Otero County
NMGenWeb
Please share your Family Group Sheet information, Descendents Chart, Photos, etc. of a Otero County ancestor. Simply email your contribution to the County Coordinator.
ALLEN
30 Jan 2006
I am looking for information on Grace ALLEN. I
am the granddaughter of Grace ALLEN's mother's sister, Lelia Virgina CRUTSINGER
FULLER. She is listed in the 1910 census for Otero County, New Mexico. Grace
ALLEN was born about 1897 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents were Sherwood
Grace ALLEN and Joice Virginia Crutsinger ALLEN.
In 1910 Grace ALLEN and
her mother, Joyce ALLEN, were staying with her mother's sister, Marie SUTTON, in
Alamogordo. Grace had TB, and did not live much beyond this 1910 census.
I am looking for her date of death. Thank you very much. leliafinn@cox.net
ARNETT/FITCH
17 Sep 2001
I am looking for information on the
Naomi ARNETT who died in Otero County, New Mexico on January 31, 2000. She was
born September 29, 1903.
The Naomi FITCH ARNETT I am researching was
born in Granite, OK and was married to Alton Parker ARNETT from Kentucky. I do
not have a birth date on my Naomi ARNETT, but they were married in the early
1920s, and had one son, Parker, Jr., who died four days after he was born in
Kentucky. They divorced, and I am interested in what happened to Naomi after
they divorced. This may be the same Naomi ARNETT. Any information will be
greatly appreciated. Crafter169@aol.com
BACA/GALLEGOS
17 Nov 2005
I am looking for information for Juan BACA, born about 1862. He was married
to Maria GALLEGOS. She was first married to Elias CALLES, and then to Juan BACA
in Tularosa, NM 26 August 1876 at the church of San Francisco de Paula.
His father was Antonio BACA. He supposedly came from Texas, but I cannot find a
connection to Juan BACA. Antonio's wife was Manuelita VELLES. Please e-mail me
if you have any information on these ancestors.
Thank you. Ivan Baros,
Sr. ibaros@starband.net
BAKER
17 Nov 2005
I am working on my
M.A. in Western history and need more information on my ancestor, William Riley
BAKER. I know he was the first sheriff of Otero County, New Mexico when the
county was formed in 1899 from parts of Dona Ana, Lincoln and Socorro Counties.
I have read that Otero County was separated from Lincoln County to remove a
notorious trial from Pat Garrett's jurisdiction, but I have no further
information on that event.
I would like to do my graduate research on the
crime, the trial, and the personalities involved in this event, if indeed the
story is true.
BAKER was reportedly born in 1859 and died in 1906 in
Mexico while guarding a mine. He apparently moved back and forth between New
Mexico, Texas, and Mexico throughout his life.
Any information you can
share would be greatly appreciated. I will cite sources in my final article and
give you credit for information you provide. My e-mail address is listed above.
Thank you. Jamie Quiroga Jamie.h.quiroga@nhmccd.edu
BISHOP
20 Aug 2006
I am searching for descendants of Augustine Douglass BISHOP,
born Hope, Texas March 26, 1869, died Orogrande, New Mexico September 30, 1933.
His wife was Josephine LEWIS.
Douglass' parents were Lewis BISHOP and Sarah
Jane McHENRY.
I have information to share. Susie glensuzy@ectisp.net
CARRILLO/MARQUEZ
June 2001, Updated 2 Oct 2006
José CARRILLO
was born 21 August 1833 in Valencia County, New Mexico (probably in Manzano). He
died, date unknown, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County. Family
history had it that he left his wife for an Apache woman. I'm wondering what
became of him in his later years. The only clues I have are these:
In the
1880 Census, José was living with his wife, Nicanora MARQUEZ, in the city of
Lincoln in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Living with them were their children,
Mariano, Teresa, Juana, Beatrice and Birjinia. An older child, Doroteo, was
already married and living on his own in Lincoln.
In the 1900 Census,
there is a José CORRILLA (color: Mex, age: 59) living on the Mescalero Apache
Reservation with his wife, Charlie (age 44), children: John (age 20), Beatrice
(18), Juanita (16), Guadalupe (13), Mary (10), Anita (5), and Genita (2).
In Eve Ball's book, Indeh, she has a brief biography of a José CARILLO,
based on interviews with those who knew him. There's a slight variation in the
spelling of his name, and a big variation in his life story compared to the José
CARRILLO I'm researching.
I'd greatly appreciate it if anyone coud tell
me if I'm on the right track, or what other resources to search in order to
solve this mystery.
Thank you very much. Annette Wasno,
g3n.wasno@verizon.net
CARTER/WRIGHT
21 Aug 2005
I am trying to
locate information regarding Edward CARTER who supposedly died in 1905 in the
Cloudcroft area. He was the father of Minerva CARTER who married Josh WRIGHT.
Mitzi Salsberry. EllisJatOK@aol.com
DEW
26 Jun 2006
I am
searching for any information regarding Ernest Lee DEW or his family.
Ernest Lee DEW, born 14 May 1909 in Carbon, Eastland County, Texas; died 8 April
1942 in Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico. Married Melvina BOLES in May 1932.
