The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-08-24
y, and that was Il the chisum ranch.

II, and that was at the Chisum ranch.
The second one was brought IN for
Mrs. JOS. G. Lea. and it's arrival was
an event in the social and artistic life
of the town. It was then two hundred
miles to a railroad in any direction
from Roswell, n the piano had tt
be hauled on a wagon from the rail-
road. In the whole of Chaves county
| (the section of Lincoln county which
afterward became Chayes) there were
not to exceed three dozen OF the light
er vehicles, such as buggies. hacks.
road carts, etc The land Office for the
district was then at Las Cruces. The
nearest bank was at Las Vegas. and
the Roswell p~ostofice did not issue
nor pay money orders.
While at Lincoln Mr.. Richardson
took up the question Of establishing
a land office at Roswell, and also the
creation of the Fifth Judicial district.
Antonio Joseph was hen the Terrific
rial delegate in congress and intro
pose of placing the headquarters of
the district at Roswell, but the Rio
Grande valley was too strong and the
headquarters went to Socorro. The
land Office was established in Roswell
in 1880.
Mr.. Richardson helped to get the
forces together and organize the
Bank of Roswell, which is now the
First National. The bank opened in
1890, occupying a room where The
Grand Central Hotel now stands. s.
M. Folsom was president of the bank
and E. A. Cahoon cashier. It was a
! Territorial institution.
Chaves county was organized in
January, 1891, the first election having
been held the fall before. At the cleo
ton there was a regular Democratic
ticket n an Independent ticket. The
regulars won. Only two Republicans
have ever been elected to county of
fees in this country during all its
history, and one of them was elected
last fall by a split in the Democratic
~ rfu Nathan To 80 uro NJ ono limo
elected county commissioner.
The Pecos Valley Register was the
first newspaper. 1t was established
by the Fullen brothers, one of whom
is now running a paper at Carlsbad.
Another epoch-making event in the
history of the town of Roswell oc-
Cured October 6, 1894, when the first
locomotive crossed the Hondo river
from the south. A railroad celebra-
ton was held October 18th of the
same year at the Chisum ranch in
the grove where the old settlers re-
union is to be held.
Mr.. Richardson says he could name
county when he came here. Most of
them were engaged in farming, ranch
ing or the livery and teaming bust
ness. Poe, Lea & Cosgrove ran a
store and the postofice. Joyce-Pruit
& Co. were also merchandising in an
adobe building in the same location
as their present great store,
Having built up a law practice ex.
tending to distant parts of the Ter
ritory, Mr.. Richardson in 1898 went
to Michigan and was married to Miss
Nina Turner, who he met while att
ding the University. AS local bust !
ness grew he gradually dropped the |
outside practice, but the acquaintance |
made with leading men throughout
the Territory in the early days has
years. Being a Democrat, he does not
at present hold any Offices except hon
orary one in the Territory. This fact
has perhaps made a better lawyer of
him han would have been possible |
had he changed his politics and went
in with the grafters. His position as
president of the Territorial Bar Asso-