New Mexico,
A territory of the
United States, lying between lat. 31° 20′ and 37° N., and long.
103° 2′ and 109° 2′ W. It is bounded on the north by
Colorado, east by
Texas, south by
Texas and
Mexico, and west by
Arizona.
Area, 122,580 square miles.
Population, 1890, 153,593; 1900, 195,310.
Capital,
Santa Fe.
Francisco
Vasquez de Coronado, with 400 Spaniards and 800
Indians, makes an expedition from
Mexico to the
Pueblo Indian villages near
Santa Fe, which he conquers, and explores the surrounding region......July, 1540
Augustin Rodriguez, a Franciscan friar of
San Bartolome,
Mexico, with two associates and an escort of twelve soldiers, ascends the
Rio Grande, and 8 miles from the site of
Albuquerque the party separate, the soldiers returning to
Mexico, the three friars remaining......August, 1581
Don Antonio Espejo, with a relief party, ascends the
Rio Grande, and, finding the missionaries located among the
Pueblo Indians in 1581 had been killed, he returns to
San Bartolome by way of the
Pecos River......1582-83
Don Juan de Oñate, a wealthy citizen of Zacatecas, under authority from Don
Luis de Valasco, viceroy of New Spain, settles with a colony of 130 families, ten friars, and a number of soldiers in the valley of the
Chama River, just above its junction with the
Rio Grande......1598
Santa Fe founded under the title La Ciudad Real
de la Santa Fe de
San Francisco......1605
Religious persecution of the Indians by the
Spanish, who whip, imprison, and hang forty natives who would not renounce their old faith, results in an unsuccessful revolt of
Indians......1640
Native Indian tribes unite in a project to make a simultaneous attack on the
Spanish settlements, but the plan is discovered and broken up by
Governor Concha, who arrests and imprisons the leaders, hanging nine, and selling the others into slavery......1650
Four Indians hanged and forty-three whipped and enslaved on conviction by a Spanish tribunal of bewitching the superior of the Franciscan monastery at
San Yldefonso......1675
Pueblo Indians under
Pope reduced to abject slavery by the
Spanish, rise in rebellion.
Their plan of a general massacre on Aug. 10, 1680, being discovered, they begin two days earlier a massacre of the
Spanish, who are obliged to flee the country, the Pueblos taking possession of
Santa Fe......Aug. 21, 1680
New Mexico reconquered by the
Spanish under
Diego de Vargas Zapata Lujan......1692
Severe famine arising in the
Spanish settlements, the Indians of fourteen pueblos enter upon a desolating but unsuccessful war for the expulsion of the
Spanish......1696
Albuquerque founded during the administration of
Duke of
Albuquerque......1701-10
Lieutenant-Colonel Carrisco discovers the
Santa Rita mines near
Silver City......1800
Baptiste Lalande, a Frenchman from
Kaskaskia, reaches
Santa Fe with a stock of merchandise, which he disposes of at a very large profit......1804
James Pursley, a Kentuckian, leaves
St. Louis in 1802, and after three years wandering reaches
Santa Fe......1805
Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, of the United States army, builds a fort on the
Rio del Norte on Spanish soil, supposing it to be the
Red River and American possessions, during the month of Feb. 1807.
With his party he is taken to
Santa Fe by a Spanish escort, where they arrive March 3.
From there he is sent to
Chihuahua under escort, arriving April 2, and has an audience with the
commanding general Don Nemecio Salcedo.
After some detention he is sent forward, reaching
San Antonio, Tex., June 7, and
Natchitoches......July 1, 1807
Captains Glenn,
Becknell, and
Stephen Cooper visit
Santa Fe with small parties and a limited quantity of goods for trade......1821-22
First public school law in
New Mexico; action of the provincial deputation: “Resolved, that the said ayuntamientos be officially notified to complete the formation of primary public schools as soon as possible according to the circumstances of each community” ......April 27, 1822
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Francisco Xavier Chaves, appointed political chief, relieving Facundo Malgares, the last governor of
New Mexico under Spanish rule......July 5, 1822
The
United States makes overtures to
New Mexico to join the American Union.
Bartolome Baca, political chief......1824
First wagon-trains from
Independence, Mo., to Santa, Fe......1824
New Mexico made a territory of the republic of
Mexico......July 6, 1824
Santa Fe trail made an authorized road by act of Congress; the bill introduced by
Thomas H. Benton passed......January, 1825
Caravans being often attacked by
Indians, United States government details four companies as an escort on the
Santa Fe road......1828
Old Placer gold-mines discovered about 30 miles southwest of
Santa Fe......1828
Oxen first used on
Santa Fe trail......1830
A Spanish newspaper,
El Crepusculo, published at
Taos......1835
New Mexican constitution goes into effect, changing the territory into a department, centralizing power, and imposing extra taxes.