They had three children, names unknown. N. K. Snead nks_gen@earthlink.net
FENIMORE/LEROY
27 Feb 2005
I am researching James Roney
FENIMORE and his family, wife Mary Amanda Fransis LEROY FENIMORE, children:
Bessie, Thomas, Jessie, James, Nettie, Nellie, Virginia, Dora and Dell. Also the
parents: Thomas FENIMORE, Humble, Francis Levi LEROY or (Franklin) and Harriet
Ellen Virginia TEMPERANCE STEEL. They lived in or around Alamogordo, Cloudcroft
and High Rolls, NM where he owned some land. sherry.eric@comcast.net
GARDNER
13 Feb 2001
I'm searching for information on my great
grandfather, Jack GARDNER, born February 21, 1995, deceased April 20, 1989, SSN
208-16-8784. His wife, Melva Mae KELSO FULLER GARDNER, may have passed away in
the late 1970s or early 1980s. They lived somewhere in Alamogordo, NM.
Thanks ahead of time, Patricia Sue pashnpat@pacbell.net
GROSS
26 Jan 2002
I am trying to find out information on my friend
Harvey GROSS, who moved to Alamogordo from Troy, NY. Harvey graduated from Alamo High
in about 1962.
Although he was not living there at the time of his death about
1995, he might be buried there. He had an adopted brother named Kim who was in
the insurance. business there. If anyone can give me any deatils about Harvey I
would appreciate it. Damon Turner Dustedogg@aol.com
HERRERA
8 Oct
2005
Fernando HERRERA was born in Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, New Mexico about
1836. He married Juliana MARTIN 1856 in Santa Cruz. They migrated to Taos, NM,
then Ruidoso, and Lincoln Co., NM in the mid 1870s. The last census I find him
in is the 1900 census in Ruidoso, Lincoln Co. He had several of his
grandchildren living with him in the 1890 and 1900 census; their surnames were
GILL and VALENZUELA. I believe he lived in Alamogordo, Otero Co. in his later
years and passed away there between 1915 and 1920. Any information on his death
or where he might be buried in Alamogordo would be greatly appreciated. Thank
you, Mitzi Salsberry mitzrich@comcast.net
JERGINS
19 Oct 2004
I am searching for any information regarding William Edward JERGINS and
Susan Marie JERGINS. His father was Charles Edward JERGINS, who apparently lived
with them.
William ran a saw mill and flour mill in Otero County during
the early 1900s. When Susan died in 1905, she was buried in Avis Cemetery. Her
father-in-law died about 6 months later and is buried beside her. Both graves
are marked with small cement markers with Mrs. Jergins and Mr. Jergins scratched
into the surface.
In 1907, William married Emma Zelma ZUHN who had been
caring for Susan, and keeping her and William's children. I can't find anything
on William's sawmill business nor where his house might have been located.
William was a member of Woodmen of the World. I have a copy of his receipt for
the Mayhill group dated 1913.
The CURTIS and WELDY families that lived in
that area during this time period are also my family.
Any photos,
clippings or information of any kind would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Cathey A. (Weldy) Cline kalypso56@yahoo.com
JERGINS/GERGINS
26 Jan
2002
I am looking for the family of Della JERGINS, born in 1912 in
Cloudcroft. Her family, or some of it, moved to Portales where Della married
William A. Mahaffey in 1929. Her father, W.E. GERGINS, signed her marriage
certificate. She died in Portales in 1997. Does anyone recognize this family?
Verna@carlsbad.com
McGUIRE
28 Jan 2007
Eliza McGUIRE born
about 1839, died about 1879?, married Gaston McGUIRE after 1872.
I found
a listing for William G. McGUIRE/Eliza McGUIRE in a cemetery in Otero County.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. BT3for3@aol.com
NELSON
25
Nov 2001, Updated 2 Oct 2006
David Pinkerton ("Peach" or "Pink") NELSON,
born in WV, 1873. Lived in WV until early 1900s. He married Alice Stewart in WV
in 1897. They had three children that I know of: Marcella, Hellen and Beulah. I
believe that Alice had two children from a previous marriage, Lucy and Bernard
Robinson.
He was in the Army in WWI, and may still have been in the Army
in the 1920s and 1930s.
"Peach" or "Pink" in NM from the late 1920s to
1938, or longer, and was in El Paso, TX from 1948-1952, according to obituaries.
I would like to find any evidence of him or his descendants in the El Paso
area. Please contact me. Thank you. Dan Huddleston dlhudd@fcc.net
OGLE
27 Feb 2005
I am researching the OGLE family they also lived in
or around Alamogordo, Mountain Park and Karr Canyon, NM.
