First Exhibit: Pioneer Families of Grant County, New Mexico 
Second Exhibit: New Mexico In The 1870’s 
Third Exhibit: Mimbres, Grant County, New Mexico  
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Grant County was created 30 January 1868. It was named for General Ulysses S. Grant who became president. Silver City is the county seat. This county is rich with copper, gold and other metals. It contains part of the Gila National Forest. Farming and ranching are major businesses.   

Pioneer Families of Grant County, New Mexico 

A History of The Hooker-Shelley Families and The 916 Ranch 
Written by LaVerne McCauley & Terrell T. Shelley 

Published by Gateway, Inc., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202
Copyright 1987 by LaVerne McCauley & Terrell T. Shelley 
Library of Congress Card Number 86-83273

Permission to reproduce this index and excerpts was given by Terrell T. Shelley on July 6, 2001. 
This book has 487 pages and includes many pictures of the people and places of 
Grant County New Mexico that have been written about in this publication.

For information about the availability of this book only, please contact the authors:  
Terrell T. Shelley
916 Ranch
Cliff, NM  88028

For queries about book contents and requests, contact Beverly A. Taylor only.

copyright 4 July 2001
Submitted by Beverly A. Taylor
 

New Mexico In The 1870’s
From
Pioneer Families of Grant County
By
LaVerne McCauley & Terrell T. Shelley

Beverly Taylor, Contributor

Silver City is the County seat of Grant County, a county established in 1868 by special act of the Territorial Legislature. It was about this time that a settlement was located at San Vicente or Meadows. Silver was discovered at Choloride Flats, Georgetown, in the Burro Mountains, and other spots in the area. The discovery led to the establishment of Silver City, in 1870, the founder of the town being a Captain Hurlburt.
Southern New Mexico in the early 1870’s had few settlers who did not live in small towns or settlements such as Silver City, Pinos Altos, and Shakespeare, now Lordsburg. There were very few settlers until the prospectors who had been disappointed in the gold fields of California and Colorado began to drift in to New Mexico to try their luck. 
Samuel B. Axtell was Governor, from 1875-1878. In 1878, President Hays appointed General Lew Wallace as Territorial Governor and gave him orders to end the Lincoln County War. While he was Governor he wrote the book Ben Hur. 
The coming of the telegraph in 1876 and the railroads in 1883 caused a great cattle-ranching and mining boom. When Geronimo finally surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles in 1886 the Apache Indian threat to the settlers was finally over. 
In Grant County, in October 1871, James Metcalf made the first permanent settlement of the Mangus Valley, and on the same day Jack Donaldson located what was known as the Circle Ranch. In 1872, Alex Halloway located a claim below the Metcalf claim.

These were the first permanent settlements made west of Silver City, and at this time there were no settlements on the lower, middle, or upper Gila Valleys. The first permanent settlement on the upper Gila was made by James Shackleford, cousin of James Metcalf and a brother of John Metcalf Shackleford, and was later a part of the immense agricultural estate of the Gila Farm Company. This property is now owned by James Worthington Shelley. 

