Document text
Marie Carter, 2000 rords.
Anthony, N. M.
OLD TINOS STORIES.
Mrs. Cgroline Geok Weir (Husband: W. 0, Weir)
Interview: Mayn, 1937.
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Mts. Caroline Geok Weir lives in the family home of the
Gooks at old Dona Ana. "This house," she explained, Mates back
to 1839 or to the firsteolonists. My father, Lewis William Geok,
who was a private soldier, settled on this land after the Meiilla
Civil Colony Grant was established. In that year, which was 1850,
half of the ronulation of Dona Ana County moved to La Mesillat
Chihuahua. Some of our family seem to think that Lewis William
Geok was a Merman, but he was not. He came from Poland, a stow-
away, aboard a ship at the age of eleven. Here is part of a let.
ter I received regarding his military record."
The letter profferred by Mrs. Weir was from Washington and
read: "Lewis William Gook was assigned to Co. Holst Dragoons
from which he was honorably discharged at Dragoon Camp near
Evansville, Ark., on January 12, 1846 by reason of term of ser-
vice as private he reenlisted at St. Louis, Mo., for five years
Feb. 6, 1846 and was assigned to Co. H, 1st Dragoons from which
he was honorably discharged Feb. 6, 1851 by reason of expiration
of term of service as a private he was stationed at Dona Ana,
N. M. This soldier was born in Poland and was 23 years of age
at first enlistment."
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Resuming her narration of the family history Mrs. Weir
explained: "My father, Lewis William Gecko was married three
times. He was born in 1818 and died at the age of seventy-two.
If you'll look out that east window you will see the graveyard,
less than two hundred feet away from the house, where Lewis is _
buried between wife number one and wife number two. He reserv-
ed the center grave for himself and requested to be buried in it.
Since I am a child by his third marriage it will be necessary ta-ex-
plain about wife number one and wife number two. There is a tra-
gedy too, but I'll tell you about that later.
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Mrs. Weir went to an old trunk fished out the family bible
and said: "Read what it says for yourself." I read: Lewis William
Geok was born on the 4th of June 1818 in the city of Warsaw, King-
dom of Poland. Got married on the 24th of April 1851 in the town
of Mesilla, Mexico by Padre Ynojas. My wife was born at El Paso,
Mexico on the 21st of February 1838, and died on the 12th of July
1853 at one O'clock in the morning with a child in bed. Her name
was Margarita Severiana de Jeasus Barrio. Her father's name was
Francisco Barrio. Her mother was Dolores Contreras.
"My child Jesusits Geck was born on the 12th of July 1853
on Thursday morning at r o'clock, when in a few minutes the mot-
her expired."
Closing the bible Mrs. Weir explained: "Lewis William had to.
have someone to take care of little Jesusita so he decided to
marry again. His second wife was Beatrice Aguirre whom he
married in 1854. Lewis William was a trader and a merchant
and the front of this housellased for a storeroop. One night,
while Beatrice and Lewis William were asleep, twelve robbers
drilled a square block out of the wall and entered through the
opening. They were so quiet about their work that the sleep—
ing couple didn't hear them; not even when they emptied the
money out of the cash box. After looting the store the twelve
robbers boldly entered the bedroom. Lewis William, who was a-
wakened by his wife's screams, started to get up but was dealt
such a staggering blow that he fell back unconscious. Then
binding and gagging their victim the robbers threw him on the
floor. If they had known what a dangerous man they were deal-
ing with, they'd have killed Lewis William, then and there."
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Mrs. Weir paused then continued: "Now, I wonder why my
father's hair didn't turn white or how he kept from going mad,
as the robbers assaulted his wife and left her in a dying con-
dition. Early the next morning a customer came to the store
and knocked. On receiving no response the man became alarmed
and called some of the netghbors. They tried to break the lock
but finding that impossible combillea their strength and forced
the door. Upon entering, however, they were somewhat puzzled,
for there wasn't a soul in sight. Then suddenly they heard a
faint moan from the direction of the front bedroom, Fearing,
the saints only knew what, and preparing themselves for a sud—
den attack, they all picked up articles that would serve for
weapons as they slowly advanced toward the closed door."
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With a quiok motion of her hands Mrs. Weir assured me:
"The neighbors were shooked speechless when they found Lewis
William and his wife. While the men hastened to unbind my _
father, the women gave their attention to Beatrice. You, see,
she was expecting a baby and everything would have taken its
natural course, but that awful experience had shattered her
nervous system; so the child was born to soon. The baby was a
boy, and as he came into this world, the poor little mother
closed her eyes and passed on to the next. And Lewis William,
towering above the bed where his young wife lay in death, raised
his right hand to God, took an oath of vengence and vowed: "For
one dead body twelve will swing from the limbs of trees and be
picked by a million crows."