One of my family
members has said they came here from Mena, Arkansas after traveling 39 days in a
covered wagon around 1920-21.I do not know if they lived in Mena, Arkansas, but
my Grandmother Bessie FENIMORE OGLE Cassity told me that she thought her father
James Roney was originally from Rogers, Arkansas. Most lived in New Mexico until
their deaths. Please let me know any information you have. I would like to
locate birth, death, land, will, news, records and any stories, pictures, people
that knew the family--information of any kind. sherry.eric@comcast.net
ORTEGA
28 Jan 2006
I am
looking for information about my great grandfather, Inocente ORTEGA. He had a
son, my grandfather, also named Inocente. There are various spellings including
Inocencia, Innocente, Ynocente etc. Many of his grandchildren still live in the
Bent/Alamagordo/Tularosa area. Katherine DAVALOS ORTEGA and her sister Ethel are
my second cousins and my mother, Alice ORTEGA SANCHEZ's first cousin.
rsanchez2@san.rr.com
PADILLA
1 May 2002
Alvino PADILLA, born 1860s in Doña Ana, Doña
Ana County, died 1960s, Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico
E. B. Borunda
EBB1939@hotmail.com
PELLMAN
4 Mar 2006
I am looking for
information on Frederick William PELLMAN, born August 26, 1844 in St. Louis,
Missouri; died May 24, 1918 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Where did he live and
where is he buried?
Family notes that he was a rancher, an accountant and
chief clerk for the Mescalero Indian Reservation, and Deputy County Treasurer.
He was also said to have owned and operated Pelman Wells, a stage coach stop.
Any information would be appreciated. Thank you. Mary Jane. Firstpc@aol.com
RICHARDSON
1 Sep 2006
Seeking obit or other information on the
following family:
Mathilda Jane RICHARDSON, daughter of Samuel H. and
Matilda S. BRADLEY THOMPSON, was born October 24, 1824 in Christian County,
Kentucky, and died September 22, 1904 in Otero County, New Mexico. She is buried
in the Monte Vista Cemetery in Otero, New Mexico.
She married Thomas
RICHARDSON October 5, 1851 in Cass County, Illinois. He died between 1870 and
1880. Matilda immigrated to New Mexico from Kansas sometime after 1880 and
before 1890.
On the 1900 Federal Census for Tularosa, Otero County, New
Mexico, she is listed as head of household living with her daughter Ida J.
RICHARDSON. Her son, George RICHARDSON, is listed in the 1900 Federal Census as
living in Tularosa with his wife, Margevell, 46, and son Jessie, 15.
Ida
J. is listed on the 1920 census as living in Alamogordo, Otero County, New
Mexico.
There were three other children born to Thomas and Matilda
RICHARDSON: Mary K. (Maggie), Emma and Jack.
Any information on this
family would be appreciated. MRHODES@NEMR.NET
RINKER/CARTER/HORN
20 Mar 2005
RINKER, Ernest Edward, b. 2 Feb 1904 in OK; died 24 Sep, 1977
in Alamogordo, Otero Co, NM. Ernest RINKER married Hattie CARTER in Raton,
Colfax Co, NM on 15 Jun 1928. I am researching Hattie Carter's mother's HORN
family of Itawamba Co, MS and would like to share information with anyone
related to this couple. Thank you! Patsy Kennedy jerpat@mchsi.com
RIVERA/SANCHEZ
14 May 2005
I have been researching my grandmother's
ancestors and have not been able to find much. My grandmother, Eloisa RIVERA,
was born August 30, 1895. Her parents were Crecencio RIVERA and Casimira
SANCHEZ. They lived in Tularosa. I have Eloisa's Baptismal Certificate from St.
Francis Catholic Church in Tularosa, NM.
Eloisa married Nicolás RAMIREZ
on March 5, 1917 in Tularosa, NM at St. Francis Catholic Church. They moved to
California sometime between March 1917 and December 1918 because Nicolás died in
Oxnard, CA in December 1918.
I would like to find out more about
Crecencio RIVERA and Casimira SANCHEZ, Eloisa's parents. Eloisa's sisters were:
Juanita, Vivenita, Antonia. There may have been more children. I found Casimira
S. RIVERA in the 1910 census in Tularosa, Otero County, NM. She is listed as 50
years old, a widow, with two children at home: Antonia, 21 years old, and
Eloisa, 14 years old. I don't know when Crecencio died.
I would like to
have any information on the parents of Crecencio RIVERA, when he died, the
parents of Casimira SANCHEZ, the names of all their children, or any other
information you can share with me.
Thank you. Mary Hagberg
maryhagberg@sbcglobal.net
RUSSELL
9 Apr 2002
I am trying to
find something about my father and his parents. My father, Stewart Hartiman
RUSSELL, was born in Alamogordo, NM June 16, 1899. His parents were Charles W.
RUSSELL and Elizabeth "Lizzie" GREENWOOD RUSSELL. They also had a daughter,
Edna, born about 1897, and a son, Charles, around 1902. I would like to know if
there is any information on the births of the three kids, or any information on
my grandparents, Charles W. and Elizabeth GREENWOOD RUSSELL.
Thank you
for any help. Harvey Russell bpruss@adelphia.net
SAMMONS
27 Jan
2002
I'm looking for my uncle's full name. Lloyd SAMMONS, b. 17 April
1907, d. 30 December 1968 in Alamogordo, Otero County, NM. Lloyd SAMMONS had a
twin who died in infancy. Would anyone know what his name was?