                          Surnames      Given Names           Surnames      Given Na
                     Mentioned in Book  for each Surname Mentioned in Book  for each
                    Adair                  1            Lane                   1
                    Adams                  2            Laney                  3
                    Agee                   1            Langston               1
                    Albert                 1            Larson                 4
                    Allen                  3            Latham                 2
                    Allison                8            Lauriano               1
                    Allred                 17           Layne                  1
                    Amberson               4            Lee                    2
                    Anderson               19           Lewis                  10
                    Apache Kid             1            Lidsey                 2
                    Arisman                2            Lilly                  3
                    Ault                   1            Liserine               1
                    Aults                  2            Littlefield            11
                    Bagby                  1            Livingston             1
                    Baker                  1            Loag                   1
                    Ball                   3            Lobestein              1
                    Ballore                1            Lobstein               1
                    Balou                  1            Longbottom             2
                    Barentine              29           Loomis                 6
                    Barka                  1            Lopez                  1
                    Barksdale              1            Lorey                  1
                    Barrows                1            Loup                   1
                    Bates                  5            Lowe                   1
                    Baugh                  1            Lowery                 2
                    Beard                  4            Lydie                  1
                    Belden                 2            Lyons                  5
                    Bell                   12           Mangold                1
                    Bennett                1            Mangas                 1
                    Bevins                 1            Mangus                 1
                    Biebelle               1            Mann                   1
                    Bisby                  1            Manose                 1
                    Black                  2            Manville               1
                    Balir                  1            Mardis                 1
                    Blalac                 1            Marshall               4
                    Blalack                2            Martin                 10
                    Blevins                3            Mason                  4
                    Block                  2            Mathis                 1
                    Blue                   3            Mattock                2
                    Booth                  1            McAfee (Sheriff)       1
                    Borenstein             1            McBride                1
                    Borte                  1            McCart                 1
                    Boulware               2            McCarty                1
                    Bounds                 3            McCarvell              1
                    Bowker                 1            McCauley               36
                    Boyles                 1            McClain                1
                    Brannon                1            McClure                1
                    Brewer                 1            McCollom               1
                    Bright                 1            McDermott              2
                    Brister                3            McDonald               8
                    Brock                  1            McElroy                1
                    Brown                  19           McElvane               1
                    Buckner                1            McGrath                2
                    Burgess                10           McGregor               1
                    Burnside               4            McGrew                 1
                    Burrell                5            McGuffin               1
                    Burris                 3            McKamey                1
                    Burrleson              1            McKeen                 1
                    Bulter                 1            McKenzie               1
                    Cadwallader            1            McKindree              1
                    Callahan               1            McLaughlin             1
                    Calloway               2            McMann                 1
                    Campbell               4            McMillan               2
                    Canada                 1            McMillen               12
                    Cardona                1            McNair                 1
                    Carrell                2            McQuillan              1
                    Carroll                3            McSherry               1
                    Carter                 1            McWhorter              2
                    Carver                 1            Means                  4
                    Causland               1            Melendris              1
                    Cauthen                1            Menard                 1
                    Chacon                 1            Metcalf                12
                    Chambers               1            Metcalfe               3
                    Champney               1            Miller                 14
                    Chappell               3            Mitchell               1
                    Cheairs                1            Moberly                1
                    Chester                1            Monasco                1
                    Childers               3            Monger                 1
                    Chilton                1            Monose                 1
                    Christian              5            Montana                1
                    Clark                  30           Moore                  3
                    Clayton                2            Moran                  2
                    Cloudt                 2            Morehead               1
                    Coalson                1            Morgan                 1
                    Cobb                   11           Morrison               1
                    Cockrane               1            Morrow                 1
                    Cofett                 1            Mortensen              1
                    Coffee                 1            Mortzek                1
                    Coffelt                3            Mosley                 1
                    Cole                   3            Moss                   8
                    Coleman                5            Mrotzek                7
                    Collier                1            Muir                   1
                    Colquet                7            Mullins                1
                    Conant                 2            Mullison               1
                    Cone                   1            Murphy                 1
                    Conn                   3            Murray                 5
                    Connell                1            Myers                  3
                    Conner                 1            Nat                    1
                    Connor                 1            Neal                   5
                    Cook                   7            Nelson                 1
                    Cooley                 8            Neuman                 4
                    Cooper                 2            Newberry               1
                    Corn                   1            Newman                 2
                    Cosgrove               1            Nixon                  1
                    Cousland               1            Nordhouse              1
                    Cox                    17           Norris                 1
                    Crane                  2            Northrup               3
