J. W. Pride Lincoln County, New Mexico

J. W. Prude, licensed trader with the Indians at Mescalero Apache Indian agency and also supplying the mess hall ranchers and others in the locality, was born and reared in Texas and has spent his entire life on the frontier. He was the son of a pioneer cattleman, John Prude, of Alabama, who went to Texas in 1852, while the mother, Mrs. John Prude, became a resident of the Lone Star state in 1847. In his youth J. W. Prude became a cowboy and is familiar with all of the thrilling experiences as well as the routine work of that occupation. Since the fall of 1887 he has been in New Mexico, and since 1889 has resided in Lincoln County, devoting his attention to merchandising. He has been agency trader for four years, and for seven years previous to that time conducted an independent mercantile business. He has many Indian curios. The Apaches not only make blankets, but also moccasins, pappoose boxes and water jugs, the last being made from amole or soap plant, covered with wax.

Mr. Prude was married in Miss Mattie Bennett, a daughter of Captain John T. Bennett, who won his title by service with a Texas regiment in the Mexican war. Mr. and Mrs. Prude have three daughters and two sons, namely: Andrew B., Maggie, William, Ruth and Myra. Mr. Prude is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Alamogordo.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.