Torrance - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Obits needed for John A. & Oletha Aday

sgoodtx — 2013-05-17 14:34:50Z

I just happen to have John's. My mom used to subscribe to the Citizen newspaper, so I suppose she cut it out since John and Oletha's daughter Jenell was a school friend of hers.

Obits needed for John A. & Oletha Aday

williamknight57 — 2013-05-12 11:34:28Z

John A. Aday was born 5 January 1910 in Avoca, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma and died in Estancia, Torrance, New Mexico on the 20th of January 1994, his wife Oletha Williams Aday was born Mountainair, Torrance, New Mexico on the 7th of July 1915 and died in Ewing, Torrance, New Mexico on the 8th of March 2004, the were married in Estancia on 2 December 1931. Would very much like to have obits for both of these relatives.
Thanks
Bill Knight

Re: Cemetery in Willard area

pkenny98 — 2013-02-12 16:22:55Z

Thanks Janet... I just thought that maybe at that period of time, there would be one cemetery that the homesteaders used. Very frustrating not to be able to find where she is buried. I know there are a lot of unmarked graves too......

Re: Cemetery in Willard area

janet_wasson — 2013-02-12 15:46:04Z

Go here http://newmexicoalhn.net/ and check out the cemeteries in Torrance county;some specific to Willard,but given the "ruralness" of the area,folks could be nearly anywhere....

Cemetery in Willard area

pkenny98 — 2013-02-11 17:15:21Z

Is there a specific cemetery in the Willard area that the homesteaders would have used in 1909? Thought I had already asked this but not finding the thread. Thanks so much!

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

pkenny98 — 2013-01-26 20:15:40Z

Thank you Janet! Will give it a try......

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

janet_wasson — 2013-01-21 00:10:49Z

Section,township and range will still be the same.
I would contact the Torrance county assessor
www.torrancecountynm.org
and inquire as to whether or not they will help you with present day occupancy of the land. Failing that, the nearest BLM office--but I can't tell you where THAT would be! Some counties have one and some do not.

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

pkenny98 — 2013-01-20 17:14:44Z

I did send for the entire land patent record from the BLM and was well worth the cost for the info we received. I have one more question... I have the township, range and section from the old records and have looked it up on a map online so know the location. But is there a way to get the modern day coordinates for the land and to find out what it is being used for and who owns it now? In the midwest we have plat books for the rural land but havent been able to find anything for New Mexico. Thanks.

Re: Whitman, Rea, Douglass

carrilloneebrea — 2012-09-22 01:16:28Z

Jo Moore still lives in the area. Since I have been the family historian for years she asked for family information - wrote an article for a local magazine and did not give any credit for the info and pictures! It is a little garble (info) and describing of history there -. She had other sources also - of elderly people living in the vacinity. She is a friend. I wish her well. There have been a lot of fires in the mountains there in the last few years. It is very sad! I feel history and places live in our memory and hearts. I do have Uncle Gerry's letters of the Bosque and we do cherish them. He was a dear and colorful gentleman.

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

karens1949 — 2012-07-16 21:08:18Z

Thanks Kim. my father used to subscribe to the Citizen because he was born and raised near McIntosh. We were disappointed when they quit publishing, it was a good little paper. I don't know if he ever saw the Telegraph or not before he died.

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

kimtheteach — 2012-07-16 17:03:48Z

The Citizen, that was based in Estancia, quit publishing several years ago. The Independent is a relatively new paper. The Telegraph merged with the Journal and is officially the Mountain View Telegraph.

Usually you can google a name with the obituary and the Journal's obit will show up in the results. This works as far back as 2002.

Kim

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

karens1949 — 2012-07-10 15:22:17Z

Okay, it must have been another paper that quit publishing
Thanks

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

SusanColeman778 — 2012-07-10 00:05:23Z

I was able to find his grave at FinfaGrave but I've never been able to find an obituary!

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

MelindaStalnaker — 2012-07-09 21:15:50Z

The Independant is still publishing every week.

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

karens1949 — 2012-07-09 20:54:16Z

Is the Independant still in business? I thought they stopped publishing years ago

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

t3wilson1 — 2012-07-06 20:01:46Z

There are two local papers. The East Mountain Telegraph and The Independent.