                    Cranmar                2            Ogas                   1
                    Cranmer                1            Oney                   1
                    Craver                 1            Osborn                 2
                    Crawford               1            Pace                   1
                    Criswell               3            Pack                   1
                    Croom                  6            Parks                  4
                    Crumbley               1            Parmalee               1
                    Cruse                  1            Parmer                 5
                    Culberson              4            Parrish                1
                    Culbertson             2            Parsons                4
                    Cummings               2            Patterson              5
                    Cunningham             4            Patton                 10
                    Cureton                5            Pauley                 1
                    Currie                 1            Payne                  1
                    Curry                  1            Perault                1
                    Daniels                4            Perry                  3
                    Darby                  2            Petterson              1
                    Darley                 5            Phillips               3
                    Davis                  7            Pickens                1
                    Dean                   1            Pickett                3
                    DeLancy                1            Pierce                 1
                    Delk                   5            Pinkerton              2
                    Deming                 1            Pitts                  6
                    Denton                 2            Planco                 1
                    Dickerson              2            Poe                    1
                    Dietz                  6            Polance                1
                    Dinwiddie              22           Polk                   1
                    Dockary                1            Pollock                1
                    Dockray                4            Porter                 1
                    Dodge (Phelps)         1            Powers                 5
                    Dodson                 1            Prevost                2
                    Dominguez              4            Price                  1
                    Donaldson              4            Pridemore              3
                    Donnel                 4            Prince                 1
                    Dove                   1            Pruett                 1
                    Dowling                1            Pruit                  1
                    Downs                  1            Putman                 1
                    Doyle                  16           Quail                  1
                    Drehmer                1            Quintana               2
                    Driver                 1            Raines                 1
                    Druley                 2            Rak                    1
                    Drummond               1            Ranger                 1
                    Drummonds              2            Rankin                 2
                    Duncan                 1            Ranstead               1
                    Dyson                  1            Rastus                 1
                    Eakin                  29           Rathbun                1
                    Eby                    2            Reed                   7
                    Edwards                1            Reese                  1
                    Eldredge               1            Resenta                1
                    Eldridge               1            Resley                 1
                    Ellenwood              1            Rhinesmith             1
                    Elliott                1            Rice                   56
                    Ellis                  1            Richardson             1
                    Elmore                 1            Ritchburg              1
                    Elms                   3            Robert                 1
                    Emmett                 1            Robertson              1
                    Engle                  1            Rogers                 1
                    Epperson               1            Rosa                   1
                    Erwood                 1            Ross                   1
                    Estes                  5            Rosser                 1
                    Evans                  3            Royall                 2
                    Fairchilds             1            Rultand                1
                    Farquhar/Franquhar     1            Ruoff                  1
                    Farnsworth             2            Rutan                  1
                    Fleming                7            Ryan                   1
                    Flury                  1            Sabre                  1
                    Fondville              1            Samuel                 2
                    Ford                   1            Samuels                3
                    Forsyth                2            Satterfield            1
                    Foster                 6            Saunders               1
                    Fowler                 2            Sayer                  1
                    Franks                 4            Scarborough            1
                    Fraratin               1            Scott                  2
                    Frary                  2            Seitzler               2
                    French                 1            Shackelford            1
                    Fuller                 1            Shackleford            16
                    Furr                   3            Shakleford             2
                    Gaddie                 1            Shamblin               1
                    Gaddis                 2            Shannon                1
                    Gains                  1            Sharp                  3
                    Galloway               1            Shaul                  5
                    Gardner                1            Shearer                2
                    Garette                1            Shelley               165
                    Garrett                1            Shelton                1
                    Gene                   1            Shields                1
                    George                 4            Shipley                1
                    Geronimo               1            Shirley                1
                    Gilcrest               1            Shirrill               1
                    Gilcrist               1            Shock                  2
                    Gilmore                1            Shy                    1
                    Ginn                   2            Siggins                1
                    Giraud                 1            Silsby                 1
                    Girlie                 1            Simmons                5
                    Gist                   1            Siuox                  1
                    Glaze                  1            Sixby                  7
                    Glen                   1            Sizemore               1
                    Glenn                  1            Sloan                  3
                    Glisey                 2            Smiley                 2
                    Gobble                 1            Smith                  9
                    Goble                  3            Smithson               1
                    Godbolt                1            Smyer                  2
                    Goettsche              1            Snyder                 1
                    Goodell                1            Sonders                1
                    Goodgame               1            Sorrell                1
                    Gordon                 1            Souders                5
                    Gowanlock              1            Sperry                 6
                    Grammer                1            Spires                 1