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Mrs. Weir commented on how fast news spread in a small
place. "Why in less than an hour," she said, the whole valley
had heard about the tragedy and a lynching party was searching
for the twelve robbers. Eight of them escaped. The other four,
who were found at La Meanie, were taken to Clarion Ranch be_
tween Dona Ana and Las Cruces, where they were hung before
the eyes of a cheering mob.
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In referring to the baby of Beatrice and Lewis William
Oeck, Mrs. Weir said: "That baby lived to be a grandfather.
He always signed himself 'W.O.P.Oeok,, but he was christened,
William Oidronio Pedro Geok. The name William was for his
father. Oidronio was the saint's day upon which he was born,
and Pedro was for his grandfather on his mother's side W.O.P.
Geok, as he was known all through life, was my; half brother.
He moved to AnthonylNew Mexico in 1902 where he built a home
in which he lived until his death. W.O.P. served Anthony as
Justice of the Peaoe for fifteen years. His children and
grandchildren are residents of Anthony at the present time."
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At the age of thirty-seven, Lewis William deck, soldier,
merchant and trader, had a third romance." "The bride-to-be:
Mrs. Weir explained, "was Sarah Aguirre, first cousin to his
second wife, Beatrice Aguirre. But Sarah was very young -a
mere child of fifteen. Lewis William had a noble character
though, and did something that very few men would have done.
He married Sarah, but following the wedding, sent her with the
daughter by his first wife, to the Sacred Heart Institute at
S. Charles, Missouri, where she remained for three years. Then,
when she was eighteen, be brought her back to Dona Ana."
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Following an interval of silence Mrs. Weir resumed:"Sarah
was my mother. She brought eight children into the world
Beatrice, Sam, Marion, Oirolina, (Mrs. Weir) Mary, Wilhelmina,
Lillian the let. and Lillian the 2nd. Lillian the Ist., died,
and when another girl was born, she was named Lillian for her
dead sister. Unusual but true. Our family had two girls by
the same name."
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Calling my attention to an old organ Mrs. Weir explained:
"It was made by S.D. and H. W. Smith of Boston eighty-seven
years ago, and was given by Lewis William to Sarah, my mother.
The history of one man and three wives is very confusing so I
shall repeat: Lewis William Geckle first wife, whom he married
in 1851, was Margarita Severiana de Jeasus Barrio. His second
wife, whom he married in 1854, was Beatrice Aguirre, And his
third wife, whom he married in 1860, was Sarah Aguirre, first
cousin to his second wife. Every one of my mother's children
were baptized in the old Mission church across the road."
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In speaking of her early childhood Mrs. Weir said;"I start-
ed to school in this town and went through all the grades --they
only had three. Then I went to Las Oruces and lived with some
relatives while I attended school. My next schooling was in El
Paso, Texas. I was a pupil in the first high school which was
boated where the Elk's building stands. I received a medal for
perfect attendance five consecutive years, and I'm just as
proud of it this moment as t was the day I received it.
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During her conversation Mts. Weir mentioned some of her
teachers."When I attended the old El Paso High," she said Prof.
Calvin Esterly was Superintendent of schools. Miss Ella B.
Meekins was one of my teachers, and Laura Fink, who became Mts.
0.B.Kellogg, was another. In 1892 I returned to Dona Ana to
teach school. I taught from 1893 to 1894. My =phew, Charley
Geck senior of Anthony, New Mexico, was one of my first pupils.
Dick Triviz, who was sheriff of Las Cruces from 1930 to 1934,
was another one of my pupils. In 1896 I taught at La Union."
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In recalling her term as postmaster of Dona Ana Mts. Weir
stated: "I received my commission as postmaster on April 12,1894,
which office I held for one year. I didn't want it a second
years for I had an experience that disgusted me with post office
work for the rest of my life. And it was all through the mistake
of a man by the name of AV M. Holland, a Spiritualist, who start-
ed a colony here in 1892.
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Resuming her story Mrs. Weir Explained: "Mt. Holland was in
the habit of ordering large bills of merchandise from Sigel
Cooper in Chicago and had always receivold his goods on time.
