John Gallagher Colfax County, New Mexico

John Gallagher, deceased, who was for many years well known as an extensive rancher of New Mexico and also engaged in farming, was born m Ireland in 1842 and came to the United States about 1861, when nineteen years of age. He first settled in Pennsylvania, where he worked in coal mines, and in 1861 he came to the west, his destination being California.

He stopped, however, at Elizabethtown and in 1868 took up his abode permanently here, attracted by the mining excitement. Like others, he sought for gold in this part of the country, working in placer claims in Grouse and Willow gulches until 1881. He was successful in his mining operations and with the capital thus acquired he took up a homestead, purchasing 5,237 acres of land from the Maxwell Land Grant Company. He then turned his attention to the raising and herding of cattle and also to a limited extent followed farming. He likewise bought other land in Union county and was extensively engaged in business as a rancher up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 25th of May. 1905.

Mr. Gallagher was married in 1875 to Miss Marv McGarvey, and in addition to the property which was left the family by the husband and father, they also have ranches on the Chico River. There were eight children, including Patrick, who has charge of the ranch on the creek; John, who has charge of the Chico river ranch and the cattle on the place; and Charlie, who has charge of the home place.

Back | Colfax County Biographies

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