                    Grand                  1            Spitzley               2
                    Granger                1            Sprunk                 1
                    Grant                  2            Spurgeon               5
                    Green                  1            Stailey                5
                    Greenwood              1            Standish               1
                    Grenfill               2            Stanley                5
                    Grimes                 6            Starrett               1
                    Grogan                 1            Steel                  1
                    Guerra                 1            Steele                 4
                    Guiterez               1            Stephe                 1
                    Glub                   1            Stephens               3
                    Gunnison               1            Sterling               2
                    Hadely                 1            Stevens                2
                    Hailey                 1            Stewart                2
                    Hale                   1            Stirling               1
                    Hall                   2            St.Johns               1
                    Halley                 1            Stockman               6
                    Ham                    1            Stockton               11
                    Hamblin                1            Stoval                 1
                    Hamilton               1            Stovall                1
                    Hannegan               1            Stowe                  1
                    Hannum                 4            Straw                  1
                    Hansen                 3            Stroing                1
                    Hardin                 2            Summers                1
                    Hargraves              1            Sutton                 1
                    Harkey                 1            Swapp                  1
                    Harper                 2            Swink                  5
                    Harrington             2            Taber                  2
                    Harshe                 1            Tabor                  1
                    Hartz                  2            Talbot                 1
                    Haathorn               1            Tate                   1
                    Hathorne               1            Taylor                 7
                    Hatley                 1            Teague                 1
                    Hawkins                2            Teel                   1
                    Hayes                  1            Terrell                1
                    Hays                   1            Terry                  1
                    Head                   2            Thomas                 2
                    Heathers               1            Thompson               4
                    Hederson               1            Thorn                  2
                    Henderson              1            Thorne                 1
                    Hendrick               1            Thrall                 1
                    Henry                  14           Threepersons           2
                    Herdman                2            Thwaits                2
                    Heron                  3            Tigner                 2
                    Heslewood              1            Toney                  2
                    Hesselwood             1            Tong                   1
                    Hext                   1            Torres                 2
                    Hickey                 1            Tow                    1
                    Hickman                2            Trailor                1
                    Hickson                1            Trantham               1
                    Higgins                2            Traynor                4
                    Hightower              4            Trembly                1
                    Hightowers             1            Trent                  1
                    Hill                   1            Trissel                1
                    Hobbs                  8            Troffer                1
                    Hodge                  1            Trotter                1
                    Hoker                  2            Turman                 3
                    Holland                7            Turner                 14
                    Hollimon               41           Turney                 2
                    Holmes                 1            Upton                  2
                    Hood                   1            VanDeren               4
                    Hooker                 80           VanZandt               1
                    Horcasitas             1            Vesley                 3
                    Horn                   2            Victoria               1
                    Hotchkiss              1            Victorio               2
                    Howard                 6            Villarreal             2
                    Huartson               2            Waldie                 1
                    Hughes                 1            Waldrop                1
                    Hunt                   3            Wallace                2
                    Hunter                 6            Ward                   7
                    Hurt                   1            Warren                 1
                    Hyde                   2            Washington             2
                    Inman                  1            Watkins                1
                    Ireland                1            Watson                 3
                    Irwin                  3            Wells                  2
                    Jackson                2            Welsh                  1
                    Jacobs                 1            Wheelr                 3
                    James                  1            White                  6
                    Jarboe                 5            Whorley                1
                    Jarrell                1            Widouf                 4
                    Jefferson              1            Wilber                 1
                    Jenks                  2            Wilcox                 1
                    Jessell                1            Wiley                  1
                    John                   1            Wilkerson              6
                    Johnson                5            Wilkes                 2
                    Jones                  6            Wilkey                 1
                    Joy                    4            Wilkinson              2
                    Judd                   3            Willet                 3
                    Keene                  1            Williams               22
                    Keith                  5            Willis                 1
                    Keller                 3            Wilmeth                13
                    Kelly                  1            Wilson                 7
                    Kemp                   1            Windham                1
                    Kemper                 1            Witt                   1
                    Kimbrough              2            Wittenburg             1
                    Kinnebrew              3            Wood                   1
                    Kinsinger              2            Woodrow                12
                    Kirkland               4            Woolhiser              1
                    Kniffen                1            Woren                  1
                    Knight                 1            Worthington            1
                    Knox                   2            Wright                 6
                    Ladonna                1            Wygant                 1
                    LaFrinere              2            Wylie                  3
                    Land                   6            Yates                  2
                    Landrum                2            York                   16
                    Lane                   1            Young                  1
                    Laney                  3            Zaayenga               1
                    Langston               1       …    Zumwalt                4

