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Edith L. Crawford,
Carrizozo, U. max.
Mrs. Annie E. Losnett,
Carrizaso, New 4exico.
FIONA= STORY
Words 1395
sEp 7 -1938
I have lived in the State of Mew Mexioo for sixty-one
years. I lived in Roswell, Chaves County, for twenty-five
years and in Lincoln County far thirtp.six years.
I mst my husband, Frank Lesnett„ in Chisego, Illmats,
when I was eixtoen years oli. He was born in ths Stet* of Ohio.
Re joined the regular army at Fort Solid= Ohio. in 1870„ far a
period of five years and was sent to Fart Stanton, Nee Mexico,
to serve his enlistment, fighting the Indians. He was diseharg-
od in 1875 at Fort Ctanton.
Ho cams book to Chicago Illinois, and we were marriod
July 19, 18,0. s lived in Chicago for awhile but Frank was
never satisfied, for he loved the west and wanted to some book
to Lizooln County Kw Mexico, so he left me in Chioafo with
my people and be came back to Ruidoso lee Meximag and bought
a half interest in the Oculist's Mill. This mill was owned by
Paul aid :ill Dowlin at the time. Frank stayed bars and sent
far is and our baby son. I caws by train from Chicago to La
Junta Colorado, and from La Junta to Fort btanton Mew Mexico
ea Mama Raymond's stage mash, drown by four horses.
Nuns Raymond and his brit*, who was from St. Louis
Missouri, were passengers on ths stag, with is. I do not
remember any of the pieces that vat stopped except Awry 1iew.
cradle's place, where we stayed all night and changed teams.
Se bed a very pleasant trip, no scares from Indians or des-
peradoes, although I was very much afraid of the Indians.
my husband had told is so such about them end how they would
Edith L. Crewfard,
Cerrizozo, Mex.
ords 1393
go on the wer path, but et that time they were supposed to
stay on the Kescelero Reservet'on.
My husband net me gt Fort fLtenton. He wee driving
two big bay horses to e Z3tudebaker hack. The horses were
lamed "Bill Johesonn and "Bill Lowlin". How heppy I wee
wten rly husband net me and we drove up the beautiful eanyan
Upward the it L4ounteies. It was in istey 1877. ,e went by
?my of the Pet Garrett haudh, :Ada was located on Little
creek, and on by Llto and down Gevelan Canyon to the Imidoso.
hen we errived ct Deelin's 1111 I sew some blood in the front
yard. Frank teld me that e r.en mimed Jerry Lalton he Shot
nd killed Paul Dowlin the day before. Dalton left the °pun
try end wes never heard of cecin.
My new home was a four room log house, with n big
fireplace in the front room, which we celled the parlor.
e used kerosene lemps and canilles for lights., t. :len by the
nano of Johnnie 7etton cooked for ue. e boarded Bavaria or
the men who worked in the mills and helped on the ferns.
e raised hogs end sold them to Fort ,tenton. "e raised our
own feed to fatten the hors eed in the frll of the yenr the
farm hands would butcher about e hundred hogs at 6 time.
would get sows of the neighbor women to ooze end help render
out the lard. e used a big iron pot and rendered up the lard
out in the ye:9d. I raised lots of turkeys and dhickens and
sold them et Port tan ton.
I was aleir.ye so afraid of the vAld beasts that roamed
around in the hills. I remember one time, my husbeed and the
cook had to go to Lincoln to court, and Left a Mrs. Johnson
12.dith L. Crawford,
Carrizozo, N. Mex.
Words 1.395
with me and my three children, to stay alone at night. One night
after we had all gone to bed, Mts. Wohnson end I heard something
prowling around the house. is, lay real still and listened, for
we did not know whether it was Indians or wild beasts. 4e did not
have to wait long to know, for it was a mountain lion and when he
got up real near the house he let out a roar. ".;e) all most died of
fright for we were afraid that he would break the windows and come
in after us. moved all the furniture and barricaded the doors
and windows. The lion kept walking around the house end roaring.
After a while he left and went down to the cow pen and killed
one of our milk pen calves. I told my husband when he
the next day, that I would never stay home with just women folks
and I never did while we lived on the ranch.
The Mescalero Indians from the Xescalero Reservation used
to come to our place and trade. My husband had a nl1 ntcre and
was post master at Ruidoso. I saw four buck Indians have a fight
in front of our store one time. They pulled each other's hair
out arid fought with quirts. They fou6ht for about an hour. I was
in the store and was afraid to go to our house, although the In-
dians never did bother us. I was awfully afraid of them, especially
when I first came to the Ruidoso. I was always good to the Indians.
I gave them doughnuts and cookies when they came to the Mill and
it was not long until all the Indians were my friends. Geronome
used to cone to our place quite often. Once he brought me a big
wild turkey and another time he gave me a nice Indian basket. I
gave the be to Yrs. Hiram Dow and she still has it.
There was usually n crowd of young people at the kill
cane home
4.
E;dith L.. Crawford, .,orue-l93
Carrizozo, N. Mex.
and we used to ride horeebe ck fif teen and twenty mile a to a
deuce, and never think enything of it.
