J. D. Hortenstein Chaves County, New Mexico

For many years J. D. Hortenstein was closely associated with the history of Chaves County, and when death claimed him the community mourned the loss of a representative citizen, widely and favorably known in agricultural circles. He came to the Territory in 1897 from Illinois and selected a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, twelve miles from Roswell, and in 1898 the family moved here from Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois. In May, 1 901, he completed an artesian well eight hundred and forty feet deep, this being the first well sunk in the vicinity. Sixty acres of his place was devoted to orchard and alfalfa. He also owned the town site of Orchard Park, located on the railroad twelve miles southeast of Roswell, which was platted in November, 1905.

The post office name of Orchard Park is Alellen. The estate is managed by his widow and son. Hale Horntenstein.

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