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Newspaper
Roswell Daily Record
Location
Roswell, New Mexico, United States of America
Date
Jul 22, 1939
Page
6
The 1939 account recounts Chaves County's 1890 formation from Lincoln County, its early officers, and the first courthouse built in 1891 with J. P. Pauly and sons as contractors. It notes construction of a new courthouse approved in 1909, its strong foundation of pine piles, and the enduring stone and brick work sourced from multiple states, honoring W. M. Atkinson's leadership.
The Roswell court house, a fireproof vault like structure blending Ionic Corinthian and Egyptian styles, was completed in April 1912 and dedicated May 2 1912 with master of ceremonies W S Prager and speakers Judge G A Richardson Judge John T McClure H J Hagerman and K K Scott. The building cost about 154000 and the first officers elected November 1911 included Commissioners W M Atkinson B H Wixom Tom White Probate Judge J D Mell Sheriff C R Young Treasurer G A Davisson Supt of Schools C C Hill with three Republicans having served. BE Hicks of 609 North Kentucky was the only carpenter known to have worked on the project.
A roster shows the 1928 Chaves County offices and personnel. It lists 34 commissioners positions since 1891 and details names for clerk, sheriff, treasurer, assessors, surveyors, school superintendent, and other offices, including district judge and court staff, health officers, nurses, and various deputies and clerks. The article notes the new courthouse has stood 27 years and will endure as county growth continues.
Will Robinson, serving his second term as county treasurer, says he is not a politician though he led the party ticket in 1938. Born in 1871 Makanda Illinois, he moved to New Mexico in 1895 and Roswell in 1897, retiring from active newspaper work after fifty years across several cities.
Judge James B. McGhee has served as Fifth Judicial District judge since 1933 and as Juvenile Court judge. He was appointed by Governor Arthur Seligman to succeed G. A. Richardson, elected to finish the term, then re-elected in 1936 for six years. He has served Chaves Eddy and Lea counties with a clear docket. He came to Roswell in 1911, was court reporter from 1912 to 1920, practiced law in Carlsbad Clovis and Roswell, joined the State Game Commission 1921 to 1933, and is the tenth judge of the district created in 1890. Hobbies fishing and hunting.
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