The new system being obnoxious, the arrest and imprisonment of a local judicial officer on what the people considered a false charge provokes a revolution, Aug. 1, 1837, which is central at
Santa Cruz, but which is soon quelled by
Gen. Manuel Armijo......1837
New Placer gold-mines discovered......1839
Expedition under
General McLeod sets out from
Austin, Texas, June 18, 1841, to ascertain the feeling of the New Mexican people with respect to a union with
Texas.
When near
San Miguel the force is met by Damacio Salazar and his
Mexican troops seized and imprisoned at
San Miguel, from whence they are marched under guard to the city of
Mexico......Oct. 17, 1841
President Santa Ana, by decree, closes the frontier custom-house at
Taos, Aug. 7, 1843, but repeals the act......March 31, 1844
Gen. Stephen W. Kearney, in command of a body of United States troops known as the “Army of the West,” enters
Santa Fe and takes formal possession......Aug. 18, 1846
General Kearney establishes a government for the
Territory of
New Mexico, with
Santa Fe as capital, proclaiming himself provisional governor......Aug. 22, 1846
Fort Marcy established near
Santa Fe......Aug. 23, 1846
General Kearney promulgates the
“
Kearney code of laws,” and proclaims Charles Bent governor of the
Territory......Sept. 22, 1846
Donaciano Vigil becomes acting governor in the room of
Gov. Charles Bent, who is assassinated at
Taos......Jan. 19, 1847
Revolt against the United States government in
New Mexico, planned by Dons
Diego Archuleta and
Tomas Ortiz, breaks out at
Taos, but is suppressed by American troops under
Col. Sterling Price, and
Governor Montoya, prominent in the rebellion, is tried by court-martial and executed, Feb. 7. Six others, convicted of participating in the murder of
Governor Bent, are executed......Aug. 3, 1847
Santa Fe Republican, the first newspaper printed in
English, issued......1847
By the treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo, concluded Feb. 2, 1848, and proclaimed in
Santa Fe in August following,
New Mexico becomes a part of the
United States......August, 1848
People of
New Mexico, in convention at
Santa Fe, petition Congress for a territorial government, oppose the dismemberment of their Territory in favor of
Texas, and ask protection of Congress against the introduction of slavery......Oct. 14, 1848
By proclamation of
Governor Munroe, in April, 1850, a convention at
Santa Fe, May 15, frames a constitution for the
Territory of
New Mexico, May 25, prohibiting slavery and fixing the east and west boundaries at 100° and 111°. This constitution was ratified by the people, June 20, by a vote of 8,371 to 39, and
Henry Connelly was elected governor, but the movement was not recognized......1850
Act of Congress establishing a territorial government for
New Mexico approved......Sept. 9, 1850
F. X. Aubrey rode from
Santa Fe to
Independence, Mo., 850 miles, in five days and sixteen hours, on a wager, and won $10,000......June, 1850
Elias T. Clark imported through a French firm in
St. Louis, Mo., the first Alfalfa seed sown in
New Mexico, at a cost of $5 per pound......January, 1850
Mr. Clark also brought the first
Bartlett pear and
Ben Davis apple trees across the
Great American Plains and thus
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became the father of modern horticulture in
New Mexico......1851
First legislative Assembly convenes at
Santa Fe, and declares it the capital of the territory......June 2, 1851
Santa Fe incorporated as a city......1851
Gov. James S. Calhoun dies while on his way to the States, and
John Greiner becomes acting governor......June 30, 1852
Academy of Our Lady of Light, in charge of the sisters of
Loretto, organized at
Santa Fe......1852
Christopher or “Kit”
Carson appointed Indian agent in
New Mexico......1853
Beall &
Whipple's railroad survey, 35th-parallel route......1853
Thirty-second parallel survey for railroad by
Capt. John Pope (east half) and
Lieut. J. G. Park (west half)......1854
Territory acquired from
Mexico under the Gadsden purchase is incorporated with the
Territory of
New Mexico......Aug. 4, 1854
Overland mail-coach line to
Pacific coast, via
Mesilla, N. M., established, making the trip from
San Francisco to
southwest Missouri in twelve to fourteen days......July 24, 1858
Overland transportation business employs 5,405 men; 1,532 wagons; 4,377 mules; 360 horses; 12,545 oxen; carrying capacity 7,660 tons......1859
School law passed requiring compulsory attendance and the appointment of teachers by the justice of the peace in each precinct, who is entitled to collect the sum of 50 cents per month for each child attending......Jan. 23, 1860
Miguel A. Otero having thrice served as delegate to Congress, also as attorney-general and United States district attorney for the
Territory, appointed secretary of
New Mexico by
