Document text
Marie Carter
Anthony,
New 1.dexico
La Union
OLD TaERS STORIES
Clara Coleman (Mrs. Pat Coleman)
370 words
*Where," I asked Mrs. Coleman, "Did the Aefugio Grant Colony originate?"
"In the pueblo, or Mission of La Union" she replied.
"In 1852, Ramon Ortez, who was the curate and general Commissioner of
El Paso Del Norte, now Juarez, -Mexico, was appointed by the high government
-Assion La Union to found and establish Civil Colonies of one thousand
people or more in the State of Chihuahua, now New Mexico."
"Jas the Refugio Colony already established?" I asked.
"Yes, but Ortez had no power to distribAe the land until the Federal
Government of Chihuahua gave him permission, which they finally did, and a
grant of fifteen thousand acres for the settlers. This was a reward for the
work they had already accomplished. T'ray called it Refugio in honor of
their patron saint. iuestra Senora del :;efugio, or Our Lady of Refuge."
"How much land did each settler receive?" I inquired.
"A very old Mexican once told me that each one received a little over
fifty acres for a ranch, and enough ground to build a residence in town.
After the Commissioner had designated a certain amount of land for towns,
houses and churches, he gave the colony enough for an edigo, or commons,
the land lying on the suburbs of cities, towns and places; not cultivat-
ed nor planted.
Carter --2
"At the time the Aufugio Colony Grant was made, the settlers were given to
understand that it was against the law to transfer their land to anyone else.
The Refugio Colony Grant, which had its beginning at the pueblo of La Union,
is a strip of land that runs through Anthony but on the west side of the
Rio Grande. The Grant is a thing of the past, but in making out deeds and
abstracts, the title is still used to locate certain rancnes and places of
present day owners'; Mrs. Coleman Said.
It it claimed by some of the old timers that the Chihuahua Santa Fe
Trail runs over the same route followed by State Highway 28, Known also
as Jestside :iighway. It runs on to La Union, past the Post Office, thence
it turns west to the old 1-a Union Pueblo, and thence south over the La Union
Anapra ighway along the foothills past the Anapra bridge across the Rio
Grande to connect With U. S. Highway 85.
Mrs. Clara Coleman, wife of kat Coleman, was born: 1864 in Uvalde,
Texas; came to Anthony, New Mexico in 1900 lived on old business street
west of the Santa Fe tracks, where she kept boarders; moved from old business
street to the town of Chamberino, where she and her husband went into the
sheep raising business; moved from Chamberino to Anthony and bought a ranch
two miles west of town where she has lived ever since. Mrs. Coleman is
proud of the fact that she nursed and paid for the ranch herself. Mr.
Coleman was a helpless cripple. mrs. Caeman is a grand old lady, who is
dearly loved by all of her friends, and whom they consider one of the most
courageous women of our community.
1000 words
-Marie Carter
Anthony,
New mexico
(Translation from Spanish)
Petition
of
Refugio Colony Grant
retition. Ramon Ortiz, mexican L;ommiseioner-* Refugio Colony Grant.
(Translation from Spanish)
Filed; December 7th, 1867. Recorded in Deed book 4, Government
of state of Chihuahua, Office of State
"Upon the petition which you have directed to this government as
being that the lands therein indicated be distributed to you, the
following decree has this day been made.
"This petition will be referred to Senate Ramon Ortez, Commissioner
for the new settlement of the District Bravos, to the end that be realiz-
ed the laudable purposes of those who signed the same and equitably reward
the labors they have commenced, according to the regulations of the 24th
of 'may.last, published in No. 51 El Carreo as far as it is permitted
by the law enacted by the Id°. Congress of the State on the 13th of
-march last, that on the same subject of the 11th April 1850 and the
provision dictated to -Jrovide provissionly commons for the town of El
raso and adjoining towns.
"Let this decree be communicated to the parties interested and I
commudicate the same to you for your information. God and Liberty,
Chihuahua, June 4th, 1851.--Amada de la Baga Jose Maria Garcia, and
other citizens who signed the said petition.
Carter --2
CIVIL COLONY OF REFUGIO
1852
"In the Civil ?olony of Refugio on the 20th day of the month of
Feruary 1852, 1, Citizen -,4amon Ortez permanent Curate of Paso del
Norte, appertaining to the Republic of Mexico, general Commissioner
appointed by the high government of the Mission Union to found and.
establish Civil Colo.lies in the State of Chihuahua according to legal
regulations issued for that purpose and those in force in our leF.istative
codes; in view of the powers with which I am vested in premises by the.
general organic law dated Aug. 19th 1848, and the derivative regulation
of La: 22, 1851 this colony being already established and greatly in-
creased and also the distributions of Suertes of land and residence
lots among the settlers.
