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by J. J. Bowden El Bracito, an extremely fertile tract of bottom land situated within a prominent horseshoe bend of the Rio Grande is one of the best known natural landmarks in the Mesilla Valley. It is located approximately thirty‑three miles north of El Paso del Norte. For…
By J. J. Bowden Under the provision of the Eighth Article of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the residents of New Mexico were given the choice of retaining their Mexican nationality or becoming citizens of the United States. In an effort to encourage and assist any loyal Mexicans who…
by J. J. Bowden Until the advent of the automobile, travelers using the Camino Real between El Paso del Norte and Santa Fe faced the torturous trip through the dreaded Jornada del Muerto with a great deal of awe and hesitancy. The Jornada del Muerto, one of the true…
by J. J. Bowden The long depression in the United States following the panic of 1819, caused many adventurous Americans to consider Mexico’s generous offers of land for colonists who would settle along its northern frontiers. Under the Empresario system, East Texas was rapidly settled and developed. However, the…
by J. J. Bowden While Don Juan de Onate was marching northward during the conquest of New Mexico in 1598, he found the Piro Indians to be peaceful and receptive to the extension of Spanish control over their dominion, Onate was especially gratified with the friendly reception he received…
Doña Ana County is in south-central New Mexico bordering Texas and Mexico. The county is reputed to be named for the legendary Doña Ana Robledo who was renowned for her charitable acts in the 17th century. However, some records indicate that the true origin of the name is Doña…
by J. J. Bowden A fancied resemblance to the Spanish town of Seville prompted Governor Juan de Onate to name the most northerly Piro pueblo Nueva Sevilla when he visited it during his Conquest of New Mexico in 1598, Nueva Sevilla was situated on the east bank of the…
by J. J. Bowden About the same time that he was requesting the additional lands covered by the Fray Cristobal Grant, Pedro Armendaris was also seeking a grant covering a tract of land lying northwest of his original grant at Valverde In this petition, which was dated May 1,…
by J. J. Bowden On November 22, 1819, Pedro Ascue de Armendaris, the then Collector of Tithes and formerly First Lieutenant of the Garrison of San Elizario, petitioned the Governor of New Mexico for a grant covering a tract of land at Valverde for the purpose of cultivation and…
by J. J. Bowden Antonio Sandoval, a prominent resident of Albuquerque, petitioned the Governor of New Mexico, Manuel Armijo, on November 24, 1845, asking for a grant covering a tract of unoccupied land surrounding the Bosque del Apache and having the following boundaries: … from what is called El…
