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Redfield, Georgia B. Word'llyrei
4/t9
PATRICK R. BOONS
Pioneer Ranohman and Cattlemen
Leader in Construction of Hondo Irrigation Canal
Established Piret Roswell WetS Market
%ken Patrick H. Boone came to New Mexico and tettled
,vyt. WO
in Roswellitthe growth and development of this town that was
dettined to beeome a leading City of New Mexico had practi..
'pally ceased for a period of eight or ten years.
The two adobe houses a etore and a hotel built in
1869 by 'an C. Smith and Aaron O. Uilburn, on whet it now
the block vett of the Court House, and a blacksmith shop
eetatlished by Rufus R. Dunnahoo in 1881, (a short while be-
fore the Gaming of Mr. Boone) on what is now the corner of
North Main and rourth Streets was about u/1 the progreet
made in uevelopment of the town at the time of the coming of
Kr. Boone, who realising that New Mexico wut an ideul
cattle country, soon after his arrival etteblithed a ranch
at Salt %reek, tbout eighteen miles northwest of Roevell,
and embarked in the cettle business. He then established
the firet meat market in Rotwell.
C. D. Bonney had also come to Roswell and settled in
1881. He purchated an interest in the utore owned by Cap-
tain 1ToeePh C. Lea, which sae operated under the name of
*Lea Bonney and Company'.
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After NI. Boone had become acquainted with Mr. Monne
the two became close friends, and when together they dis-
cussed ways and means whereby undeveloped land around Me
vial might be watered and put into cultivation.
Some of the plans discussc by them resulted in the
construction of what was °ailed the *Northern Canal* from
the Rondo River, construction of which was begun in 1883.
When work on the canal was completed the Hondo River
furnished water for all farm lands south of Roswell, ts far
as the present town of Hagerman a distance of twenty-four
miles. Other$actiriblylmommwinterested in this canal ir-
rica,tion project, besides Pat Boone and C. D. Moloney, were
Asbury Whetstoint• who did the surveying and Pat Garrett..
who owned u ranch home hoar the Hondo River dam, about
three is east of Roswell.
After the oonstruction of the Hondo Canal /rriettion
System, Mr. Boone established and developed one of the finest
ranches in the Pecos Valley, now known rt the Urton Ranch
about four miles northeast of Roswell, which he sold to
W. S. Urton in 1900, and it now owned by William Cooley
Urton, a son of Mr. W. G. Urton.
Mr. /loons 'fief. born in Neeeha. Missouri and ear educated
in the publie echoola of Neosha.
After coming to New Mexico he sae married Aioril 22nd
1b90. to Miss Mildred F. Littlefield, deuelter of a prami-
sent ranehman of TONA2 and New Mexico. Pour children, two
girls and two boys were born to Kr. and Mrs. Boone: Mrs.
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Minerva Pope, the wife of Professor D. N. Pope, who for
over twenty years was Superintendent of the Roewell Public;
schools and Ire. Alice Allison. the rife of Arthur Allitons
orner of Rosati' Greenhouses and 81,)ral Company, Pat N.
Boone, Junior, a ranchman of Littlefield. Texas, end Willies
Littlefield Boone, silo died in 1909 at three months of age.
Mr. and Xii. Pope have one child, a son, Delmar N. Pope
allidor, seven years old, rho was born in Roarell. on Christ.'
sacs Day. 1930.
Mr. and lire, AllItion he one child a daughter. Mildred
Lou, born in Roswell, rho is teven years of Aige.
/Irv" Gnu lire. Patrick Boone Junior have one eon. Patrick
Boone the third, born in L ttlefield Texas, nor fifteen years
of Ete.
NIr. Patrick R. Boone. Fenior, died in Corpus Chri*ti,
Texas in Oc.Ober 1910, tnd vies buried at thlace. Ni;
rife Mre. Mildred (Littlefield) Boone died November 25, 1921,
Mr. 3oone, rho rue of an adventurous, haipy dispotition,
made many frienda in Roorell and in other places *here he
net peodle of all atationa of life and of numerous professions.
During hi* travels he wit once ta'en for desalt: James the
famous outlaw, whom he resembled in heighth, bearing end
feature.. He was arrested and held for several hours until a
friend could identify him, and astAlre officiair of the law
that he vas in no ray connected with the dreaded bandit of
kOlat sixty pearl' ago.
Mt. Boone is rem bared by the etrly settler' of Morrell
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as a man who was sind and generous Ovine of his worldly
possessions to many in times of need, and lending a helping
hand in every way possible during the hErd years of settle..
sent in the lawless new country of the Territory of New
Mexico.
Source of Information
C. D. Bonney and Lucius Dills, Roswell
Mrs. D. X. Pops, his daughter, Roswell.