I would
also like to find my aunt's parents' names. Emma W. SAMMONS, b. 10 March 1900,
Mountain Home, AR, d. 9 January 1975.
Joan Grant Simpson
rrsjs44@yahoo.com
SELMAN
8 Jun 2006
I am currently doing
research on the Battle of Yellow House Canyon in March 1877, and one of the
participants was Tom Cat SELMAN (Thomas Clark SELMAN ) whose grandson, Reggie,
lives in Otero at the present time.
I have the standard information that
is in some of the books, but would really appreciate any other material that
Reggie or other family members might contribute. Can someone put me in contact
with Reggie?
Most of the buffalo hunters/badmen who participated in the
fight moved west after that time, and didn't care to be counted in the census or
public records. A number went to Lincoln County and did damage there. A few
upstanding ones like George CAUSEY established ranches in New Mexico, but the
majority just left.
Thank you. Judy Womack ALTOLADY@aol.com
SPEIGHT
16 May 2001
William Thomas SPEIGHT, born November 12, 1911 in
Wellington, TX, died February 21, 1949 near Cloudcroft, NM. While on duty as a
New Mexico State Trooper, he froze to death, and was buried in Alamogordo.
William SPEIGHT was the son of my great uncle, Tom SPEIGHT (likely William
Thomas), who I believe is also buried in Alamogordo.
I would like any
information available on any of the SPEIGHT family. H. Y. Rowe
hyjean@hotmail.com
TAYLOR
20 May 2006
I am looking for the
small cemetery close to the Post Office, I believe. It had two graves of
Taylors; one was an infant with a metal crib around it. It is not the one in the
main cemetery.
The graves are in La Luz between Alamogordo and Tularosa
in Otero County. Thank You Sherry Blake. dust1@netzero.com
WALTERS
19 Aug 2001
We are looking for a man named John WALTERS, who was a Civil
War vet. We believe he was buried in Bent (Otero County) or Nogal Canyon
(Lincoln County). We believe he married Emilia. They had several children:
Emilia married Eselso TELLES. Their children are: Emilia, Alvina, Marian,
James, Adolfo, Eselso, Perfecto, Edward, Elias. Adolpho's children still live in
Alamogordo.
Alvina TELLES married Innocente ORTEGA, also from Bent. They
had two children, Horacio and Alice.
Horacio married Sally, and they had
a daughter, Laura.
Alice married Guillermo SANCHEZ, and they had two
children, Dennis and Roberta.
Roberta never married.
Dennis married
Kathy KIM. They had two children, Alicia and Fred SANCHEZ.
Alice Sanchez
alvina@adnc.com
WILKERSON
8 Oct 2005
Searching for any
info on Capt. Alex K. WILKERSON. Born Alabama, Mobile Co. 1841 - d. San Angelo,
Texas, 1929. Found earlier in Brown County Texas. Married: Martha Jane GRIFFIN
BUNTING in 1883, Rockwell Co, TX. Alex had a family with Martha. They moved to
Weed, New Mexico. Later he left Weed, NM with Margaret L SANDERS JONES. Margaret
later settled in Greenlee County, Arizona with some of her JONES children and
the children she and Alex had. On several Arizona censuses Margaret is listed as
a widow - but within the WILKERSON circles it was known that Margaret and family
were abandoned as Martha and children were.
In 1910 Alex homesteaded in
New Mexico. Found on several censuses as living with Kate ????
At the
time of Alex's death he was living with Kate ????. She provided the brief
information on his death certificate. He served two terms with the Texas
Rangers. His Civil War pension lists him as Indian fighter rather than Civil War
veteran.
Thank you. Barbara Prestridge alpine87@hotmail.com
WRIGHT, Granite Peak Mining Co.
31 Oct 2005, Updated 8 Oct 2006
I am
looking for information on my grandfather, Ray A. WRIGHT and the Granite Peak
Mining Company in Three Rivers, NM. My grandfather worked there as shown on his
draft registration card in 1917.
I have located him in the AZ census in
1920. At that time he is married with a child. He does not show up at all in the
1930 census in any state. His wife was enumerated in AZ in the 1930 census, but
is remarried.
I am trying to figure out if he was possibly killed in a
mining accident at Granite Peak between 1920 and 1930.
If you have any
information on Ray A. WRIGHT, his death, or the Granite Peak Mining Company,
please contact me at the e-mail address listed above.
Thank you. Barbara
Scholwin monarch042@hotmail.com
George Swaggart lived in the Tularosa area from the late 1890s until 1907, when he moved to Arizona. Betty E. More contributed fourteen letters written by him, his wife, and his children between 1895 and 1904, plus photos of George, Olie, their home, and one photo Betty believes might be a ranch hand. [The copies of the home and ranch hand photos are lost. Couldn't be restored Aug 2025.] These letters provide a vivid glimpse of life in Tularosa at the turn of the century. Betty published a book about George Swaggart, Soldier Boy: Letters and History of an Illinois Union Soldier, in 2000.
George Swaggart
Olie Swaggart
George Swaggart
George Swaggart
Betty E. More submitted a series of letters written from
Tularosa, Otero County, New Mexico and photos, dating back to 1853. The letters
were written between February 3, 1895, and September 30, 1904.
