalillo, affording homes to some 25,000 people. The taxable valua- tion of its property is more than $4.500,000, and its inhabitants are noted for their progressiveness.
San Miguel county is richly endowed by nature, whether considered from the standpoints of material riches or magnificent scenery. Its for- ests are yet extensive, and its mines have scarcely begun to be developed. It is a county of mountain peaks, fruitful valleys and wide plains. It has rivers and lakes by the score, and its canyons are majestic. Its verdant plains sweep for unbroken miles to the eastward, covered with thousands of sheep and cattle. At the present time the people of the county are compelled to import much grain, hay, vegetables and other food and forage. It is said that the entire cultivated area of the county does not exceed 3,000 acres.
An interesting and important territorial feature of the county is the Pecos River Timber Reservation, set apart by President Harrison to pre- serve the forests and prevent a diminution in the water supply of that stream. It comprises about 702 square miles, and, while portions of the reservation are in Santa Fé, Mora, Taos and Rio Arriba counties, as the Pecos valley is in San Miguel, the tract is usually considered an institu- tion of this county. The region is rugged and mountainous, and in San Miguel innumerable small streams form the headwaters of the Pecos river, which cuts the reservation about midway between Las Vegas and Santa Fé.
San Miguel county has heretofore figured as pre-eminently a stock- raising district, but its agricultural future is bright. From the high water- shed, well to the center of the county, the abundant rains and heavy snows find their way to the Rio Grande and to the Mississippi, the Canadian, the Pecos, the Gallinas, the Sapello and the Tecolote rivers, while numerous small streams flow through the woodlands and the valleys and out upon the bosom of the broad plains, and wherever their courses lie crops of grain, hay and vegetables are plentifully and naturallv raised.
On the grounds of the Territorial Hospital for the Insane has been recently found what appears to be artesian water. On a hill a hundred feet above the valley a well was sunk to a depth of 500 feet and water gushed to within twenty-five feet of the surface in a strong volume, running at the rate of 2,400 gallons per hour. As the constant volume of water cannot be accounted for by surface streams, it is believed that the entire valley is underlaid with an artesian flow, and that if the wells are sunk on the lower levels the water will rise above the surface. Should this prove to
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be the case, it would be the source of great agricultural development for a large district of the county.
Like all districts of the country which are the resorts of lovers of the picturesque and seekers for health, San Miguel county is especially inter- ested in the establishment of good roads, and Las Vegas has the honor of entertaining the first convention ever held in New Mexico in their in- terest. It was held at the Duncan Opera House on the 26th and 27th of September, 1905. The convention was formally opened by Governor Miguel A. Otero, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed throughout its deliberations.
Original Boundaries of the County .- San Miguel was one of the nine counties formed by enactment of the Territorial Legislature, January 9, 1852, and its boundaries were described as follows: On the east, the bound- ary line of the Territory; on the west, the boundaries of Santa Fé; on the north, the boundaries of the counties of Taos and Rio Arriba; and on the south, drawing a line from Cibolo Spring toward the north in the direc- tion of the Berrendo Spring, thence drawing a perpendicular line toward the east, crossing the Pecos river and continuing until it reaches the bounda- ries of the Territory.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Following is as complete a list of San Miguel county officials as can be obtained from existing records :
Probate Judges .- 1863, Severo Baca; 1864-5. Miguel Romero y Baca; 1868-71, Trinidad Romero; 1872-3, Desiderio Romero; 1874, Lorenzo Lopez; 1875-6, Severo Baca; 1877-9, Simon G. Baca; 1880, Carlos Blanchard; 1881-2, Lorenzo Lopez ; 1883-4, Tomas C. de Baca ; 1885-6, Severo Baca, 1887-8, Jose Rafael Lucero; 1889-90, Manuel C. de Baca ; 1891-2, Dionicio Martinez ; 1893-4, Juan J. Herrara ; 1895-6, Gregorio Varela : 1897-8, Antonio Varela; 1899-1900, Pedro Marquez; 1901-4, Jose E. Ramirez ; 1905-6, Jose Gregorio Alarcon.
