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Redfield, Georgia B.
Roswell, Mew Mexico
WrImrAli G. URSA
1-20-39
Words
Subjeet: Pioneer Story
Sours@ of inforeation:
W. C. Urtum* son of Nil,-
liam G. Orton.
Pioneer Cattle and Namehmen
Agriculturist, A Leader in Firm irrigation
AM Drainage improvement* liberal Contributor
TO Educational and Cultural Development.
William G. Ortony'a:stoekholder in the Case Land and, Cattle
Company* came to New kexiso in 1884, with the first herd of settle
for the company, which was the beginning of the cattle industry, In
the Cedar Canyon country sixty miles Mortheast,of Loewell.
The Seven E. L. Ranch headquarters for the cattle became widely
known as one of the largest and most sueoessful cattle ranches of
Southeast New Mexico.
The organizers and stockholders of the settle company which was
organized at ileasant Hill Cass County Missouri mere: J. D• C001.7,
lee Easley, Ben Duncan, kerry Craig, Harvey Russell, Willie& Meyers,
John C. Knorp: and iUiam G. and C. *ton, Senior.
William G. Orton and J. D. Cooley drove the first cattle over
from Fort Griffin Texas where they had been gathered by Lee Easley.
In 1900 Mr. Orton moved to Roswell where he built a spacious
modern home on a farm three miles northeast of the town, where he
lots engaged in farming for over twenty-eight years until the time
of his death in 192P.
Mr. Orton was born in Tiler County West Virginia January 27,
1843. Me was married in case County Missouri, November 16, 1875 to
kiss Maria vorrell, who was born November 3, 1840* in Carroll County
Virginia. Mr. and. Mrs. Orton were the parents of two sons willies
Cooley and Benjamin Worrell Orton, who were six and four years old
respectively, when they came with their parents to New Mexico.
The first three thousand two year old. heifers brought across
the Staked Ylains from Fort uriffin were branded at the acresig.
Ranch and turned loose on gramiAg lands extending from the Texas
line on the south Elmost to Las Vegas an the North.
There was no railroad clover than 150 miles until ten years
after Mr. Urton brought his family to that section of the Territory.
In 1594 a part of the Santa Fe Railroad system was cor.pleted from
Rddy (now Carlsbad) to Roswell.
The first few yer.rs an the ranch all members of the Upton family
who were known as the Rissouriane experienced all of the hardships
of the new rough eountry, where there were no sehools„ Churehes or
home contorts.
while there was plenty of water, except during long dranth per.
lode, there were oonstant troubles and feuds over land and water
rights, and there were i311:306 by gpamiug cattle thievinr and Indian
raids. All of the nargers especially from Indians furnished =tilt-
ing thrills for the little Urton boys but were not enjoyed by their
parents.
Groceries were brought by ox Wagons from Las Vegas, 150 miles
distance. On one occasion supplies ordered by Mr. Urton for Thanks-
giving, arrived the following April. Another time when supplies
had given out, a wagon load of jerked (dried) buffalo neat was re-
ported to be in camp on a wagon trail near. M. Urton bought same
which was eaten and enjoyed by candle light. The next morning the
entire lot of meat was found to be alive with hide bugs.
Jews that came by .rn&li :rom Fort Stanton was always old when
received. A letter to hr. Urton telling of the illnesr of his
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mother in Missouri was delivered three weeks after her death.
One could die or get well before a physician could attend any
siekness on tne ranch. A messenger was once sent to Roswell for
Br. B. A. akipwith to attend Bentanin Urton. Who sick with measles
was almost recovered when the doctor arrived at the ranch three
days later. Mr. Upton's wife when bitten by a mad -dog was driven
by buckboard sixty miles to Roswell, and was taken from there to
Abilene. Texas for treateent. The wound had almost healed.
before she could have the treatment. But for the timely arrival and
prompt treatment by a cow -bey visitor at the raneh on another mew
orable occasion, it is very likely members of Mr. Urtan's family
would have died from ptomaine poisoning.
Mr. Urton often regretted the lonely life his wife was ovnpelLat
to lead on the ranch. aix months would some times paps during labia
time be would net even see a white woman. Without newspapers or
convenient calendars to mark the paesace of time, she once worked all
day 5wwAay Dreparing for the Sabbath dinner which she thought would
be the next day.
The children attended a district school on the ranch in which
the teacher and expenses were paid for, only three months. The rest
of the term it was conducted as a private school, paid for by Mr.
Urton and other parents of children on the ranch and neighboring
ranches.
After an Indian raid in Southeast New Mexico, Mr, Urton and
his fwilyear five hundred Indians, conducted by sixteen soldier
guards. pas! the ranch that were being changed from one reservation
to another.
In 1889 J. J. Cox on the adjoining ranch to the .'even H. L.
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Reath was taken oleic and. died. His ranch and ranch lands of
others who had grown dicoouraged rere bought by the Gass Ism ant
Cattle Company which then became the largest and most important
cattle owners on the Pecos River in New Maximo, and the Seven I, L.
name was changed to Bar V. Ranch.
About forty oorboys were employed on the ranoh at times and
five hundred saddle horses were used by the eattle outfit. *r.
Urban would never keep a dangerous horse. He was known throughout
the ranching country as a cattleman who protested his men in every
way possible. During the many years he was engaged in the oattle
business, there was never an accident nor a death of any of his cow
hands.
Mr. Urtonte wife Maria 'Orton died in Los Angeles California
March 21, 1909,
Mr. Urtonts second marriace to Mrs. Anna (5wo Bette vas
solemnized at Brownville Texas in Marsh 1915. Their deaths from
"flumonian, occurred during the same Nitta).- in 1929; Mr. Urton on
February 27, and Mrs. Urtonts a week later
V1111am Cooley piton (oldest son of William G, Upton) mud
Meade (pencer) Urton, to whom he was married 1r 1?,15, hsve one
daughter, Francis, born in Roswell in 1920. They liNe on the fine
'Orton farm. 3 miles Northeast of Eoswell.
enjamin \'orrell Urton, the younger son of iilliam G. Urton,
lives in )1clahoma. Re was rarried in 1909 to Miss sees James of
Roswell. F'on wa born to this union, whop.: they named Jason
James. Bess James died at ier home in Roswell ir 1929.
Benjmin Urton's neoond marria6o to laro.
oorturred at ,,ltus Oklahoma in 1932.
'Underwood
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Members of the Vvilliam G. Urton family have been loyal members
of the Methodist Church, South, at Roswell for nearly forty years,
during which time they have been liberal contributors to the build-
ing fund of two beautiful church homes snd to all church organiza-
tions and interests.
Mr. Cooley 'Orton and the old round -up wagon of the Bar V
Ranch, in the Old -Timers' parade every year are interesting reminders
of his father, William G. Urton who was known, and will always be
remembered as one of the finest pioneer cattlemen, who assisted in
establishing the ?Teat cattle industry of Southeast New Mexico.