President Lincoln......1861
Maj. Isaac Lynde, U. S. A., in command at
Fort Fillmore, surrenders the fort and his entire command of 700 to
Lieut.-Col. John R. Baylor, Confederate......July 27, 1861
Confederates under
Gen. H. F. Sibley defeat the
Federals under
Colonel Canby at
Valverde, 10 miles below
Fort Craig......Feb. 21, 1862
Battle at Apache Cañon, near
Santa Fe;
Colonel Slough defeats the
Confederates under
Colonel Scurry......March 28, 1862
Santa Fe, in possession of the Confederates since March 11, 1862, is recovered by the
Federals......April 21, 1862
Territory of Arizona formed from part of
New Mexico......Feb. 24, 1863
Governor Connelly dies;
W. F. M. Arny acting governor......1865
Portion of
New Mexico above 37° attached to
Colorado......1867
By act of Congress peonage is abolished and forever prohibited in the territory of
New Mexico......March 2, 1867
Governor in his message announces telegraphic communication with the
North......1868
Archives of
New Mexico, partly destroyed in 1860, are further depleted under the rule of
Governor Pile, when they are sold for waste paper and only about onequarter of them recovered......1870
Legislature provides for common schools, under a board of supervisors and directors elected by each county......1871
Serious election riot at
Mesilla......Sept. 2, 1871
Total indebtedness of
New Mexico $74,000......November, 1871
Governor Marsh Giddings dies, and is succeeded by
William G. Ritch as acting governor......Jan. 3, 1875
The legislature enacts a law requiring places of business to close on Sunday......1876
Ute Indians removed from
New Mexico to the
Colorado reservation......April–July, 1878
Gen. Lew. Wallace, governor of
New Mexico......Oct. 1, 1878
First railroad track laid within
New Mexico, the Atchison,
Topeka, and
Santa Fe, crossing
Raton Pass......Nov. 30, 1878
Locomotive on the new
Atchison,
Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad reaches Las Vegas......July 4, 1879
Apache Indians under
Chief Victorio kill the herds and capture the horses of
Captain Hooker's command at Ojo Calient,
Socorro county, and open an Indian war which lasted several months, resulting in the death of many settlers and the destruction of much property......Sept. 3, 1879
Massacre by Apaches at McEver's ranch, rear
Hillsboro, followed in a few weeks by other massacres and destruction of property at and near
Mason's and Lloyd's ranches, west of
Mesilla......Sept. 11, 1879
The New Mexican
Christian advocate
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(M. E. Church), No. 1, Vol.
I,, English and Spanish monthly, 32-column quarto, issued at
Santa Fe by
Rev. Thomas Harwood, A. M.......May, 1880
New Mexico Historical Society, organized 1859-60 is reorganized......1880
Bureau of immigration established by act of legislature......1880
All-rail connection established across the continent,
Via New Mexico and
Arizona, being the date of the railway connection at
Deming between the
New Mexico and
Southern Pacific (A., T., & S. F.) and the
Southern Pacific.......March 10, 1881
Educational association of
New Mexico incorporated......June 17, 1881
First annual territorial fair held at
Albuquerque......Oct. 3-8, 1881
Public school law passed, creating the office of county superintendent, and providing for the election by the people of three commissioners for each precinct......1884
Act of Assembly passed establishing an orphans' home and industrial school at
Santa Fe......1884
Destructive raids in the southwestern portion of the
Territory by
Apache Indians from
Arizona......May, June, and October, 1885
Territorial prison at
Santa Fe completed and opened......1885
New Mexico school for the deaf and dumb at
Santa Fe opened......1885
New capitol building completed at
Santa Fe, under act of March 28, 1884, creating a capitol-building committee......1886
Legislature passes over the governor's veto an act abolishing the office of attorney-general and substituting that of solicitor-general......Feb. 15, 1889
Acts of the legislature passed creating a State university at
Albuquerque, an agricultural college at Las Cruces, and a school of mines at
Socorro......1889
Insane asylum at Las Vegas created by act of legislature......1889
Territorial board of health provided for by act of legislature......1889
Constitutional convention meets at
Santa Fe Sept. 3, adopts a constitution for the proposed
State of New Mexico, and appoints a committee to present it to Congress......Sept. 21, 1889
A. M. Howland, a wealthy retired wool merchant from
Boston, in connection with “
Dr. Tanner, the faster,” locates a colony of vegetarians in
Mesilla Valley, and produces a voluminous volume which is called
Oahspe, a new bible, a curious compilation of all the religious beliefs of the earth, alleging that the manuscript was written out on a typewriter through spiritual inspiration.