They are
written by a cowboy who ranched and ran a saloon in the area, and his children.
George Swaggart was her grandmother's brother.
George Swaggart and his
wife, Olie, moved to Tularosa, NM sometime between 1890 and 1895. Perhaps
Tularosa was picked because Olie was from Tularosa (see letter 1). George came
from a long line of adventurers. On his father's side, his grandfather, George,
fought in the War of 1812 when he was only seventeen years old. He fought beside
his father and uncles. Later, he fought in the Blackhawk Indian Wars. His
father, Eugene McBride Swaggart, fought during the Civil War in the 92nd IL
Mounted Infantry and George Swaggart was born on March 4, 1863, while his father
was away at war.
George's grandmother on his father's side was Sarah
(Whiteside) Miller Swaggart. Her father, Uel Whiteside and his father before
him, William Whiteside moved to Illinois from North Carolina and were some of
the first settlers there about 1792. William Whiteside had fought in the
American Revolution. The Whiteside family were renowned as Indian fighters in
Illinois.
His mother, Elvira (Van Alstine) Swaggart, was from the
families of Van Alstyne and Dodge. Both were in the United States in the 1600s.
George's family had moved from Illinois to Caldwell, KS, following the Civil
War, arriving there between 1872 - 1875. George became a cowpuncher at a very
young age as did several of his cousins who traveled there with the family.
The following letters explain some of his life and the life of his children
in Tularosa, NM.
The first letter was written by Olie, wife of George Swaggart. She wrote it to one of his sisters. He had two sisters, Nellie Eugenia (Swaggart) Briggs and Josephine (Swaggart) Jones. His only brother was Charles Swaggart, who was quite an adventurer on his own. This letter was written from San Augustine, but there was no state mentioned.
San Augustine
May 16th, 1890
Miss Josie Swaggart
I received your kind and welcome letter sometime ago. Was glad to hear from you but sorry to hear Nellie was sick. Hope she has recovered er this. Mr. Swaggart received a letter from Charley not long since, says he likes Las Vegis very well.
We had a letter from John Phillips and wife last mail. They were well at the time.
At the time I rec"d your last letter I was at my Mothers in Tularosa. I staid there six weeks. Mr. Swaggart was gone. We are now living at San Augustine. I like here very well but Mr. Swaggart is gone all day every day so I am alone.
You asked if I have any brothers. Yes, I have three all younger than myself.
Tell your Mother if her other boy makes as good husband as the one I have got, it is a great pity she didn't have several more. As I have nothing of interest to write I will close. We are both well and doing well. Write soon to
Your Sister & Brother.
The second letter written was from George to his father, Eugene McBride Swaggart.
Feb 3rd 95
Tularosa N Mex
Dear Pa
As it has been sometime since I received your last letter will try and answer it.
I have been camped in the Riuconenada all winter branding calves that is on the Indian reservation. We are not alowed to have any house thare and it is very cold around the white mountains now. I have come down to the ranch to stay untill spring. Olie has been in the Tularosa the most of the time.
She have been very sick since Xmas. She is better now and is able to come home. I will go after her tomorrow. I got a card from the express office in Cruces for a box we suppose it is from home. So many thanks for it. We wanted to send you all some presants but it was so far to any place that one can get anything of that kind that I dident have time to go. We live 85 miles from any Rail Road. Las Cruces is the nearest point. They have been lots of snow here this winter, more than I ever seen before and it will be 15 years the 27th of this month since I started for New Mexico. It seems like a life time to me. I am sure I don't want to see another 15 years of as hard a life as I have spent here and I feel it now I am as badly deuce up as most men is at 50 and am bald headed to boot and am getting gray what left to time. The whole lop of my head is fast getting above timber line.
I never hear from Charley any more or from Nellie. I have wrote to Nell this spring.
But don't know whare to write to find Charley. I think this little outfit of mine will sell all the steers this spring and I am going through with them or will start with them any how and will make you a call. They have been lots of cattle shiped from this country to Kansas pastures. Wont all the steer buyers that comes here is from Kansas. Lots of them are from cowboy country. I am getting a nice bunch of cattle of my own now.
I will brand about 50 calves this year if I have no bad luck and the range don't play out. I will have cattle enough so that I can work for my self when I leave this ranch. I am buying all that I can all the time. The old man that I am working for never comes around once in a year. I can get what I want and have it charged to him and he pays it and that is the last of it with me.
Well write me all you know and I will be able to write more often until spring.
Give my love to Ma and Jo.
Your son
George
Again George wrote to his sister, Josephine Swaggart. He thoughtfully gave her a recipe he thought she might enjoy. He mentioned the first two of his three children. They were Zola and Walter Swaggart. Later, Olive Swaggart was born.
Tularosa, New Mex
Feb. 11, 1895
Ruiconenada Ranch
Dear Sister
We received you letter and the presants. Many thanks for them. It takes us a long time to get any thing from Las Cruces it is so far from here.
We are all at the Ranch at presant. Olie has been sick but is better now. The kids are both well and for myself I am well but am troubled with the same old rhumatism but not very bad. It is awful cold here this winter for this country. It has been snowing and sleeting all day and to cold to work or to ride neather.