Probate Clerks .- 1863, Antonio Nieto; 1864-5, V. Vasquez; 1866, Jose L. Ri- vera ; 1867, Demetrio Perez; 1872. B. Jesus Marquez; 1873-4, Roman Lopez ; 1875-6, Mariano Montoya; 1877-8, Jose Felipe Baca; 1879-80, Jesus Maria Tafoya; 1881-2, Jose Felipe Baca : 1883-5, Jesus Maria Tafoya ; 1889-90, Miguel A. Otero; 1891-2, R. F. Hardy ; 1893-4, Charles F. Rudulph ; 1895-8, Patricio Gonzales; 1899-1904, Gregorio Varela : 1905-6. Manuel A. Sanchez.
Sheriffs .- 1863, Desiderio Romero; 1864-5 (records missing) ; 1866-7, Victorino Baca; 1868-71, Juan Romero: 1872, P. Leon Pinard; 1873-4. Lorenzo Labadie; 1875-8. Benigno Jaramillo; 1878, Jesus Froncoso; 1879, Benigno Jaramillo; 1880 Desiderio Romero; 1881-2. Hilario Romero; 1887-8, Eugenio Romero; 1889-90, Lo- renzo Lopez; 1891-2, Jose L. Lopez; 1893-4. Lorenzo Lopez; 1895-8, Hilario Ro- mero; 1899-1900. Jose Gabriel Montaño ; 1901-6. Cleofes Romero.
Assessors .- 1883-4, Jesus M. Tafoya; 1885-6 (records missing) ; 1887-8, Jesus M. Gallegos: 1889-90, Eugenio Romero; 1891-2, N. Segura ; 1893-4, John Pace ; 1895-6, Jose Gabriel Montaño; 1897-8, Adelaido Gonzales; 1899-1902, Jose Felix Esquibel ; 1903-4, Francisco Chaves; 1905-6, Epitacio Quintana.
Treasurers .- 1887-90, Antonio Varela ; 1801-4, Jesus M. Tafoya; 1895-98, Henry Goke: 1899-1000, Margarito Romero; 1901-6, Eugenio Romero.
County Commissioners .- 1881-2, Dometrio Perez (chairman), Aniceto Salazar, Juan E. Sena; 1883-4. Leandro Sanchez (chairman), Jose Ignacio Esquibel, Pascual Baca: 1985-6. George Chaves (chairman), Andreas Sena, Jose Aragon ; 1887-8, Charles Blanchard (chairman), Francisco A. Manzanares. Jose Sanchez; 1880-90, Stephen E. Booth (chairman), Placido Sandoval, Jose L. Rivera; 1891-2, John Shank (chairman), Jose Montoya, Antonio Solano; 1893-4, Aniceto C. Abeytia (chairman), Leandro I.ncero, Thomas W. Hayward: 1895-6. Francisco C. de Baca (chairman), Dionicio Martinez, Gregorio Flores; 1807-8. Henry G. Coors (chair- man), Catarino Romero, Petronilo Lucero; 1899-1900, William Frank (chairman),
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Epitacio Quintana. A. T. Rogers: 1901-2. Roman Gallegos (chairman), Jose Felix Esquebel, A. T. Rogers; 1905-6, Robert C. Rankin (chairman), Benigno Martinez, Roman Gallegos.
LAS VEGAS.
Las Vegas, the county seat of San Miguel county, is a place of about 9,000 people, being the second in population within the Territory. It is situated in the midst of one of the finest sheep countries in the world, and is the largest wool market in New Mexico, besides being an important whole- sale point. Las Vegas is also the division headquarters of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé railroad system, and is the location for extensive shops.
Las Vegas is thoroughly lighted by electricity and has an abundant supply of pure mountain water. It has three parks, including the Plaza of West Las Vegas, one of the most beautiful public grounds in the Terri- tory ; good streets and many miles of cement sidewalks. It has churches of every denomination, fine schools, and is the seat of the New Mexico Normal University, the only institution of its kind between Lawrence, Kansas, on the east, Colorado Springs on the north and Los Angeles on the west. There are several good hotels, including the famous Casteneda ; a large race course at the beautiful Gallinas Park, and a number of large business houses and small mills and factories. It publishes one daily, six weekly and two monthly papers, and is the center of one of the most famous health-resort districts in the world. Six miles from Las Vegas is the new National Fraternal Sanitarium, designed to accommodate 5,000 or 6,000 tuberculosis patients, either indoors or without, and having as its center- the home of the fraternalists, as it is called-the stately Montezuma Ho- tel. A short distance from Las Vegas is also the New Mexico Hospital for the Insane.
