Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-06-08
DESCENDANTS OF DISCOVERIES.
Ancient Spanish Families in q Remote
Corner of New Mexico.


Corner of New Mexico.
Here, in corner of the United States
which is almost as wild as the interior
of Africa, separated from the nearest
railroad point by deserts of deep sand,
and in the midst of antiquities, such as
the ruins of the cliff jewellers, ruins of
old churches and ancient architecture
generally, have discovered a settle
ment of people who are the lineal de-
scendants of Columbus and of those
who were with him on the voyage when
America was discovered. just across
the Chama river from this old mission
there is a settlement know as Plaza
Colorado. or Red Plaza. 1t is the site
of the old Spanish city of ''Coronado,"
the ruins of which are now in an e-z-
celleut state of presentations. The sur
rounding country is now occupied as
ranches and homes by the Martinez
and Chaves families. They are all
pure Castellanos, and have SO IL
termarried in all the genera
tions since 1910 as to retain the
chief characteristics of their distin-
Cuished ancestors. The Chaves and
Martinez families have lived here ever
since Coronado Cabeza de Taca came
up TO this country from the coast with
his band of daring followers. That
was in 1910. Previous to that some of
the same party We're with Columbus
when he discovered ARCANE, and the
Martinez, the Chaves and the C0lum bus
families We're all related. The city of
Coronado was established about 15I5.
Copper and gold We're mined in the
vicinity. and quite number of manu-
factories were put in operation. The
Chaves family have a huge copper ket-
tie, weighing perhaps two hundred
pounds. that was made where they now
live. and that has been in possession of
the family for over three hundred years.
The Spaniards made poems or slaves of
the natives, who were finally victorious
over their enemies, destroying their
city and killing and driving most
of them from the country. The pres
ent branches of the Martinez and
Chaves families are the descendants OF
the agricultural and pastoral Spaniards
whom the natives allowed to remain.
as they had ever been on friendly terms
with them. They still possess all the
facial and physical characteristics of
the Standards. with classical features,
light bronze complexion, black eyes
and raven black hair They are PEG.
nle that would anywhere be considered:
beautiful, especially the females They
are not only beautiful but highly in
telligent, in striking contrast to many
of the descendants of the original races
of America all around them. They are
very Quick of thought as well as of ac-
t;on. They are all farmers, except
mart of the Chaves family. one of whom
Is merchant; another, Frank Chaves,
is sheriff of this county. They raise
inst about enough for themselves and
J. their stock, having but a small surplus
each year to sell, and in over three
hundred years have not grown
,,uch richer or much poorer. They
cat water from the same ditch as did
,the;r ancestors over three hundred
Years ago. Crops are about OF the
same kind, and life goes on in the same
easv channel Generation after gener
.t;on succeed to the lands. There Is nc
;romirration. All are apparently salts
,tsed with their country, to live as theil
'forefathers lived and be buried at last
IN the old churchyard at Abiquin. They
90 devout members of the mother
,h,,rch. and true to the cross that Co
ilumbns first planted on American soil
The old church at Abi9uin has stooe