I guess it is good and cold in Kansas as now and it must be reather tough on some of the new settlers in the strip. I am awful glad that I am not among them. I see from the papers some of the old boomers don't chew very regular in that new country. I imagine that wouldent suate me very well.
We are very well fixed here to live. That has never bothered me yet to live but it is hard to save anything here. Lots of Tularosa folks is going to that country in the spring but they wont help the country any for they cant make a living here nor know other place. Tularosa will be very glad to have them go. This will be good country if it ever gets a rail road. Then the Mexicans will have to fall back and more people will settle here.
I wrote to Nellie the other day that when ever she came home, I would come also. I am getting awful home sick and am going to come and make you all a visit some day. I keep putting it off from time to time and never get started. I have promised Olie she can go in the spring and I will come after her when I can get away.
Walter can ride a horse alone and Zola can talk Mexican - that is about all they can do - only ball, they are both good hands at that.
Well write me all the news you can think of. Pa wrote me all about all the kin foks but Tom Swaggart. What become of him. I dident know but worry he was dead by his not speaking of him.
Your loving brother
Love to Pa and Ma
1/2 pound lard
1 ounce c pepper
simmer 15 minutes
strain
1/2 ounce comfree greens
From Olie Swaggart to George's parents. September 28, 1897. George had gone on a cattle drive but didn't return when Olie expected him. She knew he was stopping to see his folks but thought he would return before September 28th.
Tularosa New Mexico
Sept 28th 97
Dear Mother & Father
George taken a bunch of cattle to Engle New Mex and wrote me from there that he had got a chance to go to Caldwell without it costing him any thing, and that he would be home in eight or ten days and he started on the 16th of this month & I haven't heard from him since. His business is all going wrong here and I don't know what to do. I am very uneasy about him. Please answer at once and let me know if he has ever made it there.
The children are well and I have been very well but am so nervois now I cant sleep nights so am not feeling so well in the last few days. Will close for the present - hoping you are all well and that nothing serious is keeping George.
Good bye
Olie Swaggart
P. S. Be sure to answer me at once.
George made it home about a week after Olie wrote asking about him. His letter was to Ike Jones, his brother-in-law, husband of Josephine (Swaggart) Jones, and was dated October 29, 1897.
Tularosa, New Mex
Oct. 29th '97
Mr. Ike Jones
Dear Brother
Will try and write you a few lines. Hoping it will find you all well at home. I got home the morning of the 30 of last month. I come through in one night from Engle. Left there at sundown and made it home before sun up. It is 85 miles from Engle to Tularosa. I stoped off at Witchita and had a nice visit with Bedford Wood and family. I got into a jackpot or a colison with a young lady on a wheel. She run into me and we were both on the wheel. I told her that I was a new married and she had better get some one else to ride with her.
I am stuck on Witchita. I would like to live thare. Well this country is on a boom. La Lutz (the light) is all sold out to the R.R. company and every body thinks it will make a good town. The R.R. is surly coming in the next six months. That will help this country for awhile.
I will send you one of the Tularosa Papers.
Tell Ma and Josie to write and Pa also if he is at home.
Give my regards to all.
Always
George Swaggart
PS. The mountains and foothills are all covered with snow. I come in last night for more cloths and larder. This is the first time I have been home since I left on the 3rd.
In 1898, George wrote to his parents concerning his trip to Kansas and his return. He told them a little more about his encounter with the lady on the bicycle.
Tularosa Dona Ana Co., New Mexico
Feb 10th /98
Dear Pa and Ma
I received your letter in due time. It is the first one I have got since I came back from Kansas.
And I was surly glad to hear from you and you are well. I was afraid I had offended you all some how and had made up my mind to come back thare and fix it up.
I got a letter from Frank telling me of Uncle Moses death.
Well, Olie is not very well at presant. Will write more about it in time to come.
The town is very dull. We will have to stand it for a month or two and then we will have a rail road and a fast little town.
I wrote to Pa the other day to Caldwell. I guess you will get it all right. I got a letter from Bedford Wood and one from Nellie Wood also.
Bessie and Nellie Wood is the nicest young folks in Wichita. Mrs. Wood was as glad to see me as my own folks was. She give me fits for not stoping as I went down. I had to lay over in Wichita one hour for another train. And I sent a kid to look up Wood. He found him in 10 minutes and I was in for a stay while I was standing around to look for wood a young lady run into me on her wheel and set me up in front of her. Of corse, the wheel up set.
I told her she would have to excuse me as I never road on a wheel with as sweet a young lady as she seemed to be.
Lots of strangers is in this country. I have a man runing Monty by the name of Birt Hanson. He was in Caldwell years ago. Was with Frenchy in Wichita. Bill Wilson was with us for a while. He was a Caldwell stage driver years ago.
Will write you all about everything when the rail road comes.
I am going to make some money sure if I live. My place is worth 4 times now what I give for it. I have the front of a block close to whare the depot will be and that is whare the city will be for the Rail Road Co. has bought all of that part of town they could get.
