Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-11-29
nONOREO PIONEER DEAD.
On Saturday Last General ]. N.
Chaves Passed Peacefully Away.
OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

there died at Abiquiu. Rio Arriba
county, n of the oldest settlements
by white men in the United States.
General Jose Maria Chaves, at the
honored old age of 101 years, one
month and 81 days, says the New Mex
lean.
This highly honored and respected
pioneer, a wonderful link between the
past and present, passed peacefully
away and was conscious to the last
moment. The last rites of the Roman
Catholic church were performed for
him by the Rev. Simon Alverghne. and
the remains were laid to rest in the
chapel of the patron saint of Abiquiu
the services being conducted by the
same priest.
At the bedside. when the end came
we're his three sons, Patricio j., j. NJ.
c. and Frank G. Chaves, his three mar
ried daughters and several %grandchil-
dren. His living descendants include
many grandchildren and several great
grandchildren.
General Chaves was astonishingly
hale and hearty and was wonderfully
| clear of mind. Several years ago he
| suffered a cataleptic attack during
which it was thought he was dead. A
coffin was ordered and invitations sent
out for his burial.
His life was a wonderful one as he
was active and prominent in civil and
military life.
General Chaves was born in Santa
Clara. Santa Fe county, on September
90, 1901. Don Fernando Y Chaves, his
ancestor, brought to New Mexico with
him the title of "Reconqueror." His
original name was Duran, but as the
king of Spain had given him the keys
Of conquest. figuratively speaking. he
and his two brothers adopted the ad-
ditional name of Chaves.
Many are the distinguished men,
both in political as well as military
life, who have been members of this
family, but foremost among them all
was undoubtedly General Chaves.
When 4 years old he moved with his
family to Abiquiu, near the same spot
where he died. Early in life he took an
interest in public affairs. He impress
ed his neighbors with his energy and
his intelligence. At the time Abiquiu
was near the frontier from which the
hostile Indians swept over the terri
tory, leaving death and devastation in
their tracks. This inflicted much suf-
fering upon the pioneers of those days
and retarded the progress Of the terri
tory considerably. The Utes, the Apa-
ohes, the ~Comanches, the Navajoes
and other Indian tribes would plumber
and murder whenever and wherever
opportunity offered itself to them. This
warfare implanted courage and bold
ness in the settlers, and General Cha
yes was soon among the leaders
against the Indians.
At the age Of IL he was lieutenant in
the urban militia and vas promoted
later to auxiliary captain commander
OF a squadron in the army of Mexico.
In 1918 he received the appointment
of lieutenant in the Mexican army,
was advanced to inspector of arms in
the Rito Ojo Caliente and other points,
oiAh TIC " lICuNthohl tolOhtl oOOh
after New Mexico became a part of
the United States he was commission
ed b~rigadier general in the militia. He
led several successful campaigns
against the Navajoes in that capacity,
being the commandments in five
expeditions against those Indians and
a subordinate officer in six other In
dian campaigns.
In civil life General Chaves was no
less distinguished. He served under
three governors of Spain, all the Mexi-
can governors and all of the governors
appointed by the United States thus
far. In early youth he was a bailiff
and later a member of the governing
council, under the regime of Spain.
If you are bilious and seeking adyis-
ers,
Take DeiWtt's Little Early Risers,
Just before going to bed.
You will find on the morrow,