‘The fight in Archuleta County was fierce and hot’

Photo courtesy John M. Motter
From left are Manuelita Martinez (nee Madrid), the wife of Jose Teofilo Martinez; Fred Harman; former County Judge J.T. Martinez; and the judge’s son, Emmett Martinez. J.T. was a member of a pioneer county family and served as county judge from1934 until 1954, when he passed away.[/caption]

We have been describing the bitter contest between Anglos and Hispanics for control of the Archuleta County government during the first years following creation of the county. Today, we continue quoting from the memoirs of John Taylor, a school teacher of the time who was personally involved.

“The fight in Archuleta County was fierce and hot. Maurice Brown and I on that election went to Archuleta precinct (Motter: Edith) and challenged 334 votes that lived over the line in New Mexico. Marcelone (Motter: Marcelino) Archuleta accepted them all as legal. Sheriff Dyke had deputized me to bring the box to Pagosa. To reach there we had to ford the San Juan. My horse lost his footing and in this way the ballot box was lost. It never reached Pagosa and we elected all officers except that of County Clerk E.M. Taylor, good fellow and an unbeatable politician.

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