Cimarron

While NM territory was still Mexico up until 1850, to avoid the conditions of lack of water, and attacks from Native Tribes along the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa fe Trail, wagon traffic started using the Mountain Route during the 1840s. The Mountain Route over Raton Pass became more popular with traders, immigrants, gold-seekers, and government supply trains. The location of future Cimarron would be perfect for catering to travelers.

Lucien Bonaparte Maxwell owned almost 2 million acres through Spanish land grants, and it needed to be developed, worked and populated. Mr. Maxwell did his part. Founding at least 2 towns, Rayado and Cimarron. Later he refurbished an old Army post; Fort Sumner. Elizabethtown and more were founded on Maxwell’s land, as it all became a part of the United States in 1850.

In 1858, Lucien Maxwell at 40 years old had moved with wife, María de la Luz Beaubien (Luz ) and their children, to their new home and ranching headquarters to start another new town, to be named Cimarron. Cimarron was officially established in 1861 and was named for the Spanish definition of “wild” and “unbroken.” Cimarron sits along the Cimarron River at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Sangre De Cristo mountains at elevation 6,430 ft. above sea level. As the new settlement developed, the Maxwells had 2 more children, Paulita and Odilia..

Mr. Maxwell built a large mansion on a shaded plateau, The mansion was said to have high, molded ceilings, thick deep carpets, velvet drapes, paintings in gold frames, and four pianos, two for each floor. The mansion housed a hotel, gambling rooms, a saloon, dance hall, billiard parlor and a special area for the “ladies of the eve”.
In the front, a porch and peaked roof and was said to have looked just like his grandfather’s home in Illinois. Maxwell housed a large force of servants. The servants were made up of a diverse mixture of Anglos Indians and Mexicans. Frequent visitor Colonel Henry Inman, who was stationed at Fort Union, wrote that “a retinue of servants tended men and women in two separate dining rooms”, William Ryus recalled that “tables were thick with solid silver serving dishes set daily for about 30 persons. Everyone who traveled the trail’s mountain route knew the name Lucien Maxwell”

Wagons entering Cimarron on the Santa Fe Trail crossed the Cimarron River just outside town. Travelers also came in on the undeveloped path from Taos where they intersected. There were not yet any bridges over the unknown depths of the rivers and streams. The slow moving wagons, packed full of passengers, were frequently submersed, and Maxwell’s ranch and roadhouse was a safe haven after the brutal mountain route and river crossing. It was a feeling of great relief to land at the Maxwell ranch. He seemingly enjoyed entertaining the many traveling souls.

Travelers on the Santa Fe Trail took full advantage of Maxwell’s hospitality. Anyone who was someone would stay here. Some of the old registered guests included several famous names like, Kit Carson, Clay Allison, Davy Crockett (the nephew of the frontiersman Davy Crockett), Buffalo Bill Cody and plenty of others. There were a few shootings at the Maxwell House in the bar and gambling rooms, but trouble makers were removed, as Maxwell would not tolerate scum. It became so busy for Maxwell he convinced his friend and favorite cook to open an establishment in town his name was Henri Lambert, and he would in 1872 open a very popular hotel/saloon called the Lambert Inn later known as the St. James Hotel.

The Barlow, Sanderson & company opened a branch in Cimarron, serving as the stage office later used by Wells Fargo. Also in this same year gold was discovered in nearby Baldy mountain, fattening Maxwell’s wealth. Rumors say his children were often seen playing with gold as toys. A witness says they saw at least 30,000 dollars carelessly jammed into a drawer at the Maxwell house.

The headquarters of the Ute tribe agency was established at Maxwell’s Ranch and the government placed a cavalry to camp there, more for the plains tribes who roamed along the Santa Fe trail east of the Raton range. The Ute tribe had a female they had captured from their enemies the Apache. Her name was Deluvina and would be taken under Maxwell’s care, and to be known as Deluvina Maxwell from then on. She was grateful, she served the Maxwells the rest of her life. Maxwell could control the Ute and they had a great respect for Maxwell.
 Around the Maxwell house and gristmill was a loafing-place of the Ute Tribe. Old time Chiefs, relaxed in the shade during the sunny hours on the broad porches, the young men of the tribe, took care of the animals and helped Maxwell around the ranch. Travelers were often fascinated by the friendly tribe and sights of bright feathers and  beads, running around in this agreeable, coexisting environment.

Lucien had become a successful rancher, farmer and merchant. He had a very large herd of cattle and sheep grazing while around 1,000 horses belonged to The Maxwells. Lucien Maxwell also operated the Aztec Mill until 1870. He also possessed a large and perfectly appointed gristmill, for wheat and was one of the staple crops of his many farms.

In 1870 he sold most of the land for $1,350,000 to a British company, which incorporated it under the name of the Maxwell land grant and railway. The sale would eventually spark the Colfax county war..(we’ll save that for another story). A portion of the land was purchased by Matthew Lynch who became the father of placer mining in the region.

Maxwell moved to Fort Sumner which he purchased from the US government in 1869, when Fort Sumner was abandoned. Maxwell and his family renovated the former officers’ quarters into a beautiful Spanish Colonial house surrounding a large inner courtyard. Maxwell died there in 1875, and he was buried in the Post Cemetery. In 1888 his palace at Cimarron burned down.