In 1882 my husband bought out the interest of the
Dowlin Brothers and he was solo owner of the vie then scre-
ed into the two story building which still steads, with the
old water wheel* about two miles from the town of Ruidoso.
At that time we had a grist mill and a saw mill. All the sur-
rounding country brought their grain to our mill to be ground.
used oxen to haul our logs for the paw mill.
I went back to Chicago Illinois on a visit to my people
in 1879, but I did not sty very long as I was anxious to get
beck to my western home that I loved so well.
I remember the Chiang° fire well. I was sixteen years
old, enC when our mother woke us up the t night and tail. Us to
get up quick and get dressed bectuse our house was nbout to
°etch on fire. ',*e ell got dressed and were gethering up the
things that we -,,-ented to save and when I got outside ell I
had in my hands was the bird cage, with the bird in it. Our
home burned that night. Thet wets in 1)271.
In 1887 we sold our rench and cettle on the kuidoso
to the Cress, who owned the "V ri outfit. ,:e moved to Lin-
coln New Mexico, where we could have better school* for our
children. •e lived on the Puidoso all during the Lincoln
County r but my husbend ne ve r took sides with either faction.
I did give Billy the rid several meals when he would come to
our place, but my husband never knew anything about it, for he
had warned me not to feed any of the men from either side, but
I did it anyway as I felt so sorry for them when they said they
5.
Edith L. Crawford, words 1393
Carrizozo, N. rex.
were hungry.
Lincoln County was a wild country when I first came
here and e t first I used to get so homesick for my people in
Chicago, but after I had been here a few years I liked it
and never cared to go back to Chicago to live.
Five of my children were born on the Ruidoso, one in
Chicano, and one in Lincoln. 't e lived in Lincoln until 1890
and then moved to Roswell, New Yezicol and lived there for
three years and moved tack to Lincoln in 189$. I have lived
in Carrizozo fcir the past ten years. Two of my children live
with rue. I um content and happy to spend the rest of my days
here in Lincoln County.
rsirkATOR: Era. tnnie E. Lesnett, Carrizozo, N.M. Aged 8,5 years.
CORRECTIONS ON Edith L. Crawford, PIONEER STORY
Page 1, Paragraph 1-
I have lived in the State of New Mexico for sixty-one yeLrs. ;1. came to
N. Max, in March 1877, Maiden name Annie E. Cauanauch. I was born July 5, 1855
in Chicago, Illinois.) I lived in Roswell, Chaves County, for twenty-five years
and in Lincoln County (1877 to 1890, 1893 to 1906-1928-1958)
(Lived in Roswell 1890 to 1895, 1936, 1328)
Page 1, Paragraph 2
He came back to Chicago Illinois, and we were married July 19, 1876.( My
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Caranaugh, lived in Chicego„ Ill.) We livea in
Chicago for awhile but Fmak Was never satisfied, for he loved the west and wanted
to come back to Lincoln county New Mexico, so,ne left me in Chicago sitn my people
and he came beck to Ruidoco kew Mexico, and bieuthtta half interest in the Lowlin's
Mill. This mill was owned by Paul and Aill Lowlin at the time. Frank stayed
(in Ruidoso, New Mexico) here and sent for me End our taby son(Irvin). (In March
1877) I came by train from Chicago to Lt Junta Colore.uo, and from La Junta to
Fort Stanton, New Mexico on Numa Raymond's stao coach, drawn by four horses.
Page 1, Paragraph 5.
I do not remember any of the places that we stopped except Jerry Hocraale's
place, was on the old stage road in the Gallinas Mountains) where we stayed all
night 8nd changed teams.
page 2, Peragreph 2
It was in May 1877. We went by way of the Pat Garrett Ranch, which was
located on Little Creek, (is 24 miles Southeast of Carrizozo, New Mexico and
eleven miles Last of Ruidoso, New Mexico) and on by the klto and down Gavalan
Canyon to the Ruidoso.
CORRECTIONS —Page 2
Page 3 Paragraph 1.
Once he brought me a big wild turkey and another time he gave me a nice
Indian basket. I gave the besket to Mrs. Hirem Dow of Roswell, New Aexico)
and she still has it.
Page 4 Peregraph 4
In 1587 we sold our rench and cattle on the (Settlement) Ruidoao, (New Mexico)
to the Crees, who owned the "V V" outfit. We moved to ;eineoln New Mexico, 'here
we could have better schools for our children. 5e lived on the Ruidaso (New Mexico)
all during the Lincoln County Wer but my husband never took sides with either
faction. (It was a war between Murphy end Dolan and McSween and Tunet all over
cattle end banking rights.)
Page 5 Peragreph 2
I have lived in Cerrizozo for the pest ten years. Two of my children (Edbe
L. Crawford and Milton Lesnett) with me.
CHILDREN BORN ON TEE RUIDOSO, NEV MEXICO.
Jennie Lesnett, Edith Lesnett, Frank Lesnett, Milton Lesnett, Bessie Lesnett.
BORN IN LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
Georgia Lesnett