This is an attempt to logically place the people in the picture below. Because of one of the names listed in the newspaper article, “Cody Kempton” and Brother Adam and Brother Gladney, I’m able to place a approximate date of Photograph. Cody died Nov 22nd 1900, and is mentioned in the picture below.
Original Photo
Picture was taken between February 1900 and May 1900 based on article clues bottom of page Colorized
Divide and Conquer
Label and Number
ADD DATA TO WEBPAGE
Below are webpages made for the individual people outside the Church Photograph
Because Cody Kempton is listed in Church Photo and died Nov 22, 1900 AND Rev Gladney was working engaged for 2 or 3 months in White Oaks, date is set to between February 1900 and May 1900
In the late 1880’s Max decided to move his family from Chloride New Mexico, a silver mining town that was becoming “mined out”. He decided to on White Oaks due to its fast growing popularity. Max once in White Oaks wasted no time and soon became one of White Oaks trusted builders, photographers, and undertakers.
M. H. Koch, funeral director and embalmer of Tucumcari, was born in the city of New Strelitz, Germany, on the 28th of February, 1850, a son of Ludwig and Bertha (Ruegg) Koch, the former born in New Strelitz in 1813, while the latter was a native of Switzerland. The father followed building carpentry as well as cabinet work and died in New Strelitz in 1874. He was a strong democrat politically, as opposed to the aristocrats, or nobility. He never served in the army, but was a member of the Civic Guards.
His son, M. H. Koch, was graduated from the high school at New Strelitz in 1867. He then took up his father’s occupation of house building and cabinet making, which he followed in his native country until the summer of 1868, when he landed in New York. After spending a short time with relatives in the east he made his way westward, working in Indiana and in Chicago, but soon returned to New York, where he followed his vocation for about two years. However, close association with relatives and the people of his own nationality offered him little opportunity for advancement and under such conditions there was but one prospect in view, to be a shop hand for all time. Besides, the daily grind was becoming monotonous and, desirous of seeing the world, he embarked for New Orleans. Arriving in the Crescent city, he found it was the season in which yellow fever was to be expected and rather than face that he continued his journey into southern and southwestern Texas, where he worked for a little more than four years. Desiring to see the old folks at home once more, he traveled as far as New York, only to learn that great changes had taken place in Germany recently, making the trip across the ocean useless.
Not liking the east, Mr. Koch crossed the continent to California and Nevada in order to learn what that section of the country was like. After working in Nevada for two years he was offered an inducement to go into business in western Pennsylvania, where he purchased an interest in a furniture and undertaking business. Through the extravagance of a partner, however, this proved unprofitable, so he disposed of his interest and, unable longer to withstand the lure of the west, he arrived at San Marcial, New Mexico, in February, 1881, the point to which the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was then open for traffic. From that point he continued on to Engle and finally settled at Chloride, New Mexico, where he established himself in the building, furniture and undertaking business. He was forced to leave there in 1893, after silver was demonitized, for the place was a silver camp. Sacrificing all of his investments, he removed to White Oaks, where again he worked his way upward, establishing himself once more in the building and undertaking business. The year 1905 also proved disastrous for the mines were shut down and the new towns along the railroad drew the trade away from White Oaks. With what little could be saved from the wreck he then turned to Tucumcari, where he opened an exclusive undertaking establishment, only doing picture framing as a side line.
Fraternally Mr. Koch affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, is a member of the Eastern Star and also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is identified with the Presbyterian church. He is the oldest undertaker in the state and is serving his fifth year on the state board of embalming, of which he has been and yet is secretary and executive officer and of which he will be president the coming year. He maintains an independent attitude on state and local politics but is a republican on national issues, and he believes in the principle, possibly through inheritance, of the equality of all people, which is one of the many reasons why he finds himself a resident of the United States.