The word “Oahspe” is said to be from the language of the continent of Pan, buried under the
Pacific ages ago, and is compounded of O, the sky, ah, the earth, and spe, the spirit......1889
Agricultural college at Las Cruces opened......Jan. 21, 1890
Constitution amended by a convention which reconvened at
Santa Fe, Aug. 18, is rejected by the people by 16,180 votes for and 7,943 against, at an election held......Oct. 7, 1890
Ballot-box in
Santa Fe county disappears mysteriously, and the commissioners of
Santa Fe refuse to canvass the vote in that precinct, while Democratic commissioners in
Taos county throw out returns favoring Republicans.
After litigation before
Justice Seeds, of the district court, in December,
Sec. Benjamin M. Thomas,
acting governor, swears in the
Republican candidates in both precincts......December, 1890
Second Friday in March designated as Arbor Day, a territorial board of education created, and a high license bill passed by the legislature, at session......Dec. 29, 1890–Feb. 26, 1891
United States land court act passed Congress, which secured that settlement of land titles guaranteed by the treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo forty-three years previous......March 3, 1891
J. L. Workman and
O. A. Peterson, of the American Museum of Natural History,
Central Park, New York, in a search for fossils in
San Juan Valley, N. M., find over 500 valuable specimens, among them a complete skull, the only one ever found, of the primitive elephant; other specimens found fill a gap in the geological calendar that is not represented elsewhere in the world......May 1, 1891
Ex-Gov. Samuel B. Axtell dies at
Morristown, N. J., aged seventy-two......Aug. 6, 1891
Forest preserve in
New Mexico set apart by proclamation of
President Harrison......Jan. 11, 1892
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Territorial capitol building at
Santa Fe burned......May 12, 1892
“An act to empower and enable the territorial board of education to organize and conduct teachers' normal institutes” passed by the legislature......Feb. 9, 1893
New Mexico Normal University at Las Vegas and New Mexico Normal Training School at
Silver City established......Feb. 11, 1893
New Mexico Military Institute established at
Roswell, N. M.......Feb. 23, 1893
Bulletin No. 36,
United States Department of Agriculture, announces result of an exhaustive series of tests with sugar beets in which
New Mexico is shown to lead the world, the average figures for the territory being: precentage of solids in the beets, 19.4; percentage of sugar, 15.34; ratio of purity, 83.2......April 10, 1893
W. T. Thornton succeeds
L. Bradford Prince as governor......April 26, 1893
The Pecos Company organized in
New Jersey with $5,000,000 to construct in
southeastern New Mexico the largest irrigation enterprise in the
United States......May 15, 1893
New Mexico School of Mines opens its first session......Sept. 5, 1893
Irrigation congress meets at
Deming......November, 1893
Prehistoric ruins opened near
Santa Cruz, from which is taken a large collection of ancient stone idols or household gods which were objects of worship to the
Pueblo Indians.......Jan. 18, 1894
The Postal Cable Telegraph Company enters
New Mexico......June, 1894
House of Representatives passes a bill for the relief of the
Ceran St. Vrain volunteers of 1847, the only surviving members of this gallant band being
Nicolas Pino, of Galisteo, and
Henry Cuniffe, of
Mesilla......July, 1894
Public schools of
New Mexico awarded prizes for their exhibits at the
World's Fair,
Chicago......July 15, 1894
Antonio Joseph renominated for delegate to Congress......Sept. 17, 1894
Headquarters 10th United States Infantry ordered to Fort Reno, and historic Fort Marcy abandoned......Sept. 19, 1894
New Mexico awarded first prize for wheat and second for oats in the agricultural section at the
World's Fair......Sept. 23, 1894
Artesian wells developed in
southeastern New Mexico......October, 1894
Peralta land-grant claim by
J. Addison Reavis for 12,800,000 acres in
New Mexico and
Arizona declared a fraud by the
United States court of private land claims and
Reavis sentenced to pay a fine of $10,000 and serve two years in prison......June 25, 1895
Silver City suffers disastrous flood......July 23, 1895
San Juan county apple crop estimated at 4,000,000 lbs......Sept. 1, 1895 The national irrigation congress opens its fourth annual session at
Albuquerque......Sept. 16, 1895
United States government establishes the United States marine hospital sanitorium at
Fort Stanton and the general hospital for the care of army patients afflicted with tuberculosis at
Fort Bayard......November, 1895
Francis Schlatter, “the divine healer,” creates a sensation in
New Mexico and
Colorado because of his alleged marvellous cures of human ills......December, 1895 “Resolved, that we recognize that the early attainment of Statehood is a matter of paramount importance to the people of
New Mexico at present, and insist that no partisan or personal advantage shall stand in the way of that object of which the Republican party has always been the champion, and we call on all patriotic citizens to unite in the strongest possible effort to secure this boon to our people at the earliest moment.”