Re: Nov 2008 obituary

karens1949 — 2012-07-06 01:15:25Z

I am assuming you have already found that Harris-Hanlon Mortuary does have a website. If not, you can contact them in Moriarty at 505-832-6130 or at their Mountainair location at 505-847-2331. Harris-Hanlon handles all burials for Torrance County, NM

Re: Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

pkenny98 — 2012-04-14 18:19:24Z

From the BLM history of their land patent, I found Maria(Mary's) Leving or Loving's date of death as jun9, 1909.
I see Willard had a newspaper at that time but not finding any place that has the 1909 papers. Do you have any thoughts?
Thanks again!

Re: Garcia, Maldonado cousins

kungfudave57 — 2012-04-07 20:34:29Z

This is David Garcia one of Julian sons I live in Oklahoma,my brothers live in California,Joe and Robert we were raised in Tajique N.M

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

janet_wasson — 2012-03-28 13:51:15Z

Well, you can either go to your local BLM office and purchase a township and range map OR:
Go here:
http://www.esg.montana.edu/gl/trs-data.html
Use the drop down menu to select NM; place the coordinates from the patent in the appropriate boxes and submit. BUT, sometimes this gives you a broad range of where the land is, and sometimes a more specific location--worth a shot.

Re: Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

pkenny98 — 2012-03-27 23:54:58Z

Just a note to let you know that Loving may be spelled Leving or Living also. Have found it all three ways in the records up here. Also do you know if there were any burial laws at that time....or could she have been buried on their homesteaded land? Thanks again!

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

pkenny98 — 2012-03-27 23:52:14Z

Janet, do you have any suggestions on a website to find the location of my Aunt and Uncles land. The mapping feature hasnt worked since we started this. Thanks.

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

pkenny98 — 2012-03-07 19:36:38Z

Thats all very interesting. This is the first time we had any relatives homestead.
So if we want any further info., I would have to contact Torrance co.?
And the National Archives would have a website I'm sure. Will do some looking online.
Thanks so much for all your help and information! Family is just tickled to have found this!

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

janet_wasson — 2012-03-07 19:15:08Z

When you click on your name of interest, the "Patent Details" page tells you where he filed on the land-upper right under "miscellaneous details". They were to go to the "nearest land office", which most often was no where near the land itself! (We have one filed for in an eastern county, but the land was in the farthest south west corner)
The land had to be lived on and improved for five straight years for the patent to be issued-so he filed that many years before the document that you see. After the issue of the patent, he then would have had to register the land under his ownership with the county-must pay those taxes don't ya know, and from there the records exist in county files.
It is possible to obtain "the land entry file" from the National Archives-which has all the paperwork the person filled out to make his "claim" on the land; but I myself have never attempted to get one.

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

pkenny98 — 2012-03-07 18:24:56Z

Wow, thank you soo much for that link...I found his name but as you said the mapping feature was not available. Also just wondering....this shows the info at the end of the 5 years. Would there be a place to find where he originally registered for the land or is it all combined into this document? Just wondering and thanks again so much!

Re: Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

janet_wasson — 2012-03-07 15:53:16Z

If they obtained a government homestead you can go here and search for the record. Most have images of the acutal patent loaded. If the mapping feature on the site is working,you can see where it was-otherwise you have to obtain a township and range map to find it.
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchTabI...

Re: Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

pkenny98 — 2012-03-07 13:46:08Z

Thanks for looking.......appreciate it!

Re: Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

MelindaStalnaker — 2012-03-07 02:58:24Z

Unfortunately no "Loving" listed in the book. Will keep an eye out when I am at cemeteries.

Re: Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

pkenny98 — 2012-03-06 15:47:08Z

That would be wonderful and greatly appreciated! Their names were Goffred(many spellings) and Mary Loving. Thank you so much!

Re: Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

MelindaStalnaker — 2012-03-06 15:34:29Z

What are the names? I currently live in this area, and can maybe do some digging. I also have a Torrance County history book that may have some information in it.