It is impossible to speak of Las Vegas as a city or a town. It is di- vided into three parts-one portion incorporated as a city, the western sec- tion (across the Rio Gallinas) incorporated as a town, and Upper Las Vegas, unincorporated.
History of Las Vegas .- The old town of Las Vegas was first settled by the Mexican inhabitants some time prior to 1835. It was named for the meadows lying along the Gallinas river, on which it is located, the words Las Vegas, translated from the Spanish, meaning "the meadows." The first settlers were colonists.
On March 20, 1835, Juan de Dios Maes, Manuel Duran, Miguel Archu- leta and Jose Antonio Casaus petitioned the Mexican authorities for a grant of land to the new town, consisting of 400,000 acres, as a basis for the settlement. The petition was granted and this munificent land grant, in the center of which stands Las Vegas, is community property, in which every taxpayer has an interest. The land will eventually make the place wealthy, but at present the principal revenue is derived from the sale of timber.
The following is a late and interesting account of the condition of this unique land grant,* whose value will be immeasurably increased by the de- velopment of the irrigation plans now well under way: "The grant ex- tends in all directions. About 2,500 acres are under irrigation and are
*The full history of the grant is given in Volume I.
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cultivated by squatters. About one-half is covered with timber, which is being cut under contract; the rest is range, common to all, upon which any one can pasture cattle or shecp under certain regulations. Shortly after the grant was made, certain tracts were allotted to various citizens, whose descendants are still occupying them and claim ownership. These were called 'allotments,' and it is probable that the claims will be recognized. The descendants of these original settlers, about sixty in number, laid claim to the entire property In order to determine their rights the case was put through two courts, both of which decided in favor of the corporation. In other words, the courts held that, under the terms of the grant, the land belonged to the community in common, not only to those who happened to be here at the time, but to all who have come since or may come here- after. Under this decision the court appointed a board of trustees, with authority to sell land and convey titles, and to straighten out the tangle. The descendants of those to whom the allotments were made have had their. titles confirmed. The remainder of the grant is being surveyed and platted and will be held for the benefit of the community until disposed of. The proceeds of all sales are paid into the public treasury. Ten thousand acres were recently presented to the National Association of Fraternities for the use of the sanitarium mentioned. The remainder of the land will be leased for use as a common grazing ground under proper regulations."
In the early days Las Vegas was a quasi-military fort. the reports of the prefects showing that arrangements were made by which each adult male inhabitant was to be provided with arms, and all were to be inspected every eight days by a lieutenant of police. The inhabitants were con- stantly annoyed by bands of Indians, and the records show that in 1836 Santiago Montoya invited Don Miguel Romero y Baca, who was on a visit to Las Vegas from Santa Fé, to take part in a short expedition against some Navajo Indians who had stolen his sheep and were holding captive two of his nephews. The Romero family subsequently became identified with the growing town of Las Vegas, members of it attaining great promi- nence in its commercial and political affairs.
Soon after the American occupation of Santa Fé, American citizens began visiting Las Vegas for purposes of trade, some of them remaining and establishing themselves in business. Among the earliest of these set- tlers from "the States" were Henry Connelly, afterward governor of the Territory ; E. F. Mitchell, John Kitchen and his three brothers, Charles, Richard and James; Alexander Hatch, James Broadwell, John and An- dres Dold, Frank O. Kihlberg. Dr. J. M. Whitlock and George W. Merritt.
Henry Connelly and E. F. Mitchell entered into partnership for gen- eral merchandising some time prior to 1850. They occupied the building known as Buffalo Hall until about 1855.
John Kitchen was a native of Missouri and came in the late '40S. He developed a farm on the banks of the Gallinas, and soon after his arrival his three brothers became settlers. Charles Kitchen purchased Buffalo Hall of Connelly & Mitchell and converted the building into a hotel, saloon and amusement hall. Richard Kitchen was engaged in the stock business. James Kitchen established a general store at Tecolote.
James Broadwell, who first came to the Territory as a soldier in the
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army of occupation, afterward engaged in freighting over the Santa Fé trail, and still later erected the hotel in Denver which bore his name.
Jolin and Andres Dold, brothers, had a general merchandise establish- ment on the west side of the Plaza. Dr. J. M. Whitlock was the first physi- cian to practice in Las Vegas. Dr. Whitlock, James Broadwell and John Sease erected a sawmill at the Hot Springs in 1849-the first establishment of its kind in that part of the Territory.
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