Will close.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Your son,
George
By July of 1898, George was getting tired of cowpunching. It was something he never completely gave up, but he did try other things. Olive, his third child, was born and Olie was having a hard time.
Tularosa, N Mex
July 24, 1898
Dear Ma & Pa,
Received your letter in due time. Was glad to hear from you and that you heard from C.B. I wish you would give me his address. I am thinking of going in to a company of Old wore out cow punchers and put in a big stock of articles of all kinds.
I am to big to even do any more hard work. I weigh a little over 200. In one more year I will be the biggest Swaggart on earth.
I quit hard work and tobacco. I cant smell of and have drunk some beer. But am afraid to drink anything on account of it making me so fat. My pants is 40 by 30. When I see you all I weigh 158 to 160.
Well the kids is going to school and Olie is under the weather. We have got a new girl and her breasts is trying to rais on her. The kid is the prettiest one of all.
Well Olie can write you the rest.
Your son George
Write soon and often.
From George to his parents. By 1900, the railroad made it to Alamogordo and George found that Tulrosa was declining. George lost the money he had saved.
Tularosa, N Mex
April 14, 1900
Dear Pa & Ma
I received your letters. Only one from Ma that I found in some old papers last week that was wrote over a year ago. All I could do was to shed tears which I don't do often. Well the last time you saw me I was well fixed. I have lost money. I am close out at presant.
If I can I will send you some money this summer. That new town of Alamogordo or fat cotton wood that the rail road built killed this town and broke me with many others. I am making a living but that is all. I am to big and fat to ever run cows any more. My weight is 216 lbs. I am as fat as Frank.
Olie has been sick for 8 years and has got to now that she is not able to do anything. We have a girl to do the work all the time. She will not live long. She has everything on earth but smallpox.
Zola and Walter goes to school. The kid or outlaw is about as fat as Ma and is just like Ma. When she starts any place she goes in a run and Ma never walked two steps in her life. I think they call the kid Olive. I call her Dido.
I got a letter from Charlie last winter. He was in Cal. He wanted doe. I sent him $25.00 and the letter come back to me.
I am going to Cape Dosue if I can get away this spring. New Mexico is a thing of the past. I am going to get away from Rail Roads if I can.
Hoping you are all well.
Will close.
Yours as ever.
George
This was written by Zola Swaggart, daughter of George. I
guess she is referring to a saloon that George owned. It was written in a very
childish handwriting with a lot of words misspelled.
Ancer - answer
Moved - mooved
Sloon - saloon
Almroro - I don't know if this is Alamogordo
or Arroyo. Perhaps in a later letter it will be clearer.
Frute - fruit
Cloze - close
Tularosa, N. M.
Aug 6th 1901
Dear Grandma.
Are you well. Did you get my letter. I did not get the ancer. of it. We have just got back from the hot springs. We had a nice time over there. Papa has mooved his sloon to Almroro. We are going over there tomorrow to see him. I think this summer I will go off to go to school. We have lots of frutes this summer. Frute is getting ripe here now. Well I guess I will cloze my letter now.
From Zola E. Swaggart
A second letter from Zola Swaggart to her grandparents, Eugene McBride Swaggart and Elvira (Van Alstine) Swaggart.
Tularosa, N. M.
Oct. 23, 1901
Dear Grandma, Are you well. We are all well but Walter neck is sore but it is giting all rite now.
I rote you a litter 2 or 3 weeks a go and I never got the ancer of it. Did you ancer my letter.
Miss Rendles baby died the other day and it was a cute little thing. It had dark hair and brown eyes and it is to bad don't you think so. Last Sunday was my burthday and I got a nice dress and a pair of shoose and some gloves and a hat and a nice fan and a cap and 5 yeards of ribon and three silk doiles and I had a party and I got lots of nice things.
Well I just thought of Christmas was near. I wonder if old St. Nickless is going to come this year. I think so. Papa is well now but a while back he was very sick with his leg. It was afel sore and he could hardly walk. It is cold now.
How is Granpa. Is he well now. I am going to school now and I am learning fast. We have a nice school and a large one to. We have a nice teacher to. We have 55 pupals and it is a cuite? of children.
From your daughter
Miss Zola C. Swaggart
Remarks:
Walter is Zola's brother, son of George
Swaggart.
Giting - getting
Rite - right
Rote - wrote
Ancer - answer
Litter - letter
Rendles - probably Reynolds
To - too
Burthday -
birthday
Shoose - shoes
Yeards - yards
Ribon - ribbon
Doiles -
doilies
St. Nickless - St. Nicholas
Afel - awful
Granpa - Grandpa
Pupals - pupils
Cuite - ?
From Zola Swaggart to Elvira (Van Alstine) Swaggart, her grandma.
Tularosa, N. M.
Dec. 4, 1901
Dear Grandma, Are you well. I have sent you baby's picture but it is not very good. Walter has rote you a letter and it is the first one that he ever rote and he put first scalded my lag then he went today. Baby has a boil under her arm and he put has a boil under her arm and I had to show him how to start a letter and I had to tell him what to do next and we had a time with him.
Mama is well and Papa and all of us.
