Document text
Edith L. Crawford,
Carrizozo„ N. Mex.
Date: May 5, 1939w
Words: 688
Topic: Pioneer Story
Source of Information:
Mrs. Loreacita Miranda,
Lincoln, New Mexico.
PIOMER STORY.
I was born August 10, 1861, in the town of Las Placitas,
New Mexico, in S000rro County, New Mexico. (Les Placites is
now the town of Lincoln, and is in Lincoln County, New Mexico.)
My father 0regorio Herrera married my mother Oorelds Torres in
Maazano, New Mexico, about the year 1860. They moved to Las
Placitas New Mexico, and I was born there. Oa August 18th, 1861,
about ten days after I was born, my father was killed in a drunken
row, in Las Placitas. Another man was killed at the same time
and we never were sure who did kill my father. After Father's
death my mother %vat back to Maazaao to live with her people.
My mother gave me to one of ay gusts, Trinidad Herrera, (who
was nick -named Chialta) who, with my mother moved back to Las
Elecitas when I was about two years old. I have lived the rest
of my life in Lincoln County. I will soon be 78 years old.
In the year 1869, when I was eight years old, all of the
territory lying east of the Mal Pais, was created into Lincoln
County, and the county seat was established at Les Placitas
and the name was changed to Lincoln.
WAX married to JbseDeitatos, 'fireside in January 1877.
We were married in the Catholic Church at the Torres Ranch,
by Father Sambrano Tafoya of Menzel*, New Mexico. This church
ia about six miles west of Lincoln, New Mexico. I remember
that we had to walk about five miles to the church to get married.
My husband had a two roomed adobe house built for us to
live in. It had a dirt floor. We had no stove and I had to
cook on the fireplace. All eight of my children were born in
Lincoln. Seven of them are dead and buried there. My youngest
son, Bmelio Miranda, is married and has twelve ohildren. He lives
in Lincoln and is the post -master there. One of my grandsons
lives with me on my little farm, a half mile west of the town
of Lincoln. I raise a few chickens and a small garden which helps
to keep me busy.
The house where I was born in Las Placates (now Lincoln)
stood on the site of the old Laws Sanitarium. The place then
belonged to Sabin° Gonzales, who was one of the men that helped
build the old Torreon in 1855. My father-inzlaw Felipe Miranda
also helped to build the Torreon. This old Torreon was re-
built and dedicated in 1935, by the Chaves County Archaeological
and Historical Society.
My husband and I were liviag on our farm just above Lin-
coln, New Mexico, all during the Lincoln County War. We liked
both factions so we never took any part in the war. I remember
the day the McSween home was burned. We could see the flames
and anolfe from our house but we stayed at home for we were soared
to death to stick our heads out of the house. 10 solid also hear
some of the shooting. Billy the Kid came to our house several
times and drank coffee with us. We liked him for he was always
nice to the Spanish people and they all liked him.
My Aunt, Chinita Herrera, started to walk to Socorro, Now
Mexico, to see her brother. (I do not remember the year.)
She was seen on the road to Socorro by Mrs. Susan MeSweea Barber
who gave her a drink of water and some food. She WAS not far
from a ranch house and Mrs. Barber thought she would get along
all right, but my aunt was never seen or heard of again. We
never did know what became of her.
My mother married a man by the name of Octavian° Sales,
and lived in Lincoln New Mexico, until her death in September
1928.
My husband Jose Deloros Miranda died October 28, 1928,
in Lincoln and was buried here.
NARRATOR: Yrs. Lorenoita Miranda, Lincoln, New Mexico, Aged 78 years.