Document text
i June C„1159
Redfield, Georgia B. Words 750
6/5/58
NELLIE LEAH! MRS. J. THORNTON)
Nellie Leahy (Mrs. J. Y. Thornton), daughter of James and Johana
(Fenton) Leahy, VRE born and educated in Monroe, Wisconsin.
Suffering from after ef'ects of pneumonia, which necessitated a
change of climete, she came with friends to Lincoln, New Mexico in 1894,
and remained to become the wife of James Y. Thornton to whoa she was
married on February 15, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are the parents of
four children, all girls namely: Mabel, Eva, Kitty, and Dole.
The young couple, after their merriage, lived in the hotel at
Lincoln which was owned by Mr. Thornton and Mr. George Curry. This
hotel, still standing, is a few y?rds east of the Lincoln County jail
and court house from which Billy the Kid mede his sensational jail
break and escape in 1380, thereby, preventing carrying out his sentence
of hanging for murder, rhich WNS to have taken place May 15, 1980.
Hova-ver, the end of his death dealing career care, a year later at Fort
Suer, when he wee shot by Pat Garrett in exdoution of his duty as
a sheriff on July 15, 1881.
Lincoln had become a comparatively safe place to live before the
coming or Nellie Leahy. The death of Billy the Kid had practically ended
the bitter fighting and bloodshed of the Lincoln County War, and the
peace abiding people had returned to their neglected duties in stores, in
the court room, end on farms and cattle ranches.
Nellie Leahy, eho is remembered by old timers as being s lovely
blue eyed fin, met Mr. Thornton at the old Dowling Mill on the Huidoso,
and the romance that ended in their marriage was begun at the time of
their meeting.
The death from scarlet fever in September* 1892 of their two older
children, Mabel and Eva, was their greatest sorrow during the eight years
of their residence together in Lincoln. The two little girls were buried
side by side in the old Fritz Burying Ground, at historic old Spring Raathe
eighteen milcs south of Fort Stanton.
Tn 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Thornton moved to Roswell, which had grown con-
siderably larger since Mr. Thornton and Mr. Thite had visited there two or
three years earlier to organize the Knights of Pythias Lodge.
Artesian wells had been put dorn and thousands of acres, mitered by
the underground water source, had been put into cultivation. The Goss
Military Institute had been established by Robert S. Goss, who was brought
to Roswell by influence of Captain Joseph C. Lea, a bill had been passed
in 1899 for the creation of the New Mexico Military Institute, the
Gaullieur Block the first large modern store and office building had
been completed in 1994, and the Ammon Club had been organized, and this
club and the Knights of Pythias Lodge occupied rooms in the new office
building. The long -talked -of Pecos Valley Railroad had had been completed
into Roswell* Which brought regular trnins rith home seekers and had es-
tablished a means of transportation for cattle and agricultural produce
raised in the valley for outside markets. Roswell had indeed beomce the
most important town and the center of ranching and egricultural interests
of Southeastern New Mexico.
Mr. and Mrs. Thornton in 1897 moved to their own home built by them
at what is now 209 North Pennsylvania Avenue, where Mt. Thornton lived con-
tinuously from that date until his death in 1919, and Mts. Thornton lives
at the present time. Her daughter, Kitty, who married Raynes V. West, lives
in Long Beath, Zalifornia. Mr. and Mrs. West have two sons Raynes Thorn-
ton, and Donald V. The younger daughter, Dole, married Orville B. Brookshire
and lives in Roswell. Mr. and Mts. Brookshire have five children
Orville Jr., Jack, Beverly Nell, Kitty Lou, and Tommy.
Mrs. Thornton has been a !ember of the Catholic Church at Roswell
since it was first organized, ani a member of St. Peter's Altar Society, a
member of Chaves County Archaeological and Historical Society, and has be-
longed to the roman's Club since 1911.
She is known as one o: the most lovable and motnerly characters that
has ever lived in Roswell. Many girls and women have made their homes with
this big-heartd Christian woman and have shared the attentions and love
she has showered on her own children and grandchildren.
Will Robinson well known -writer and columnist who knows of her help-
fulness, especially to young girls, once wrote: *Mrs. Thornton and Mts. J.
F. Hinkle are the two outstanding women who are the main reasons for re-
joicing and celebration of Mother's Day in Roswell'.
SOURCES INFORgATION
Mrs. Kitty Thornton West daughter of Mrs. Thornton, Long
Beach, California.
Will Robinson, Roswell, New Mexico
Former Governor James F. Finkle, Roswell, New Mexico