Paden G. Melvin M. D

Melvin G. Paden, M. D  (1851-1943) is successfully engaged in the practice of medicine, mining, cattle, drug store, game warden commissioner, breeder and school director and teacher at White Oaks, and is one of the eminent members of the profession in the Territory. He has always been a progressive physician, constantly improving upon his own and others’ methods, and gaining new inspiration for his work from the performance of each day’s duties. The Doctor is a native of West Virginia, his birth having occurred in Wetzel county, on the 4th of February, 1851. Upon a farm he was reared and his early educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools and private tutors. His literary education was completed at the age of twenty-one, and when twenty-four years of age he took up the study of medicine. His career has been somewhat eventful and is certainly an interesting one, filled with many unusual experiences. With the love of adventure and freedom from home restriction, characteristic of boyhood, he ran away from home at the age of seventeen years, and went to sea. By way of New York, crossing the isthmus of Panama, he went to California and subsequently to British Columbia. After some months spent on the Pacific slope, passing through the experiences common in those early days in that region, he sailed for Liverpool, England, going around Cape Horn, and after remaining in Europe three months he returned to America. His mind had been broadened by travel, and in the dear school of experience he had learned many valuable lessons. He now realized the importance of education, and returning home once more applied himself diligently to his studies. On leaving school he again crossed the continent to California, stopping first at Napa, in the Napa valley, where he had a brother engaged in the practice of medicine. A year and a half later he went to Gainesville, Texas, where he continued for eight months. During all this time he studied medical works. In 1880 he arrived in White Oaks, being well prepared by his natural abilities and thorough investigating for the practice of his chosen profession. However it was the gold excitement that induced him to locate here, and during the first few months after his arrival he engaged in any work that he could obtain. Soon, however, the smallpox broke out and his services therefore were in constant demand. He was very successful in handling the dread disease, which at once gave him a standing with the townspeople. He made some money, and, by the help of friends, in 1883 went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he completed a course of medicine in the Louisville Medical College.

When the lectures were over the Doctor returned to his home, but in 1884 he again went to Louisville, continuing in that college until he graduated, in 1886, taking the gold medal for surgery, although the class was a very large one. The Doctor has been successful in his practice, not only in a financial way but also gaining the confidence of the people among whom he lives. He also carries on the only drug store in the place. He is a member of the Examining Board of Pharmacy for New Mexico.

In 1886 the Doctor returned to his native State, where he was united in marriage with Miss Belle Williams, who was born in West Virginia. They now have two children – Brent and Melvin. [Source: “An Illustrated History of New Mexico . . .;” The Lewis Publishing Company, 1895; transcribed by Genealogy Trails Transcription Team]

Timeline

• March 6, 1884: Paden detained a week from flood
• May 8, 1884: Paden walks 40 miles through the desert
• Feb 6, 1886: Paden Graduates Medical School
• July 23, 1887: Paden warns people about Bad potatoes
• Jan 19, 1889: Partial Improvement contracts
• Feb 16, 1889: Paden wins court case over 40 acres of land
• April 27, 1889: Paden has brick work contracted
• June 15, 1889: McCourt furnishing hardware for Padens new building
• May 17, 1890: Dentist bearup offering service in Padens Office
• Oct, 1895: Paden advertised this medicine quite a lot
• Oct 10, 1895: Paden receives letter explaining no trout this fall
• Nov 21, 1895: Paden was a fish warden
• See possible fish pond located South of his home
• Feb 27, 1896: Paden publically states his cattle brands markings
• March 19, 1896: Paden advertising Eggs for sale
• July 9, 1896: 4th of July Picnic 1896 See Picture
• Aug 26, 1897: Game warden Paden warns of killing antelope out of season
• Sept 15, 1898: Notice of Forfeiture
• March 30, 1899: Paden Breeding thoroughbred Leghorn Cocks
• April 11, 1901: Paden, Prichard, and Sager incorporate City Water Company
• 1904: Paden builds Racetrack
• incorporated with 3 others in the “Gold Mill Mining Co” 1904

Newspaper Clippings

• 403 Listing

Lincoln County Marriage

• 0

Lincoln County Ownership

See Interactive Map  Ownership

• DRUG STORE

Ancestry.com

• LISTED 

Find A Grave

• SEE RESULTS

White Oaks Pioneer From 1880-1900?

• Yes

Gold Miner?

• No

Paden, Melvin G. Sr. (1851-1943)
CEMETERY: NM, Lincoln; Cedarvale Cemetery

Dr. Paden’s Fish Pond Video’s 

• Paden’s Fish Pond Short
• Paden’s Fish Pond Drone footage

I found an old real estate listing of a home in White Oaks New Mexico stating it belonged to the former Dr. Paden. See website here

,,

890 White Oaks Rd, White Oaks, NM 88301 

2 beds 1 bath 2,076 sq. ft., This magnificent property consists of 25 fenced acres and three wells with 7 acre feet per annum declared water rights, home, shop, barn, and tack room.
The historic 2076 square foot two story adobe home was built by Dr. Melvin Paden in 1888. An adobe addition was constructed in the 50s. Home has central forced air heating, large fireplace, and wall mounted propane heater in the den. Current seller is only the fifth to own the property

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