Cemeteries Estancia/Willard area

pkenny98 — 2012-03-06 15:05:03Z

In old family records I just found, the death of my great aunt in the Estancia/Willard area was 1908. They were homesteading down there and she died from Typhoid. Notes said she was buried on the prairie. Could she have been buried on their homestead at that time? Or any cemeteries to suggest?
Cannot find her in the New Mexico death records. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Homesteading Torrance Co. 1905

pkenny98 — 2012-03-06 15:00:35Z

Trying to find some info. My Great Aunt and Uncle went to the Estancia-Willard NM area in 1904-5 supposedly to homestead. They ended up staying about 4 years and upon my Great Aunt's death from Typhoid, my Uncle returned to Iowa. Would there have been homesteading records on where their land was? Or any other info. Thanks!

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

junesmoon2005 — 2011-11-16 01:13:32Z

Hi just came across this message and my boyfriend is j.frank stephens grandson and i would love to be able to give him theses articles if you could email them to me...his grandfather passed away before he got to know him. thank you so much for your time. junesmoon2005@msn.com

Re: Byrd family

hawaiinow — 2011-09-24 01:13:44Z

Martha Jane Dobbs Byrd was my great-great aunt. I am trying to find out where she is buried. I found online the California death index and it showed aunt Martha's
date of birth as 12-15-1869 and date of death as 2-17-1952.
If someone in the family knows for sure I would like to know
I am doing genealogy on the Dobbs side. I hope some one can
answer my questions. Thank you.

Re: Requesting an obit look-up! Can someone help, please?

patriciastaley223 — 2011-07-23 20:33:25Z

According to the death index: James B. Tate, died 3 Oct 1946, Torrance.

Patricia in Illinois

Requesting an obit look-up! Can someone help, please?

patriciastaley223 — 2011-07-23 20:29:30Z

I'm trying to obtain an obit for the following and hoping someone will be able to help.

James Burl/Burrell Tate, died 1946, and is buried in Mountainair Cem. in Torrance.

His stone doesn't give his full death date.

Any help or info. would be greatly appreciated!

Patricia in Illinois

Thomas Rhea Willmon

josephrhea — 2011-07-06 17:48:20Z

Would appreciate receiving a copy of his obituary. He died in Mountainair on 13 Aug 2009.

Re: Thomas Rhea Willmon

mom2austinnkylie — 2011-07-04 00:46:30Z

Here ya go!!

http://www.mvtelegraph.com/index.php/obituaries/1777.html

Historic Maps of Torrance County

girlrae2009 — 2011-04-24 19:01:04Z

I am looking for historic maps of Torrance County - primarily maps in and around the Mountainair area. Am trying to tie out some information I have regarding a Union troop coming through this area during the civil war.

Thanks in advance for any leads or assistance.

Re: Virgil Smith

girlrae2009 — 2011-04-24 18:58:51Z

Your post is pretty old so I wondered if you had any luck in your search yet? Does your data show where they lived in Torrance County during the 1930's census? I may be able to help you find some local folks that know about everything there is to know about Torrance County. Feel free to email me directly at george@whisperingrange.com

Re: Cemeteries

kimtheteach — 2011-04-05 02:28:50Z

I have been told that it was Mountainair Hospital. I know that my husband's uncle was born there.

Re: Coal Mines in Torrance County

kimtheteach — 2011-03-17 05:35:15Z

Not really coal mining country that I have heard of. Agriculture is the biggest economic factor then & now.

Before Torrance County

kimtheteach — 2011-03-15 06:18:21Z

Torrance County was formed in 1903 from pieces of Lincoln, San Miguel, Valencia, Socorro, and Santa Fe counties.

I am looking for information about Pinos Wells. It is currently in Torrance County. But I am unable to find any census information about its families before 1910 because I don't know what area it would have fallen under. Specifically, I am looking for Benses Sedillo (whose father was Cruz (Juan de la Cruz?) Sedillo. I am also looking for Felix Sanchez, who was married to Estefana (however I do know that Felix lived along the Manzano mountains prior to moving there). They all lived in Pinos Wells in 1910.

Any help is appreciated.

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

MelindaStalnaker — 2011-02-11 20:28:28Z

I have a book of Torrance County History that was written by family members. It has two articles on Stephens....J. Frank Stephens, and Rae Stewart Stephens. If interested I can scan the articles and email them.