Grant County Ranches 1935
Source....Pioneer Families of Grant County
by Laverne McCauley and Terrell T. Shelley.
Transcribed by Beverly Taylor
 

Owner or Ranch                                Address or                     Twp.S   Rge.W
Name                                          Headquarters

Adams, Monie                                  Hachita                        27      15
Adams, W.A. (G.O.S. Ranch)                    Silver City and El Paso, TX    15      12
Agee, Sam W.                                  Silver City                    19      13
Anderson, Fred                                Redrock                        19      19
Avery, Ben                                    Silver City                    16      15
Bagby, Harold                                 Silver City                    19      13
Baker, L.O. Est.                              Deming                         25      15
Biebelle, W.R.                                San Lorenzo                    18      10
Bounds, Ruth & Horace                         Santa Rita                     17      11
Bounds, Young                                 Separ                          22      15
Brock Cattle Company                          Lordsburg                      17      16
Brock Cattle Company                          Lordsburg                      20      17
Carter & Morehead                             Hachita                        26      16
Cauthen, W.L.                                 Mule Creek                     15      21
Chamber, Earl                                 Redrock                        17      19
Cheairs, Sam                                  Silver City                    15      15
Clark, Shelby                                 Cliff                          16      16
Clayton, Jerry                                Mimbres                        16      11
Clayton, Tom                                  Separ                          23      15
Coalson, John                                 Mule Creek                     13      20
Connell, W.D.                                 Separ                          24      14
Cox, R.D.                                     Separ                          25      14
Cox, T.M.                                     Separ                          24      16
Criswell, J.H.                                Whitewater                     19      13
Culberson, Mary A.                            Silver City                    17      14
Culberson, Mary A.                            Silver City                    22      16
Cureton Cattle Company                        Lordsburg                      20      17
Cureton Cattle Company                        Lordsburg                      21      15
Cureton Cattle Company                        Lordsburg                      21      16
DeLancy, H.A.                                 Hurley                         18      12
Delk, George                                  Santa Rita                     17      17
Dickerson, J.M.                               Cliff                          15      18
Dinwiddie, J.M.                               Cliff                          14      17
Dominguez, Jose                               Faywood                        18      10
Dominguez, Pedro                              Gila                           15      17
Donaldson, J.R. & S.A.                        Hachita                        27      14
Eby, Thomas & Sim                             Faywood                        19      10
Fleming Cattle Company                        Silver City                    15      15
Flury, Andrew                                 Silver City                    17      13
Gilcrist Cattle Co. (2 C Ranch)               Silver City                    18      11
Gilcrist Cattle Co. (2 C Ranch)               Silver City                    19      12
Giraud, E.F.                                  San Lorenzo, c/o J. A. Menard  17      10
Glaze, O.H.                                   Separ                          22      16
Gordon, L.A.                                  Buckhorn                       14      18
Grenfell, L.R. & T.A.                         Silver City                    18      14
Harkey, C.C.                                  Silver City                    14      20
Harrington, T.E.                              Santa Rita                     17      10
Harsh, Fiske (Dairy)                          Silver City                    18      14
Henry, Jas. M.                                Cliff                          15      17
Henry, John                                   Mule Creek                     13      20
Henry, Will                                   Cliff                          15      17
Hext, Oscar                                   Duncan, Arizona                17      20
Hodge, Hugh (Diamond Bar CC Ranch)            Silver City                    13      11
Hooker, Joe (J T Ranch)                       Gila                           15      16
Hooker, Horace                                Gila                           15      15
Hughes, M.T.                                  Mimbres                        17      11
Jarrell, G.A.                                 Separ                          23      14
Keene. R.F.                                   Silver City                    16      15
Kenney, Isabell (2 bar M) Moss Ranch          Cliff                          15      .
Latham,                                       Buckhorn                       14      18
Livingston, Garland                           Hachita                        27      16
Mangas Cattle Co. (Oak Grove Ranch)           Tyrone                         19      14
Mangold, Henry                                Hachita                        27      16
Mardis, Bertha                                Tyrone                         19      15
Martin, C.C. & J.A.                           Duncan, Arizona                17      20
Mattock, Bert & Harry                         Mimbres                        17      11
