Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-14
MIGUEL ANTONIO OTERO
Inc Popular Thrice Appointed Governor Of New Mexico.

The Successful American, published
in Washington. in a recent number con-
tanned the following biographical
sketch. with a handsome cut illustra-
ton, of Hon. Miguel A. Otero, governor
of New Mexico:
The name ofOtero is an honored and
distinguished one in the annals of New
Mexico. Its history can be traced back
for many centuries to the nobility Of
Old CASTLE. 1t is mentioned first in con-
n~ection with New Mexico and Santa
Fe in 1905, although the direct ances-
tors of Governor Otero came to New
Mexico from Spain in the latter part of
the eighteenth century. His g~randfath-
er was a judge. an alcalde, a man of
marked talents and considerable land
ed wealth. Governor Otero's father,
Don Miguel Otero. was born In Valen-
cha county, New Mexico, and was prom
inently identified with the political
and public affairs of the legislature
and thrice delegate to congress. In
1861 President Lincoln appointed him
secretary of the territory. He also SER
we'd as attorney general and United
States district attorney for the terri
tory and was as prominent in business
affairs as he was in politics.
His son, Hon. Miguel Antonio Otero,
Is no less distinguished than his father.
Born at st. Louis, Mo-, on October II,
1859, he received his education at the
st. Louis university and Notre Dame
college at South Bend, Ind. In early
youth he received a valuable business
training which still stands him in good
stead, for after engaging in mercantile
pursuits for about two years with his
father as bookkeeper for the firm of
Otero. Sellars & Co., at La Junta. Col,
in 1876. he went to Las Vegas and &C
cepted a responsible position in the
San Miguel National bank, thereafter
serving also as cashier of said San
Miguel National bank for five years.
This position he filed until elected by
the people of San Miguel county to
the position of county clerk and re-
corder. He also held the Office of city
treasurer in Las Vegas, New Mexico,
in 1893 and 1894. Later on he filled .he
office of clerk of the United States dis
trict court for the Fourth judicial dis
trict of the territory of New Mexico.
He was a delegate from the territory
of New Mexico to the republican Ia
tional convention in 1S92,that nominal
ed General Benjamin Harrison for
president, and chairman of the New
Mexico delegation to the republican
national convention of 1900 that nom
mated President Mckinley for presi-
dent. In 1894 he was rendered the
nomination Of delegate to congress by
his party. but declined the honor. On
June 7, 1897, he was appointed the ex-
ecutive of the territory of New Mexico,
and was confirmed unanimously by ,-e
senate. He was reappointed on June
10, 1901, by President Mckinley during
vacation, and on December Is, 1901.
was again reappointed b. President
Roosevelt, making three appointments.
His present term will expire on Jan.
uary %, 1906.
AS governor, Hon. Miguel Antonio
Otero has given the territory an admin
istration that has been epoch making
in the history of New Mexico. During
the Spanish-American war Governor
Otero was among the first to respond
and send troops and furnished one-half
of the celebrated First United States
Volunteer cavalry (Rosevelt's Rough
Riders). On the return of the regiment
he met them at Montauk Point, Long
Island. and later was presented with a
magnificent gold medal and unanim-
ousIy elected an honorary member of
the regiment.
He is also president of the Salado
Live Stock company of Guadalupe
county. New Mexico, and president of
the b. o. b. Mining and Milling COM
pany of Grant county, New Mexico.
He is a member of the Montezuma
club Of Las Vegas, also a Master Ma
son., a member of the Royal Arch and
a Knight Templar. He is also a knight
of Pythias, a Mystic Shriner, and a
member of the Order of Elks. He mar
ried on December 10, 1888, at Sast Las
Vegas, n. M, Mill Caroline. the young
est and most charming daughter of
Judge Lafayette Emmett, at one time
the chief justice of Minnesota and
now the librarian of New Mexico, and
though he and his wife have had TO
mourn the loss of two children, M
son, also named Miguel Antonio, now
8 years of age, is a bright particular
star in their happy household.
Personally, Governor OterO is anna
BILE, unaffected, ~persevering. morally
of high principle and loyal to his
friends. He is an. enthusiastic worker
for the welfare of the territory under
his control, and his greatest political
ambition is to have New Mexico placed
among the sisterhood of states, worthy
of being given every political privilege
to which statehood will entitle it.