"Having been affected after the designation of localities for towns,
houses, churches, etc., and the granting of eight suertes of land for
_corporation funds should proceed -and did proceed in fact to execute the
assignment of commons to which said settlement is entitled, and as
according as to what is set forth in the 24th and 25th articles of the
decree of Joy. 16, 1786, the egido (commons) is the ground lying on
the suburbs of cities, towns, and places, which is not cultivated nor
planted.
"I therefore, designate to the aforesaid Colony RefugiO, one league
and a quarter for its commons, the measurement of which being that per
scribed by toe 23rd article of the state law of December 23rd 1851, for
the benefit of settlements containing over 1000 souls was then commenced
Carter -3
CIVIL COLITY OF REFUCIO
1852
and assigned from the exterior of the outer limits of the property
or possessions already distributed observing the character and the
quadriliteral configurations of the lands distributed in as much
as could be mad into a perfect square, it must be borne in mind that
the arable land of the said colony of Hefuguo has in length 6200
yaras from north to south and 2475 varas east to west, and consequ-
ently an area 17087500 square varas (yards).
"The figure and the limits of the track being known and taking
into consideration that towards the river side, there is not suffici-
ent public land to mark out the commons on that side, the 3125 varas
that ought to have been measured on that side, are added to a like
number on the northern side.
"That is to say, measuring 6250 varas from the lands of Jose
de la Luz Jacques, or more plainly from the point corresponding on
a direct line of this land running from east to west, thence follow-
ing the side of the river, will make the 6250 varas, at which fiaal
-point the proper land marks will be raised, after which from the
limits of Jose arques which is situated at the edge of the hills
toward the west there will be measured 3125 varas and as many more
on the south side from the limits of the land of Jose Maria Garcia
where the said land marks will also be raised.
"Lastly 'for woodland and common pasturage, of which mention
is made in the decree of the 14th of May 1804, and the regulation
hereinbefore cited of the 22 of May 1851, I designate the entire
Carter 4
CIVIL COLONY OF REFUGIO
1852
bosque and strips of land lying between the arable land and the river from the
commencement and end of the arable land embracing the whole length, I, like-
wise designate for public pasture and grounds the adjacent brows and slopes
of the hills situated on the west in a longitudiml extension following the
course of the summit equal to the commons pasture grounds designated on the
side of the river, the right of pasture and other concessions which I hereby
stipulate in favor of the new settlement.
"In the name of the Federal Government of the State of Chihuahua is
perpetual and imprescriptible founded upon the consent of the supreme authori-
ties and on the letter of ancient and modern legislation. In view of all
which from this day forward the aforesaid settlement of Refupllio remains in
the most ample posession of the tract to which it is entitled by law, under
the restriction that it cannot alienate the same in any manner, to any church,
monastery, ecclesiastical person, community, or into any other mortmain so
called, as this is prohibited by law.
"And for due testimony and validity and authenticity I issue this title
which remains recorded in the book of records of the municipality authorizing
thc, free use and benefit of the lands which have been granted to it. In
testirony of which I sign the same at the town and on the date aforesaid.
Ramon Ortez
"A faithful and gegitimate copy, taken from its original, to which I refer,
Colony of hefugio, August 19, 1852
Ramon Ortez"
Research copy for -eference.
4; C.
Carter -5
CIVIL COLIN OF REPiGIO
1852
Refugio Civil Colony of the Mission Union, Jona Ana County, was granted
15,000 acres 1852. The grant was confirmed by the Congress of the United
States, 1901.
i'exico adopted the metric system in measuring the land for her colonies,
a system used by pain, and which varies more or less in the different pro-
vinces of the Kirgdok, It is a measure the Spanish have used since 1871.
euertes referred to a measure but in what respect is hard to determine.
For suerte means, good luck, chance, lot, kind, fortune, hap -hazard, sort,
species and manner; de stierte means the game of bullfight, -and la suerte
means the trick practiced by the matador, or buAfighter with his mantle
to tantalize the bull. La suerte also means stroke.
Vara is also a measure. Frimarily it means pole, but then, a pole,
or square pole, is 30 square yards. One acre is 160 square poles. tience,
vara, also has many meanings; it means yard, rod, sway, high -hand person,
and shafts of a coach. Vara, however, is a square measure. Vara means go a
different way too, and change. Fie means foot; also 1/3 vara which is one
third of a yard. And pie, which means one foot, also means: leg, basis,
fondation, occasion and trunk of trees. i-ulgada means inch.