Means and Sons (H-Y Ranch)                    Silver City                    14      19
Menard, J.A.                                  San Lorenzo                    17      10
Mitchell, Jake                                Mimbres                        16      11
Moberly, I.F., Est.                           Tyrone                         20      15
Morrow, O. A.                                 Tyrone                         21      15
Muir, J.T.                                    Lordsburg                      24      15
McCauley, Fred and Sons                       Cliff                          17      17
McCauley, J.L. (A Bar Ranch)                  Tyrone                         20      15
McDermott, T.C.                               Faywood                        20      11
McDonald Brothers                             Tyrone                         21      15
McElroy, J.T. (Nan Ranch)                     Faywood                        19      10
McGarth Brothers                              Silver City                    .       .
(Liberty Ranch)                               Silver City                    18      14
(F Bar Ranch)                                 Silver City                    19      17
McKamey, John                                 Faywood                        18      10
McMillan Cattle Company                       Silver City                    17      16
McNair, G.P.                                  Mule Creek                     14      20
McSherry, Grover                              Faywood                        19      10
McWorter, B.M.                                Lordsburg                      22      16
McWorter, Freeman                             Lordsburg                      21      16
Pace, Jim                                     Duncan, Arizona                17      21
Pack, E.L.                                    Fierro                         17      12
Patton, T.L.                                  Silver City                    19      13
Perrault, George A.                           Sherman                        18      10
Phillips, Selena B.                           Separ                          24      15
Pinkerton, S.M.                               Silver City                    16      16
Porter, Don & R.L.                            Whitewater                     20      14
Rathbun, C.H.                                 Silver City                    17      14
Rice, Lee                                     Cliff                          15      17
Richardson, L.C.                              Whitewater                     20      12
Rosser, A.P.                                  Hachita                        25      14
Royall Brothers (Seven S X Ranch)             Tyrone                         20      14
Shelley, P.M. Est. (916 Ranch)                Cliff                          14      17
Silsby, W.C.                                  Tyrone                         19      15
Smith, J.F.                                   Silver City                    19      15
Snyder, George                                Silver City                    20      14
Stephens, E.M.                                Buckhorn                       14      18
Stewart, Dave B.                              Cliff                          16      18
Stockman, C.W.                                Redrock                        17      19
Stoval, Dr. R.F.                              Sherman                        18      10
Teague & Morrison (T & M Dairy)               Hanover                        17      12
Thompson, R. & N.B.                           Tyrone                         19      15
Thrall, H.A.                                  Mimbres                        17      11
Tigner, J.F. & T.B.                           Faywood                        20      11
Torres, Procopio                              Faywood                        19      9
Turner, Burke                                 Silver City                    18      14
Turner, J.A. (Dairy)                          Silver City                    18      14
Turner, John W.                               Whitewater                     20      13
Upton, J.E.                                   Sherman                        18      10
Victoria Land & Cattle Company                Deming                         .       .
(Four Mile Wells)                             .                              28      15
(JAP Ranch)                                   .                              22      15
(Ringbone Ranch)                              .                              27      16
Villarreal, S.L.                              Gila                           15      17
Waldie, R.O.                                  Silver City                    19      14
Wallace, Bob                                  Cliff                          15      18
Ward, T.W. & R.A.                             Silver City                    16      16
Warren, D.D.                                  Separ                          25      15
Wells, W.A.                                   Mule Creek                     14      21
White, W.E.                                   Silver City                    17      15
Wiley, J.A.                                   Central                        18      13
Wilkey, J.A.                                  El Paso, Texas                 16      21
Wilkinson, A.V.                               Mule Creek                     15      21
Wilkinson, L.E.                               Mule Creek                     15      20
Wittenburg, Mrs. Ida                          Separ                          25      14
Woodrow, Henry                                Cliff                          15      17
Woren, Will                                   Duncan, Arizona                17      19
Yates, Laura V. & George V.                   Sherman                        18      9
Zumwalt, Boyd                                 Mule Creek                     13      21
Zumwalt, G.F.                                 Mule Creek                     14      20

