Edward S. Stapleton Socorro County, New Mexico

Edward S. Stapleton, deputy sheriff of Socorro County, was born in, that county October 8, 1859, a son of Robert H. and Pabla (Baca) Stapleton, the latter a daughter of Pedro A. Baca, who was a lieutenant in the Civil war and also a member of the militia. The father came to New Mexico with the United States troops in 1848, and was afterward made colonel in the militia. He had the contract to build Fort Craig, and he became largely interested in business enterprises in this part of the Territory. He purchased two thousand acres of land south of San Marcial, well known as the Stapleton ranch, and he had sawmills and threshing machines, and he used thirty-two teams in his various business enterprises. As a merchant he was carrying a stock of goods valued at one hundred and sixteen thousand dollars, which was destroyed by the Texas and other southern troops during the Civil war, and for which he never received any remuneration. He was in the fight at Glorieta and fled to the hills to save his life. He afterward retired to Socorro, where he died July 8, 1891. Edward S. Stapleton has spent his life in Socorro County and was educated in St, Michael's College at Santa Fe, from which he was graduated in 1874. When at home he assisted in operating the sawmill until 1881, when he was married and turned his attention to farming and merchandising, continuing in business three miles north of Socorro. He was thus engaged until he became chief deputy sheriff in December, 1904, and he still retains his farming interests. His political support is given to the Democracy. Mr. Stapleton was married August 2, 1881, to Emitira Baca, and their children are: Robert, Vivian, Lesandro, Edonardo, Jacob, Pablita, Isabel and Ernest Stapleton.

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