[The Leading Facts of New Mexico History, Vol III, 1917; transcribed by cddd]
1900 census of White Oaks shows Max a carpenter living with his wife Alice next door to Edward Queen and John Hewitt house on Franklin Street with him were his two children daughter Edna a born November 1888 New Mexico daughter Merle born June 1894 new mexico
1910 census shows M H Koch 60 years old is Undertaker living in Tucumcari New Mexico he was born in 1850 in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1868 with him was his wife Alice who was born in New York is 47 years old and his two daughters as listed before Edna and Merle
Wife Alice dies in 1914 is buried in Tucumcari
1920 census shows M H Koch widower 69 years old retired living in Tucumcari with him are still his two daughters Merle is now a stenographer Edna has no job
1930 finds max Koch father-in-law 80 years old living with Curtis Davis 38 and his wife Merle Davis 36 in Montoya Quay County New Mexico she was married to him in 1925 and 1930 he was a railroad agent living in a rented house rent $20 a month they had one son John Davis born in Texas in 1929
Edna is now married to James rice living in Houston Texas he has a men’s Clothier they have a. Son James L who was born in 1919
Find a grave reports Alice born 1862 died 1914 age 51 Edna rice born June 26th 1887 died August 1st 1960 Max H Koch born 1850 died 1933 aged 82 merle Davis born 1894 in New Mexico died 1938 age 43 all buried in Tucumcari Cemetery
Research is ongoing to find a living relative to try to find max photography if it still exists. If anyone reading this can help with obtain Max Koch’s photograph, please contact me via the contact page. Thanks!
Some of Koch’s Photography below
Authors Note:
Max had set up shop in two New Mexico frontier towns only to be forced out due to the towns collapse. In moving to Tucumcari he solved his main. problem, that town had a railroad and was just starting up when Max moved the family from White Oaks. This move rewarded him and his family. They had a business, and an owned home above. The two girls Merle and Edna played the violin, Merle also was a dancer. Combined with Max’s love of photography the family was artistic. refined, well traveled. well respected in Tucumcari. The girls had a bond with the Mayer and Taliaferro families in White Oaks that continued for many years. One can sense Max and Alice wanted the best for their girls and were successful in that effort. The Max Koch story of finding success after White Oaks is uplifting and rare. The authors raise their glasses in a toast to Max and his family,
David L. Jackson, born in Texas in 1870, left home at age 14 arriving in White Oaks by stage on July 7, 1897. Jack had breakfast at the Baxter Hotel. He eventually found work at the Helen Ray Mine at Nogal and soon laid off. In 1905 he and partners, Allen Lane (engineer) and Ed Queen (supervisor), formed the Wildcat Leasing Company. They operated the South Home stake and later the North Homestake mines. Jackson was secretary and treasurer for the businesses. Jack took typing and book keeping correspondence courses.
David L. Jackson on back right wheel well heading to work on a Ford.
Susan Homer McSween Barber the Cattle Queen of the area
She was married to Alexander McSween, who was killed in the Lincoln County War. She later married George Barber and they owned a large ranch near White Oaks, New Mexico. In her later years, she was known as the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico.
” MARRIED ALEXANDER A.MCSWEEN AT AGE 29.ON 23 AUGUST 1873 IN ATCHINSON,KANSAS. SEE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR HISTORY OR BILLY THE KID HISTORY. ∼ She was married to Alexander McSween, who was killed in the Lincoln County War. She later married George Barber and they owned a large ranch near White Oaks, New Mexico. In her later years, she was known as the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico.”
name:
Susan Ellen Mcsween
Birth Date:
30 Dec 1845
Birth Place:
Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Death Date:
3 Jan 1931
Death Place:
Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States of America
Cemetery:
Cedarvale Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:
White Oaks, Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States of America
It was reported that in 1923 her home in White Oaks caught fire and Susan jumped out the second story window. Below is from the site here
…”In the summer of 1923 her house burned out from under her for the second time in her life, forcing her to jump from an upstairs window to safety. Unhurt but now nearly destitute, she moved a short distance into a shack on Lincoln Avenue. It was there in July 1926 that the Marshall Bond/Miguel A. Otero party, formed to interview and photograph survivors of the Lincoln County War, found her. Always charming and gracious, she continued to keep up appearances in spite of the spartan conditions in which she lived.10...”