©2005 2001, 2002, 2003 Beverly Taylor


MIMBRES, GRANT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
A Historic Document
Submitted by Janet Wasson©2005

ACEQUIA

The following affidavit was given in 1889, in Hillsboro, by George O. Perrault, one of the original settlers of the Mimbres area. This document is a typed copy from the original, which was lost when the courthouse apparently caught fire. This copy was given to my father by one of the Perrault descendants, as we used to live on the Perrault ranch, and the families would come every year to tend to the cemetery there, and show their children the "home place". Mr. Perrault was French-Canadian.
The context apparently has to do with a case they were settling over water rights, but it does state who settled in the Mimbres "colony" in 1869, who grew what, and the allotment of property to individuals. The first list of names are of the 18 people "attached" to the affidavit, and also a list of the 19 original settlers on the Mimbres River. Submitted by Janet Wasson, Silver City, NM

Note: An acequia is an irrigation ditch and, in New Mexico, an acequia also refers to a centuries-old system of communal management of water and to the community of farmers that cooperatively maintain the ditch and distribute irrigation water. Acequias formed the basis for settlement of New Mexico's Indo-Hispano communities between two and four hundred years ago and continue to be vital to the cultural and economic survival of the traditional communities of New Mexico.

TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO, County of Grant

GEORGE O. PERRAULT, a resident of the County of Grant and Territory aforesaid, deposes and says: That in December of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty nine, he in company with eighteen others, all citizens of United States and residents of Penas Altoes (sic) in Grant County and territory aforesaid, claimed a certain tract of land and took possession of same, situated in Township 17 and 18, known at present, as the San Lorenzo Flat on the Mimbres River in county and territory aforesaid. That in January of the following year 1870 they planted a large quantity of wheat on said land in community. That each member of the colony had the said, G.O. Perrault to measure their respective piece of land from above mentioned flat and most of them farmed that year on their own land but lived close together for self protection against the hostile Indians. That in the month of May of the same year he located his present ranch and commenced cleaning up the ground: that in June of the same year he planted about five acres of corn: that he cultivated that corn and harvested a crop out of said corn in the fall of the same year: that he surveyed and worked on his present main ditch that year, 1870: that in the month of March 1871 he moved his family, from the San Lorenzo flat where he had kept them for their own protection upon his present ranch, that he in company with Emilio Marques completed the present Acequia, known as PERRAULT ACEQUIA.

That in the month of May or June of this same year 1871 they irrigated corn, land for beans and garden truck with water flowing into said Acequia. That Emilio Marques did not farm his land that year but planted and cultivated on said Perrault’s ranch in partner ship with said Perrault. That he did not reside on his land that year but on Perrault’s ranch. That in the spring of 1872 Benigno Barela did move from San Lorenzo Flat onto Perrault’s ranch and did locate a ranch owned in part name by Carlos Morero and Selso Gonzales: that he Benigna Barela did plant his land that year 1872 but did not did a irrigation ditch nor irrigated any portion of his land on account of being too wet. That also Casme Guadiana too up and claimed his land that year 1872 but did not dig any irrigating ditch nor irrigated his land that year, and that he Casme Guadiana, did not live on his land that year but lived on San Lorenzo Flat with his family. That in the fall of one thousand eight hundred and seventy two, Emilio Marques did sell to Carlos Morero all his right and title and move away from my ranch into Old Mexico: that the ranch now known as Carlos Morero’s ranch was abandoned from the fall of 1872 to the month of May 1873 when he Carlos Morero moved from Pinas Altos on his present ranch: That also Benigno Barela in the same year moved his family from my ranch unto his ranch, now being part of the Carlos Morero and Selso Gonzales ranch: that the same year 1873 Casme Guadiana did move his family from the San Lorenzo Flat where they were living unto his ranch which is now owned by Selso Gonzales: that in the month of July or August of the same year, 1873 the did build a small Acequia and did build a small dam from a branch of the main Mimbres River for the use of their houses and vegetable garden, that said Acequia was enlarged in the year one thousand eight hundred seventy four.

