Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-07-03
JESUS ABREU.
Additional Facts of the Life of the Old
Pionaar

Jesus G. Abreu, who died at Rayado,
Colfax county on Friday of last week
was an old-timer, having lived all his
life in New Mexico, and 40 years in
Colfax county, most of the time in his
house where he died. Don Jesus
crossed the continent twice before the
days of railroads west of the Alleghenies,
and his adventures would fill large
volume with interesting details. He
was born in Santa Fe In 1923, one of
| five sons of Santiago Abreu, who was
killed near Santo Domingo in battle
with the rebels, under Jose Gonzales in
1887. The elder Abreu at that time was
one of the staff of Governor Albino Perez,
who was dcposed and killed by Gonzales.
When young man, he started for the
states with man named Johnson, who
had large herd of Mexican mules,
which he had gathered at Sonara, and
was taking east for speculation. He
crossed into Kentucky, and spent three
years there, returning to Independence,
Mo-, where he made the acquaintance
of two gentlemen of mercantile firm,
where he served in the capacity of
clerk for some time. While with them
he was sent to st. Louis, Pittsburg,
Philadelphia and New York with the
Perea brothers OF Bernalillo.
In the year 1s45 he returned to New
Mexico. He was engaged by the sutler
of the American army in chihuahua as
Interpreter. When peace was declared
the dhty of taking the news to Santa
Fe from that point was placed upon
him.
When peace was made with Mexico
that portion of the army then at Chi
huahua was ordered to march north
ward. The trading firm with WHICH
Abreu was serving desired to send word
ahead to Colonel St. Vrain to buy up all
suffers goods in that town before the
army reached there in order to enjoy a
monopoly of the trade. He made the
trip in seven days, the first part of the
journey being through the enemy's
country. 1t was perilous trip often
spoken of by Mr.. Abreu in his lifetime
as the country was then infested with
savage tribes of rowing Indians.
He carried the United States mail
from Santa Fe to Fort Leavenworth in
the winter of ls4S, and 1s49, when,
owing to the deep SHOWS and cold
weather, the trip occupied 40 days.
This was the second mail carried across
the country between these points, the
first having been carried by Tom Boggs,
who died at Clayton, Union county,
few years ago.
He was all over California in the early
days, and after returning to New
Mexico went to the Rayado, where he
secured employment of Mr.. Ply, who
was partner of Lucien Maxwell, then
part owner of the Beaubien and
Miranda grant, now the Maxwell land
grant. He succeeded very we'll and
with the proceeds of his labor purchased
a portion of the property and by marry
ing daughter OF Beaubien q sister of
the wife of Maxwell, in 1850, acquired
the large property where he has lived
until his death.
He left wife ls years his junior and
nine children. He was one of the best
known personages in New Mexico, and
an old friend and comrade of such men
as Uncle Dick Wooten, Uncle Tom
Boggs, Kit Carson and others. For
many years Rayado was stage station
on the old Santa Fe trail, until the ad-
vent of the railroad.