George James Pace Colfax County, New Mexico

George James Pace, Raton, county treasurer and collector of Colfax County. New Mexico, was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1843, son of David and Margaret (Woods) Pace. At an early age he became self-supporting and in his youth learned the trade of stove molder. When the Civil war came on he had not yet emerged from his teens, but his patriotism soon asserted itself and on August 7, 1862, he enlisted as a member of the One Hundred Twenty-Third Pennsylvania Infantry. After a service of nine months, he was honorably discharged, May 13, 1863. February 6, 1865, he again enlisted, this time as a member of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served until July 1st of that year. Both times his service was in the Army of the Potomac, and among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

After the war Mr. Pace worked at his trade in the east until 1873, when he came west and located in Las Animas, Colorado. When the present Las Animas was founded he was on the ground and sold the first merchandise in the town. In 1876 he went to Lake City. Colorado, where he was in business eighteen months. In November, 1878, he came to Willow Springs, a stage station. He helped to establish the town of Otero and had a store there until the railroad came and Raton was started, since which time Mr. Pace has been identified with its growth and development, having a grocery store here until June, 1902.

As showing his popularity, we note that although Colfax County is nominally Democratic, Mr. Pace has several times been elected to office on the Republican ticket. In 1880 he was elected county commissioner, for a term of four years; in the fall of 1902 was the choice for county treasurer and collector, in 1904 was re-elected to succeed himself, and is now the incumbent of the office. In 1888 Mr. Pace married Mrs. Laura R. Thomas. She has two children by her former marriage: James Ray Thomas and Alice M., wife of S. W. Clark.

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

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