John Baumgarten Doña Ana County, New Mexico

John Baumgarten, proprietor of a grocery and bakery at Las Cruces, was born in Lorraine, Germany, and acquired his education in his native land. He came to the United States in 1873 to avoid service in the German army, and for three years was employed in different ways in the east. He then enlisted for service in the United States army in 1876, becoming a member of Company B, Eighth United States Cavalry, with which he was connected for five years. He did service in Texas, being engaged in scouting duty and in keeping down the Indians until discharged in 1881, when he came to New Mexico. He made his way to the Territory from San Antonio. Texas, proceeding up the Rio Grande valley to El Paso, where the Southern Pacific Railroad was in course of construction. He was accompanied by a friend who had also just been discharged from the army. They did not like El Paso, however, and came on to Las Cruces, where they had been on scouting duty while in the army. They continued on to Santa Fe, where they sold their outfit. Mr. Baumgarten then proceeded to the San Pedro mining camp and secured employment in a large hotel. He was afterward employed in a smelter until disaster overtook the camp, after which he returned to Santa Fe and worked in a bakery. He later went to Socorro, New Mexico, where he was employed for one month in a smelter, and in 1884 came to Las Cruces, where he worked for a short time in a hotel. He then established a restaurant, which he conducted for two and a half years. On selling out he turned his attention to ranching, but this venture proved unprofitable and he lost all that he had. After about a year and a half he returned to Las Cruces, where he again opened a restaurant, which he conducted for a year and a half. Later he returned to ranching and devoted four and a half years to the dairy business, but in 1891 again came to Las Cruces, where he established the bakery and grocery which he now conducts and manages. He has prospered since embarking in this line of trade, and has a well-equipped establishment.

Mr. Baumgarten is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He was married in Santa Fe to Miss Anne Klauer and they are well known in Las Cruces and this part of New Mexico, where Mr. Baumgarten has lived for almost a quarter of century, thus being one of the pioneers.

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

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