Roswell History Era Portraits and Early Chisum Ranch
The Record presents a Roswell progress series and calls for old photos. It recalls John Chisum’s Pecos valley settlement, his 1869 arrival, cattle dealings, and the South Spring ranch house as a landmark. The piece notes Lincoln county war turbulence and a later demolition decades ago.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Chisum
South Spring
Pecos Valley
Texas
Plains
Pecos River
Pecos
Roswell
Bosque Grande
St. Louis
Jim Patterson
A. M. Hudson
Chisum
Lincoln County
Progress
Roswell Settlement History and Early Settlers
Roswell’s exact settlement date is unknown. A 1866 67 government survey by Hiram C Fellows covered local townships, noting irrigation ditch work and lands along the Hondo river. The first printed reference appeared in 1872 in the Santa Fe New Mexican naming Roswell after Roswell Smith, with Van C Smith and Aaron C Wilburn among the first Anglo settlers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roswell
Hiram C. Fellows
North Spring River
Townshipton
Chaves County
Hondo
Santa Fe New Mexican
Lincoln County
van C. Smith
Roswell Smith
Aaron C. Wilburn
First Roswell Deed Pioneered By Smiths To Catron
The initial land deed in Roswell, dated September 24, 1870, was issued by Van C Smith and his father Roswell Smith to T B Catron for 160 acres in the future business district before a survey or settlement opening. The first filing after the survey was made occurred March 4, 1871, on land now inside Roswell city.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roswell Section
van C. Smith
Roswell Smith
T. B. Catron
Roswell
Roswell Milestones From Early Settlement to 1940 Census
Roswell saw its first railroad arrive in 1894 built by James J. Hagerman from Pecos to Roswell, extending to Amarillo and completed in 1898. The town’s first newspaper appeared in 1888, later part of the Daily Record, with the first weekly in 1891 and the first daily in 1903. Roswell incorporated as a city in 1903 with Captain J. C. Lea as mayor. The 1940 census lists 14,483 residents, with numbers likely rising above 16,000 in the surrounding area. Elevation averages about 3600 feet, though local heights vary.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roswell
James J. Hagerman
Pecos
Amarillo
Daily Record
Record
J. C. Lea
Grand Central and Bankhead Burns Recalled in History
A brief note recalls that the Old Grand Central and later the Bankhead burned years ago. The line hints at a historic fire that affected the venues and their sites.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Grand Central
THE
Bankhead
Old Central School remembered by old-timers
A photograph shows the old adobe building facing south on Third Street where Junior High now stands. It recalls the structure that once served local students and is remembered by longtime residents who attended there.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Third Street
Also Mentioned on This Page
Car Parts Depot, Inc
Virginia
Mexico Transportation Company
el Paso
Clovis
Albu Wallerque
Santa Fe
N. M
Parquay
the Times
N. Main
SOM Neon
Quaker State
Hamilton’s
Justrite Cleaners Safe Cleaning Service
New Mexico
Boosters
Frank Summers
General Auto
Pecos Valley Packing Co
Valley Brand
Gilliland Produce Co
ST. Mary’s Hospital
Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother
Main
Roswell Cotton Oil Co
Quickway Truck Line
H. E. Zeeveld
Blue Moon Night Club
Blue Moon Dexter Highway
Ture
Tral Hotel
the Bank
Pauly Hotel
Icrand Central
BIG JO Lumber CO
James A. Lee, Mer
Whitcamp Garage
New
S. Atkinson
Glover’s Flowers Co
H. Glover
W. Alameda
Hoffman & Clem Plumbing Co
Roswell Mattress Co
R. O. Ward Building
S. Main
Stewart’s
American Cafe
Texaco
E. Y. Chambers
Consignee
Sky Chief
Cummins
Dodge - Plymouth
General Auto Repairing
N. Richardson
Roswell Building & Loan Assn
Bragg Auto Company
Cadillac & Oldsmobile
Gilbert N. Amis Contractor
S. Kentucky
E. 7Th
OLD Central School
Jesse Lee
Roswell” Purity Baking CO
Purity
Hervey, Dow, Hill
and Hinkle
Roy Norton
Pres
Mgr
Omar Leach Grocery Co
Equitable Blog & Loan Assn
Lillian Russell
Robert B. Bacon
Monk
First National Bank
Roswell” Nickson Hotel
G. W. Nickson
Hollywood
Continental
W. E
Tad
Pratt
Conoco
Phonrie
Carr Plumbing & Heating Co
S. Rich
Tucumcari
Gene Schuck
Ruth E. Cobean
Doc” Knight
Albert Green
Ben Green
Zumwalt & Danenberg Electrical Co
Roswell Typewriter Co
Western Auto Supply Co
J. E
Pat) Patterson
Roswell & Chaves County
Julius Skinner
Southwestern Typewriter Co
Remington-Royal-Underwood Typewriters
R C Allen
Holsum Baking CO
Holsum Bread
Holsum
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!