Adopted by the
Republican territorial central committee......Jan. 21, 1896
The New Mexico pioneers organized......Jan. 7, 1897
Miguel A. Otero, second son of the former territory secretary under
Lincoln, appointed governor by
President McKinley, succeeding
W. T. Thornton......June 7, 1897
Manuel R. Otero and
Howard Leland appointed registers of the
United States land offices at
Santa Fe and Roswell, respectively......Sept. 17, 1897
Frank W. Parker appointed associate justice......Jan. 10, 1898
William J. Mills appointed chief-justice of Supreme Court, and
John R. McFie associate justice......Jan. 31, 1898
The legislature adopts memorial to Congress requesting that
New Mexico be
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favorably considered in the apportionment of the national appropriations for geological surveys......March 16, 1899
[In 1829 the
Spanish population of
New Mexico was 43,433, and it had eighteen schools taught by eighteen teachers.
The
Territory in 1900 had 53,008 children of school age, of whom 47,700 were enrolled as scholars in the public schools, with an average daily attendance of 31,800; number of schools, 800; number of teachers, 1,000; value of school property, $1,000,000.]
Dedication of the new capitol......June 4, 1900
Bernard S. Rodey, Republican, defeats
O. A. Larrazola, Democrat, for delegate to Congress, receiving 21,557 out of a total vote of 39,414......Nov. 5, 1900
Public interest aroused in the preservation of the historic ruins west of the
Rio Grande near Española, and Congress is appealed to to establish there a national park.
The three best ruins are the Puye, Pajarito, and the old
Cochiti, all of which were known to have been occupied in the sixteenth century......October, 1900
Daniel H. McMillan appointed associate justice......Dec. 18, 1900
The
Rock Island road enters
northeastern New Mexico and inaugurates a period of great industrial development......March, 1901
George H. Wallace, territorial secretary, dies......April 13, 1901
James Wallace Raynolds appointed secretary of the
Territory......April 20, 1901
Assault upon any railroad train, with intent to commit murder or any other felony, has, under the laws of
New Mexico, been punishable by death since 1897.
The notorious “
Black Jack”
Ketchum executed under this act at
Clayton......May, 1901
Gov. M. A. Otero, appointed by
President McKinley to succeed himself, is inaugurated for a second time amid brilliant ceremonies......June 22, 1901
New corporations filed with the territorial secretary represent $89,735,925, for the fiscal year ending......June 30, 1901
The coal and coke industry gives employment to 2,000 persons.
Production of coal was 1,217,530 tons, valued at the mines at $1,606,174, and coke 21,361 tons, valued at $60,000, for the fiscal year ending......June 30, 1901
Unveiling of marble slab in the plaza at
Santa Fe by the Daughters of the
American Revolution......Aug. 19, 1901
[The inscription on the top facet of the monument is as follows: “In this plaza,
Gen. S. W. Kearney, U. S. A., proclaimed the peaceable annexation of
New Mexico on Aug. 19, 1846.”
On the face of the stone fronting towards the Old Palace are inscribed the following extracts from
General Kearney's address on that memorable day: “We come as friends to make you a part of the
United States.
In our government all men are equal.
Every man has a right to serve God according to his heart.” ]
Grand Commandery, Knights
Templar, organized at
Santa Fe......Aug. 21, 1901
[The records of the
Civil War and the late war with
Spain show that, in proportion to her population,
New Mexico has furnished more troops to uphold the national flag than any other State or Territory in the
Union.]
According to a bulletin issued by the census bureau, of the entire population of 195,310, 104,228 are males, and 91,083 females.
There are 13,625 foreign-born persons, constituting 7 per cent. of the population.
There are 15,103 colored people, including 1,610 negroes, 341
Chinese, 8 Japanese, 13,144
Indians......Aug. 29, 1901
Executive proclamation designating Thursday, Sept. 19, as a day of fasting and prayer, and “earnestly recommending that every church and house of worship on this day hold a memorial service to commemorate the life and services to his country of one of the most distinguished and exemplary
Americans since the birth of the republic,” which was generally observed.
Issued......Sept. 14, 1901
New York