One day he came to the office with a three hundred' dollar or-
der which he gave to me to register. A few days later he came
back and ask me if his merchandise had arrived. When I told
him it had not had time he was peeved. So finally he got wor-
ried and wrote to Sigel Cooper asking them why he had not re-
ceived it. They wrote back and told him that they had received
the order but no money. Well, he came to me and wanted to know
what I had done with the money. When I -asbolhim what money, he
flew into a rage and accused me of stealing his three hundred
dollars. I thought the man was mad, and ask my mother, who was
my assistant, if she had accepted that amount of money from
Mr. Holland. Her reply was the same as mine, but he didn't be
lieve either one of us and left the office vowing to make trouble."
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Mrs. Weir and her mother spent their evenings praying that
the lost money would turn up. "I never was so worried in all my
life," she said, "for I had always been honest to a penny and
to be accused of theft almost killed me. Several days passed
then the worst happened; Mt. Holland walked into the office fol-
lowed by a post office inspector. He was very consideratephow-
ever, and told me to go ahead and explain and not to be afraid
because he knew I wasn't a thief. I tried to explain, but dur_
ing my explanation was crying so hard that don't believe
he understood a word said. But be left telling me not to
worry."
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Mrs. Weir did worry, for she could think of nothing but
the lost money. "It was constantly on my mind," she said,
"some nights I couldn't sleep at all and would spend the night
sitting up in bed hoping and praying for a solution to the my-
stery of the lost money. In the meantime I had grown so thin
and white that everybody thought I was going to be ill.
thought so myself for I couldn't eat. Then I received a sur-
prise. The Inspector, closely followed by Mr. Holland, walk-
ed into the office. Mr. Holland had lost some of his swagger,
and there was something about the way he hung his head that
reminded me of a coyote. Then the Inspector smiled and told
me my worries were at an end for he had located to money, and
If I wanted to take legal action I could get a thousand dol-
lars out of the our who had done his best to send me to jail."
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Mrs. Weir told the Inspector that she didn't want Holland's
money or anything he had. "Then Holland began to whine and to
beg my pardon," she said, "but I shut him up by telling him to
write a letter to the Postmaster General and tell him how he'd
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accused an innocent girl Otbeing a lowdown thiel.- think the
old fellow was fully punished though, for when the townsmen
heard what had been done with the money they razzed him for
three months. The money, which was found in the dead letter
office, was traced back to the sender, who turned out to be
Rolland. And instead of directing it to Sigel Cooper,
Chicago, he had absently directed it to Sigel Cooper,E1 Paso,
Texas."
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Mrs. Caroline Geok Weir is the mother of seven children
Cecilia Weir, who is now Mrs. Ralph Scoggins of El Paso, Texas;
Lucile Weir wife of C.R. Riddle of Los Angeles, California;
William Weir of Kermit, Texas, whose wife is the former Lucille
Allen of Kermit; Lee Weir married and living in Los Angeles,
California. Lee is a salesman whose wife is the former Kathryn
Foster of Los Angeles; David Weir is unmarried and a skilled
mechanic of El Paso, Texas; Lillian Weir is the wife of Ray
Dukeminier of Silver City, where he is employed by the telephone
company; they have two sons --Roy and Bobby; Jessie Weir is mar-
ried and studying law at the University of Austin, Texas; his
wife is the former Jerry Latham of El Paso, Texas. The Lathame
have one son, -Billy; all of Mrs. Weir's children have finished
high school.
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Note: When the military posts at Dona Ana and Z1 Paso
were abandoned, Fort Fillmore was established September 23,
1851, having been chosen as a better defence position than
the two abandoned forst. At the time of its establishemnt
the post was occupied by Company 11,1st Dragoons and Companies
and IC 3rd Infantry. Lewis William Oeok was assigned to
Company E, 1st Dragoons twice. From which he was honorably
discharged both times. On January 12, 1846, he was discharg-
ed at Dragoon Camp near Nvensville, Ark. He reenlisted at
St. Louis, Missouri for five years Feb.6, 1846 and was assign.
ed to the same company.. He was honorably discharged from
Company II, let Dragoons Feb. 6, 1851 by reason of expiration
of term of service as private. When be received his second
and last discharge he was stationed at Dona Ana, New Mexico.
This soldier, who sleeps in the Dona Ana graveyard, less than
two hundred feet east of the old homestead, is the father of
Caroline Oeck Weir, who staunchly declares: "It is up to me
to hold the fort."
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The letter from Washington regarding Lewis William Geckle
military record was signed: "Frank C. Bennett Brigadier General
Acting Adjutant General."