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AUG 3 1136
IVITTPIEW *OLD TIMER*
Georgia B. Redfield
.Z8 _words
LAURA BOUM= CAROM
"Is of R. A4 Ceboaa Organiser of
Itrst Moseell Bank
It was learned through an interview with ire. Laura %dowse
Cahoon that *it was by chance', as well as for the integrity mad for**
of character of the organiser, *that the first bank. of Roswell was es-
tablished by E. A. Cahoon.*
*It was during the year 1584 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, (after
is'. Cakeents grada9tion from Amherst College Massachusetts, to 1550
that S. V. Pasco while on a visit to Minneapolis saw is'. Cahoon, aid
told him of the wonderfel Illonahtne Country* of Mew Mexico, where he had
been tor the benefit of his health, and had organised stook remises*
One of the finest of these in the most beautiful location was the ran*
established in the Cinarrom country 150 miles southeast of Cinema, an-
other was 35 miles southeast.' An uncle of is'. Cihooass W. C. Chase and
his eon N. M. Chase were stock owners and managers of some of the ranches.
N. M. Chase was manager of the Maxwell Land and Cattle Company, a company
forted for tie purpose of stocking all the land is the Maxwell grant
about 1,700,000 acres. lita 1867 V. V. Chase had a residence three' dies
from Cimarron in a rich CaRon, a half mile to a mile wide. There were
1,000 acres of land on which he kept forty horses and three hundred head
of cattle. The horaes were for his individual and family use, and the
cattle belonged to his children who had them branded with their own marks.*
?Moen silos to the north, he and two partners Dawson and
Menldieg had a rant& of 50,000 acres, all inclosed twenty miles hav—
ing wire fence, and fittest miles were mills of mountains.*
*On one of the ranches,* Jr. Folsom told Jr. Cahoon, *R. M. Chase
and his partner, Dawson, had a band of sheep, 2,500 in number, ehldh had
been cut out of the main flock to send to market. It would have surprised
a Vermont sheep raiser to have seen that flock. They were fat as butter,
most of this full blooded merinos, and wooled down nearly to the grommd.
The Governor, who was with us was a sheep man, and he exclaimed, 0.By
thunder, I an beat!' He had never seen as many sheep together, carrying
so mach wool and mutton, and,* said Jr. Pelson, *they have our word for
it, the average Vermont stock, stall fed, will not surpass the immense
New Mexico herds of thousands that feed on the vast cattle lands.*
Yr. Cahoon knew of the beauty and interesting history of this
country from his relatives, before neeting Jr. Folsom in anneapolis,
and had been interested in the stories of this ranching and stock rais—
ing country.
*I want a Job on one of those ranches*, said W. Cahoon.
*There is a place for you,* said Er. POlsms, 'Co.. as soon as you
Se he ease to New Mexico in Movember, 1884, and worked as Goebe7
on the remehes in Colfax and San. Miguel counties, until 1887. During that
year be secured a place as collectoroand later as teller, in the Albuquerque
Stational Bank. He remained with this institution until 1890.
It Was through the efforts of Jaffa, Prager Company of Roswell that
plans were natured for a bank in Roswell. The man who was to be in charge :ATc?
changed his mind. Jr. Cahoon,s records were examined. He was found to be
of keen business discernment, and was asked to fill the place. Be accepted
the respeasibility. It wee ie this way (by a tricky chance) the beak of
Roswell was organised and has stood strong, and sound the entire tine ender
Is. Cahoon's management for fortywtour years through the !bard times, of
the early years of its orgemisatiom and the years of depressica, 'Mil his
death December 25, 1954. The success of the balk was largely due to the
business judgment of Mr. Cahoon and his thorough understamding of the busi-
ness (mentions, and tedustries„ of Mew Mexico and to his itArly training,
and experieacm In the banking business.
*Mr. Cahoon was born August 20, 1882 in Lyndon, Caledonia comity,
Warmest.' Re was the sot of Dr. Charles S and Ch rlotte Chace Clahooe.
His ancestors were the owner- and builders of the toile of Lyndon, end were
descendants of Roger Williams. They were among the first settlers or Pro.
vidence, Rhode Island before locating in Lyndon prior to the Revolutionary was.
Mt. Ceboon before his death was president of the New Maximo Bankers
Association, president of the Roswell Building and Loan Association, sad was
director in numerous business corporations. He was Charitable generous to
a fault giving mudh of his worldly goods to the needy during the 0104
years of the depression and the last year of his life. He was the helpful
friend of the deserving youth, and young mem of the state. The beautiful
Memorial Gatos and park buildings of Cahoon *mortal Park in the northwestern
part of the toes of Roswell were &missed by Prank N. Stardiardt„ young architeet,
whom Mt. Cahoon had assisted through college.
Four years after the casing of Mr. Cahooa to Roswell he was serried,
is April, 1894, to Miss Mabel Rowell, who died in Oeteber, 1902, leering three
daughters, Katherine, Louise and Mabel,
The wife and companion of the last twenty-five years of Mt 80hoonls
life waz Mrs. Laura Redgecoxe Cahoon, a daughter of Mt. and Is.. Otto Bodge
cone who moved to Roswell in 1897 when Mrs. Cahoon was a child.- She and is.
Cahoon were serried August 15, 1900. Oms child, is soap was bora of this
marriage, and was given the sass, Naniel of as ancestor who three bundrid years
ago cleared the land sed established the towm of Lyndon, Vermont where
Mr. Cahoon was born.
Dan Cahoos is a gradate of New Mexico Military Institute mad of
Stanlimrd University, Cealforaia. is is at present preparing himself to be
a physician, as was his grandfather, Dr. Charles S. Cahoot.
One of the highly valued treasures of Mrs. Cahoot, and her soft%
is a silver water pitcher presented to Dr. Chew. Cahoon, Grandfatberof Delo
as an award for performing a very delicate and serious operatics, in the
early years of saner', 1802.
The success and achievessat 0! Jr. L. A. Cahoon were accomplished
through his strong minded lever headed squareness, inherited frail* good
old New Ragland ancestry, as well as for his unusual business abilitt.
As gives by Laura Nsdgecoxs Calms.
Dates checked from TWitehelles !History or Vow Mexico°
Vol. V 10$7
'Editors Bans By C. N. Chase, Lyndon, Vermont 1682