More than likely, the picture shown below is Susan’s home that burnt to the ground
I say this because it doesn’t fit any other house structure in White Oaks, and this is the only picture we have of Susan Barber McSween Home below
Susan Baber Estate After Death to Shield and Minnie Zimmerman her Niece
By 1885, White Oaks had settled down and was beginning to thrive. Three attorneys, John Y. Hewitt, Harvey B. Ferguson, and George Barber, opened businesses there, and other professionals began to arrive in town to open their own businesses
GEORGE B. BARBER, Attorney at Law. LINCOLN, N. M.
Clipped from The Lincoln County Leader, 28 Apr 1883, Sat, 1, Page 1
the very first advertisement mention of George B Barber Attorney in White Oaks new Mexico and George also married Susan McSween later known as the cattle queen of New Mexico
Birth: 1846
Death: 1928 (aged 81–82)
Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA
Burial Evergreen Cemetery
Carrizozo, Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA
George B. Barber was a prominent attorney in Lincoln, New Mexico in the late 19th century. According to the search results: Barber was born in Virginia in 1854 and as a youth moved with his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.1 He later went to Dakota and worked as a surveyor, but his health declined and in 1875 he moved to New Mexico, first to Colfax County and then to Lincoln County in 1877.1
Barber began studying law with Judge Ira E. Leonard in Lincoln in 1880 and was admitted to the bar in 1882.12 Barber established a successful law practice in Lincoln and served as district attorney for Lincoln, Chaves and Eddy counties from 1892 to 1895.12 He was known as an able and diligent attorney, particularly as an advocate in court.1
In addition to his law practice, Barber was involved in the cattle business, organizing the Three Rivers Land and Cattle Company in 1885.1 Also, Barber also had personal connections in Lincoln, as he later married Susan E. McSween, who was known as the “cattle queen of New Mexico”.25 Overall, George B. Barber was a prominent and influential figure in the legal and business community of Lincoln, New Mexico in the late 1800s.12
Timeline of Population via books, newspapers, and census
The purpose of this timeline is to try and find the truth and show all the conflicting printed material that exists regarding the population of White Oaks, New Mexico. In doing so, hopefully we can get a better understanding to the true number of people at any given year giving us a glimpse at the rise and fall of the township. If anyone reading this can add number of the population from any year please contact me and I will add immediately to this page..
We have listed sources that we do not feel are accurate and therefore we rely on handcount us census where available These other sources are listed to assist future researchers by showing those we checked out and the results so you will not have to chase them yourself. Below is from my great cousin Donald Queen:
The Authors tend to agree with Don, and share his views.
