Making New Mexico

About the Book

The state of New Mexico, in the United States was originally part of Texas and the land included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The lands were purchased from the French and included portions of fourteen current U.S. states and two Canadian Provinces. These lands were under French control from 1682 - 1763 and from 1803 – 1804; the area was named in honor of King Louis 14th. A Spanish expedition, in 1540 by Francisco Vasquez Coronado was formed in an attempt to find the ancient Seven Golden Cities of Ci. The rumor began with Cabeza de Vaca´s visit to what is now southern New Mexico. It is rumored that seven priest fled the city of Merida, Spain taking vast amounts of gold and other treasures to a far away land later to be called the Americas. Coronado, however, was, unsuccessful and returned home. Another expedition led by Juan de Onate Salazar in 1598 explored north of the Rio Grande and claimed most of modern day New Mexico for Spain. Santa Fe became the capital city of the territory and remains the capital of the state.

About the Author

I was born in Clayton, New Mexico in 1943 while my father was serving in the United States Army Communications Corp. He laid communications lines from ship to shore at Saipan Island, in the Pacific, and was awarded the Bronze star for his dedication to the cause. I had one sister who lived in California who is now deceased. My parents moved back to Vernon, Texas when I was two years old and I was raised in Texas from that time on. My grandfather owned a furniture store there and my Dad worked in a cotton seed delinting plant. My mother loved to read and passed that desire down to me. As I grew older, I developed a great fondness for Texas. My parents, sister and I moved to Lubbock, Texas, while I was in the sixth grade. I met my wife in the eighth grade and we were married in 1964. I have four grandchildren, ages six months to 16 years old. I served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. We have two daughters, born while we were in the Navy. One of them has three children and lives in Virginia and the other lives in Missouri and she gave birth to her first child this year. Many of my relatives lived in New Mexico and Colorado. I am writing about and have fond memories of my adventures in New Mexico, the land of Enchantment.