Papa is living in Alamogordo (it was clear in this letter) and he is doing good business and he is making plenty of muny.
How is Granpa and do you know where Uncle Charles is. I would like to know. Have you heard from Aunt Josie and Aunt Nellie. Are they well. I can not think of any more this time. Rite one to me.
Good buy,
Zola E. Swaggart
Rote - wrote
Lag - leg
Muny - money
Granpa - Grandpa
Rite - write
Good buy - Good by
Walter Swaggart also wrote to his grandmother, Elvira (VanAlstine) Swaggart, and in it he mentioned a neighbor, Mrs. Sanders.
Tularosa, New Mexico
Dec. 4th, 1901
Dear Grandma,
Are you well. I scalded my lag. I was at Mrs. Sanders house when they was killing a hog and they scalded my lag but it is getting all rite now.
Walter Swaggart
Tularosa, N M
From Zola Swaggart to her grandma thanking her for the Christmas package. January 1902.
Tularosa, N M
Dear Grandma.
Are you well. We are all well and we got your package and it was afel nice and my work baskit was afel nice and thimble is beautful and my every thing was beautful and I thought babys cloaths were so prety and papa has come home to stay and I am so glad four we misted him so much.
Tularosa never had any Christmas tree because the ladys had a entertainment and they did not have any time to trim the tree but we had a nice time with our dolls and we went to the entertainment and we had a nice time there and last night we went to a show and the show was goats and dogs and they would jump through dorles which they was made of pace bord and they would jump through the boxes and would jump over the sticks and do everything funny.
In Tularosa the dipthory is enuneed? the mexcans and don't be afraid that we will catch it because no one has it.
It has snowed here once and today it looks like snow and rain and hale and everything and it is turning cold and we are think this summer we will go away from town and I am afraid Papa and Mother and we are going to the fillepines but I don't know. I hope we will go somewhere for a change and how is Granpa. Is he well. I thank you a hundred times for such a nice package. Well I guess I cannot think of anything else now.
Good buy.
Zola Swaggart
Tularosa, New Mexico
Jan 1902
Remarks:
Afel - awful
Baskit - basket
Beautful - beautiful
Cloaths - clothes
Prety - pretty
Misted - missed
Four - for
Dorles - doors ?
Pace bord - pasteboard
Dipthory - diptheria
Enuneed - no idea but that is what it looked like
Mexcans - Mexicans
Hale
- hail
Fillepines - Philippines (I really can't imagine that they were going
there but maybe the adults mentioned something about the islands and she picked
up on it)
Granpa - Grandpa
Good buy - Goodbye
The last letter from Tularosa was dated September 30, 1904. It was from Olie to her mother-in-law, Elvira (Van Alstine) Swaggart, mother of George Swaggart.
Tularosa New Mex - Sept 30, 1904
Dear Mother,
Mr. Swaggart arrived at home this morning all right. I was awful glad to see him for I was so uneasy about him. He brought me lots of nice things besides the ones he got and you sent from Caldwell, he brought me a cape - it is just lovely - cost $40.
Will close for this time as I am so very busy. The children were awfully pleased with what Granma sent them. Walter hasn't taken off his cap since his Papa came.
I am so sorry I wrote that other letter for I know you will be uneasy about George until you get this.
Write soon and tell Josie George says she thinks she is the only one who as a girl, but to say she is mistaken. I have one too.
Good bye
Your loving children
Geo & Olie
By 1907, George Swaggart and his family, Olie, Zola, Walter and Olive had moved to Arizona. They lived in Apache, about 50 miles north of Douglas, AZ. His daughter, Zola had married Ross Sloan and he and Ross had a small ranch. Olive Swaggart married Leonard Been. His parents, Eugene McBride Swaggart and Elvira Van Alstine/Swaggart moved to Kingfisher, OK about the same time George and Olie moved to AZ. Elvira died in 1908. Around 1923, George Swaggart died and the following obituaries were written. I don't know the names of the newspapers.
The funeral of Geo. W. Swaggart, who died at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Ross Sloan, near Apache, on Tuesday, will be held at
the Elks Hall tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock.
Mr. Swaggart is an old
resident of this county, engaged in the cattle business. For many years before
coming to Arizona, he was a pioneer of New Mexico, where he was active in
combatting hostile Indians in that part of the southwest.
At the age of
fourteen, Swaggart was held captive by the Apache Indians for six days, escaping
by riding to a home forty miles without bridle or saddle.
The death of
Mr. Swaggart has brought sincere sorrow to his many friends in this county where
he was well known and highly respected. He had been a member of the Elks lodge
for eight years.
George C. Swaggart, aged 60 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ross
Sloan at 7:30 o'clock Tuesday evening. The daughter lives about fifty miles from
Douglas near Apache.
The deceased has been in ill health for some time.
He has resided in this section for over 21 years and is a well known cattleman.
The body is being held pending word from relatives in Oklahoma. He is
survived by the widow, two daughters, Mrs. Leonard Been and Mrs. Ross Sloan, and
one son, Walter. Ames-Dugan undertakers are in charge.
Contributed by Betty E. More
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