[JAN 1888] Years since, we appealed to our people to secure title to the ground used since 1880 for a cemetery, and fence it in, but no heed has been taken, and our dead are being buried on the property owned by J.W. Kelly, the Cemetery is unenclosed, and stock of all kind tramp over the graves of loved ones, and browse upon and around them. We can conceive of nothing more inexcusable — putting the matter very mild. View Source Document
[JUNE 1888] Our people are, as the Scotch man would say, “In a box” The party who purchased the ground of which the cemetery is a part, will not permit any more interments there, and no vacant, or at least no unclaimed land situate within a reasonable distance from White Oaks can be found, and the claimants of suitable tracts want city prices for them. This is as we predicted five years ago that it would be, while then urging action in the premises. The situation now, in case of a death, is appalling, and no time should be lost in surveying the situation and straightening it. View Source Document
[JAN 1889] Our cemetery is in a fearful condition. There is no fence, and the cattle are allowed to run fit at will over the unfenced graves. It would not cost much to put it under wire fence. Who will start the ball!View Source Document
[FEB 1889] An Effort is being made to form an association to buy the cemetery and the land lying immediately around it.View Source Document
[MARCH 1889] For years past we have been endeavoring to demonstrate to our people a self evident proposition, viz: that property should be secured for the burial of our dead. This week we have a painful illustration in print. During the year 1880 Will Hudgens lost two children here through death. They were buried on the property which came into possession of the school board and was subsequently purchased by U. Ozanne. This week the little ones were exhumed and interred in a lot purchased in the Nogal cemetery, 17 miles distant, because of there being no cemetery lot in White Oaks. What a commentary. It was supposed that the coffins would have been in a state of decay, but they seemed as solid as when first hidden from sight upwards of eight years ago.View Source Document
[MAY 1893] The Knights of Pythias Cemetery association are now prepared to deed lots to all desiring them. Their grounds are regularly laid out and are enclosed with a neat woven wire fence. Other improvements will be added soon. ________________________________ As the Knights of Pythias Cemetery association have their grounds fenced and in proper condition, and are now ready to transfer lots, it is my wish that all who have friends or relatives buried on my land near the cemetery proper have them disinterred and removed at an early date. By doing so you will confer a great favor on me. J.R. JoyceView Source Document
[JAN 1894] The body of Thomas W. Corey, who died two years ago, was taken up from its resting place in the old cemetery yesterday and re-interred by the side of his mother, who died a few weeks since, in part of the K. of P cemetery set apart for the Masonic dead.View Source Document
Compiled by C. W. Barnum and detailed by Authors of this site.
This following list was constructed comparing various sources: Robert Leslie-Historian, Alice Blakestad-Genealogist, Willie Kelt Bilbo-Genealogist, Lincoln County newspapers, Kelley’s Funeral Home records, field notes of J. A. Barnum, New Mexico Cemetery Records by Mrs. Robert Irwin Corn. Many unmarked graves exist in this cemetery. The Knights of Pythias established the cemetery in 1880. The name was changed from Knights of Pythias to Cedarvale about 1918.
The burials recorded for White Oaks Cedarvale Historic Cemetery may exceed the capacity of that cemetery. If a person died within the White Oaks Township that does not necessarily indicate he/she was buried in the Cedarvale Historic Cemetery. Several burials were on ranch lands. In the above list, those names marked with an * should be scrutinized. They may be correct, but one should seek confirming sources. It does not question a particular source, but only the data. Combined data from different sources produced a fuller record where possible, that is, it produced a complete name or additional dates. In a few cases, I arrogantly corrected data. This list does not include recent burials, and typing errors may exist. Headstones contain more data in many cases.
Prepared for the White Oaks Historical Association, the Family History Library and The New Mexico Genealogical Society, by Lisa Barnum, 1 May 1999
�14 May 2000/2008
Addition on December 5, 2009
Raymond Francis Hunt 11-18-1923 8-13-2009
Addendum:
Lincoln County leader, Saturday, April 12, 1890
Last Saturday the bodies of John G. Shannanhouse, and his infant child, were exhumed and the remains taken for final interment to Nogal, there to rest with the lamented Mrs. Slight; mother-in-law of the one and the grandmother of the other. The child, Jas. Sligh Shannanhouse at the age of two months, was buried in White Oaks cemetery May 1st, 1887. The Father was laid bedside it on the last day of January, 1888. The coffins were intact, but the boxes were very much decayed, indeed that holding the casket of the infant has entirely rotted.
Submitted by Karen Mills
David L. Jackson on back right wheel well heading to work on a Ford.
![The Lincoln County leader. [volume], September 01, 1888](https://www.whiteoaksnmgoldrush.com/wp-content/gallery/cemetery/The-Lincoln-County-leader.-volume-September-01-1888.jpg "The Lincoln County leader. [volume], September 01, 1888")