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

SandraStephens50 — 2011-02-10 19:33:01Z

You're welcome. Let me know if I can help further with the Masoner line - I have a good bit on them.

Also, William "Billy" Ney was supposedly a descendant of the famous Field Marshal Ney, though I don't know if it was ever proved. Here are my notes on Billy:

From about 1882 until 1888/1889 William was buying and selling land in Montague Co., TX with his brother-in-law, John W. Masoner.

Military Service:
On role 102, bundle 176, for the first page of Montague Co., TX., 1890 veterans' census,
supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 51, precinct 1, line 11 on the page, house 222, family 234: William H. Ney, private, Co. C, 30th Kentucky Infantry (Union Army), enlisted April 1862. The spaces for date of discharge and length of service are left blank for him. Down below, it says his post office address is Montague, TX., and no disability is listed.

Ages of children from 1900 Greer County, Altus, Oklahoma census, which listed Wm. H. as a farmer, owning land.

According to death certificate, his parents were Horace Ney, born in France and Frances Boazes, born in Spain. The informant on the certificate was Oro N.(F) Servis, Ft. Sumner, NM, Wm and Mattie's eldest daughter. If his father was indeed Horace, perhaps Billy's middle name was Horace.

William was listed as a retired rancher and widowed, wife named Martha Masoner (however, they were divorced in 1906). Length of residence was 5 years. William lived to the age of 102 years and 4 months according to the death certificate.

Descendants of Billy Ney say his grandfather was Field Marshal Michel Ney of Napoleonic fame. Some historians say Michel Ney was not shot by a firing squad, but his death was faked, and he eventually wound up in South Carolina, taking the name Peter Stuart (or Stewart) Ney. This has not been proved and is doubtful.

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

cmcaninch_2000 — 2011-02-10 19:15:25Z

Thank you so much! This got me past my "stuck" place!

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

SandraStephens50 — 2011-02-09 17:48:50Z

OK, this is what I have - not too much on Marcus' family. He was born 23 Aug 1876 in Nashville, TN, died 20 Feb 1940 in Albuquerque, NM. His father was John Samuel Servis, and his mother was Margaret Brook.

Oro Frances Ney was born 29 Jun 1882 in Montague Co., TX, and died 9 May 1968 in Torrance Co., CA. She was the daughter of William H. "Billy" Ney, b. 19 Aug 1825 in Louisville, KY, d. 16 Dec 1928 in Sumner Co., NM, and Martha J. "Mattie" Masoner, b. 22 Sep 1859 in TX, d. 6 Jul 1940 in Phoenix, AZ. They were married 6 Aug 1881 in Montague Co., TX. They were divorced about 1906. Their children were: Oro Frances, Myrtle "Jean", Pearl, Perry, Ferdinand, James, Henry B., and Hugh "Jack".

Martha J. Masoner's parents were Henry Masoner, b. about 1820 in Greene Co., TN, d. between 1863 and 1866, probably in Cooke Co., TX, and Lucinda Castle, b. about 1825 in Illinois, d. after 1881, probably in Montague Co., TX.

Henry Masoner's parents were Teter (Peter) Masoner, and Anna Mary Dyche/Deck. No info on Lucinda Castle's parents.

Hope this helps.
Sandra

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

cmcaninch_2000 — 2011-02-09 16:20:53Z

Ancestors- thank you. I have most of the info down to the gggrandchildren.

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

SandraStephens50 — 2011-02-09 14:12:43Z

Are you wanting info on descendants or ancestors of Marcus and Oro? I can't help you much with descendants, but have some info on ancestors.

I have children of Marcus and Oro as: Ual Riley, Ruby, and Marshall Ney Servis.

Sandra

Re: Ruby Servis Stephens, d. 1981 Mountainair, Torrance Co.

cmcaninch_2000 — 2011-02-09 05:40:11Z

I am researching the descendents of Marcus and Oro Ney Servis. I am assisting a friend with her genealogy. Her grandchildren are descendents of Marcus and Oro. I was able to find her family back to Marcus (born about 1870), but cannot find any more info.