That the water flowing from and through said Acequia was deverted in the following manner by mutual agreement between Casme Guadiana, Benigno Barela and G.O. Perrault, in two equal parts, five days of water, alternately and consecutively, the five days of water, belonging to the Acequia known as Perrault’s Acequia, the said water was turned loosed from said dam into the river to be taken into Perrault’s Dam and into his acequia, said water was then divided between him Perrault, and Carlos Morero in equal parts. That said division of water lasted satisfactorily to all parties concerned until the year eighteen hundred and eighty: that Casme Guadiana was killed sometime before the last mentioned year, and Benigno Barela died about the year above mentioned. That Carlos Morero about that time had his present ranch surveyed and found that his 160 acres lapped over and took bout one half of Benigno Barela’s land and took possession of same in the year about eighteen hundred and eighty two or eighty three.

That Selso Gonzales took possession of his resent ranch, being vacated by the death of Casme Guadiana about the year eighteen hundred and eighty three or four. Then and there, the old ditch built by Camse Guadiana and Benigno Barela, runnin on the edge of the bottom land, or in other words, between the bottom land and the high land, the mark of which can be seen at present, was changed to take and irrigate his land. That in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty four or five the present dam, called the San Juan Dam was built so as to raise the water of the Mimbres River three or four feet above its natural level and placed into an Acequia which conducts said water on high barren land, and at least six feet above the old ditch built by Casme Guadiana and Benigno Barela, thereby placing under cultivation a large track of land and using for that purpose all the water coming into said San Juan Dam and drying up the river below. That below and East of the so called San Juan Dam about four hundred yards there exists another dam built by Carlos Morero and Selso Gonzales, to irrigate their land on the south and east side of the river, the water from the San Juan Dam is thrown into said Dam for that purpose leaving the river below said last mentioned dam dry at all times except during floods.

I WILL CALL THE ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING FACT: that I have clear title to 240 acres of land; that all this land in under cultivation and to irrigate this land I have but one main dam throwing the water to irrigate all the land on the west side of the river belonging to Carlos Morero and myself and at intervals on my date to water, said water is discharged from said dam into a small dam below to irrigate my land on the East and South of the river: that Carlos Morero owned and has title but 160 acres of land and has the following water privileges to irrigate that land with. First one half privilege in my water right, second one half privilege in the dam know as San Juan Dam with Selso Gonzales. The water from the last mentioned dam he, and Selso Gonzales uses to irrigate high land, where the village of San Juan is located, with the water from the second dam they irrigate all their land on the east side of the river and with Perrault’s ditch and the water therein he irrigated his bottom land on the west side of the river.

IN CONCLUSION I WILL SAY THAT: it is my opinion, after twenty years experience, that the water flowing in the Mimbres River is sufficient to irrigate every acre of bottom land on said river, but the bottom and most valuable land on said river will be dried up when said water is diverted from its natural channel as in this case and used to irrigate high land on each bank of said river.
Signed: George O. Perrault
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Sept. 30th, 1889
A. L. Christy, Clerk

NAMES OF PERSONS ATTACHED TO THIS AFFIDAVIT

Anastacio Gonzales
Francisco Jemenes
Clarence Rigeley
Igancio Anoyos
Guadalupe Castillo
M. Portillo
Cisto Guerra
Vincente Sopes
Carlos Naviro
Santiago Pbrito
Carmen Rosa
Pedro Jemenes
Estevan Montiyo
M.A. Cordova
Pedro Rios
Plagio Navarete
A.H. Monhea
Dolores Heradia

NAMES OF THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS ON THE MIMBRES RIVER

Anastacio Grijalba
Jose M. Grijalba
Jesus Cardoba
Rafael Ensontrigues
Casimero Ponce
Catarina Baldonas
Tecles Cardoles
Anisita Pino
Blaz Rivera
Guadl. Gonzales
Manuel Gonzales
Casimi Gonzales
Luz Carales
Bralia Cardoba
Robert Kerque
Casme Guadiana
G.O. Perrault
Simon Chairies

©2006