The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-07-11

The details of the experiences OF
John w. Poe, one of the best known
and most eminent citizens of Roswell,
since he left the farm home in Ma
son county, Kentucky, thirty nine
years ago, when a lad eighteen years
of age, as a frontiersman. officer, dep
uty United States Marshal. deputy
sheriff, sheriff. detective, Especially
deputized to hunt down desperate
characters and thieves and going
through the mill of hardship and dam
ger as much as any man that ever
hved), cow-puncher stockman, buffa-
10 hunter, trader Indian fighter, ran
cher, irrigationist, farm and stock
manager, prospector, traveller proper
ty owner, lodge man, man OF affairs,
banker, capitalist, merchant, and
best of III a citizen with the esteem
and best wishes of his fellow men
for the real worth of the man, would
fill large book.
1t is such type of men as John w.
Poe that have developed the western
country so that now in history the
frontier of the United States has
passed out into the Pacific ocean
New Mexico and Arizona are still ter
ritories, but they are truly more entl-
tied to statehood than many of tn
states that adorn le Stars and
Stripes.
Mr.. Poe was born on a farm in Ma
son county, Kentucky, October II,
1850, the son of Nathan and Louisa
Poe, and was a men. DER of a large
family. there being three boys and
eight girls. His father passed away
in 1888 in Missouri, and the mother
entered into rest from the same state
eight years later. Four of the 81, -ers
have Joined the father and mother,
and the four living sisters and two
brothers are located in Missouri.
Mr. Poe was of an adventurous
spirit, and left his quiet Kentucky
farm home for the West, the land OF
the frontier and towards the setting
sun.
Breaking away from father and mo
ther, he came to Lafayette county,
Missouri, in 1869, and remained there
for six months. He then went to Jack
son county, Missouri, where ne spent
about one year. Old Kentucky appeal
ed to him again and he returned to
his native state. Seized with the ives
tern (want-to-go-west) again he land
ed in Kansas in the spring of Il at
the terminus of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad, near where
the present town of Emporia is now
located The following gear he went
to Kansas City, on account of sick
ness. and returned to Clay county,
Missouri, in November, 1872.
In the latter part of ~ ne came
west again and was engaged in rail-
roadins in contracting timber and
ties on Red River in Texas and Ind
ian Territory. In the spring of 1873
he left on horseback for Ft- Grimm,
Texas, a distance of $50 miles, the
extreme frontier of the then wild
western country. At this place he Sc
cured employment from the govern
ment and worked on government con-
tracts at FIT. Griffin. From 1874 TO
1878 he was engaged in lne buffalo
hunting business and during this pc
riod of four years with his own gun
he shot down 10000 buffalo He had
a SQUAD of men skinning and shipping
the hides, and was engaged in TINS
occupation as a lucrative business.
Mr.. Poe had established an envious
reputation by this time His ability
led to him being appointed marshal
of TT. Griffin, and he held this office
for one rear During this time he had
the toughest kind of characters to
deal with. and he dealt them misery
and demonstrated that he was mar
shal of Ft Griffin, much to the dis
comfort of the outlaws that had made
q practice OF hanging around the
place and who had heretofore nag
ranfly violated the laws In 1879 his
real worth as an officer was discov
cred. and he was appointed Deputy
United States Marshal and deputy
xh6r1G and was transferred 20 the
Pnnhnndla of Texas. IT Ft- Elliott
This Wa IN the spring of 10, and he
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