Dr. Joseph Hoy Blazer
by J. Young
Events and Genealogy
Born: Joseph Hoy Blazer
Birthdate: August 20, 1829
Birthplace: Washington, Pennsylvania
Marriages:
Lucy E. Jobes (1836-1870) on September 26, 1853 at Henry, Iowa.
Julia M. McWade (1848-1924) on January 7, 1884 at Monroe Green, Wisconsin
Children:
David Blazer (1854-1855)
Ella A. Blazer (1857-1888)
Almer Newton Blazer (1865-1949)
Emma S. Blazer (1868-1950)
Death: October 29, 1898
Cause of death:
Burial: Blazer family cemetery, Blazers Mill, Mescalero, NM
Joseph Hoy Blazer was born on August 20th, 1828, in Washington, Pennsylvania. He was the second youngest of eleven siblings, and his parents were David Blazer and Sarah Hoy. At around the age of five, the Blazer family moved to Illinois, and by the time Joseph was ten, both of his parents had passed away. It is believed that the children were divided among the extended family for care. Young Mr. Blazer then moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, with his aunt and uncle Charles. Shortly after reaching adulthood, it is believed that Blazer studied dentistry in Saint Louis, and graduated in the 1850s. On September 26th, 1853, Dr. Blazer married Lucy E. Jobes in Henry, Iowa, and they had four children together: David, Ella, Almer, and Emma. Sources indicate that Dr. Blazer may have operated a dental practice in either Henry or Mount Pleasant, Iowa, but this claim is still under debate. We do know Blazer was listed as a physician in 1870.
During the Civil War, Dr. Blazer bravely enlisted in the army to serve his beloved country and was assigned as a supply freighter. However, fate had different plans for him, and he suffered a grievous injury when a horse accidentally fell on him. Despite undergoing extensive medical treatment, the injury left a lasting impact on his physical health, and he was eventually discharged from service.
Following his discharge, Dr. Blazer’s attention turned to his beloved wife, who he suspected had contracted tuberculosis. In an effort to find a drier, warmer climate that would aid in her recovery, the pair relocated to the beautiful territory of New Mexico, which boasted a higher altitude and a more conducive environment for treating her illness. As they began their new life in New Mexico, Dr. Blazer dedicated himself to researching and developing innovative techniques and therapies to treat tuberculosis, driven by his love and devotion for his precious wife. At the same time Blazer established himself in the timber business and as a general merchandiser.
In 1868, Dr. Blazer had come into possession of a share in George Nesmith’s ranch and sawmill alongside his partner, George Abbott. The spot sat atop a hill that overlooked the south fork of the Rio Tularosa. The mill, which had been called La Maquina until his arrival, had been there for many years prior. The timber sourced from the mill had been utilized for constructing or fixing forts as far away as Fort Davis, Texas, and Fort Selden, New Mexico. The water-driven mill then provided lumber to Fort Stanton and the small neighboring farms.
However, Blazer and his partners quickly discovered that the nearby town of Tularosa controlled the water supply that ran to his mill…Previously before Blazer’s arrival, in 1866 the legislature had passed an act granting Tularosa the rights to their land and the water running into it. When the mill’s wheel began
Mr. Blazers property had a large two story house and an office building on top of a big hill. The rest of Blazer’s buildings were scattered below; a sawmill, powered by Tularosa Creek, a gristmill, and several adobe structures including a general store, post office, several corrals and barns. In 1874, the post office was relocated from South Fork to Blazer’s Mill, and Dr. J.H. Blazer became the Postmaster. Around this time Blazer was appointed as U.S. Forage agent for Fort Stanton
In 1869, Blazer was actively involved in shaping the County of Lincoln, which was eventually established in 1870. The formation of a new county in New Mexico was led by Saturnino Baca, with the help of a committee of distinguished citizens who aimed to bring order to the region. Lawrence G. Murphy, then the post trader at Fort Stanton, William Brady, a retired Major in the army, Florencio Gonzales, a rancher, and Dr. J. H. Blazer, contributed their expertise to the committee. Governor’s appointment of Major Brady as the first sheriff of the county brought Dr. Blazer, Florencio Gonzales, and Paul Dowlin to the position of county commissioners. Captain Baca was the first probate judge. After Brady, he served as a sheriff for a year. Lincoln County’s new borders consumed Blazers’ property, and the Lincoln County Commissioners office was occupied by Dr. Blazer and the Dowlin brothers for the first seven years.
In 1869, a conflict broke out at the mill regarding some new settlers and the water rights. Dr. Blazer, with the aid of influential individuals from Lincoln, represented the citizens of Tularosa Valley, and alongside William Brady, petitioned Captain C.H. McKibben of the 15th infantry, who was the commander at Fort Stanton, for assistance and protection against the water thieves. Second lieutenant John Wilkinson and five soldiers were dispatched by McKibben to enforce the civil law upstream from Tularosa. Upon arrival, they dismantled the recently repaired dams, but faced resistance from a sizable group of Mexican farmers and settlers, which resulted in the soldiers being shot at. One of their horses was also killed while Wilkinson’s horse was wounded. The soldiers returned fire and killed one of the Mexican farmers, but were outnumbered and fled to Blazer’s home, where a dozen anglos were ready to support them.
Men assumed strategic positions around the buildings and sent for reinforcements from Fort Stanton. When met with resistance from nearly 50 individuals, they held their ground and endured approximately thirty minutes of gunfire. The arrival of Captain McKibben and Captain James Randlett, accompanied by a significant detachment of soldiers, caused the mob to disperse.
In early 1870, Dr. Blazer’s wife passed away from consumption. Dr. Blazer respectfully transported his wife’s remains back to Iowa to be buried with her family at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. During his stay in the area, Dr. Blazer briefly resided with his Uncle Charles in Henry, Iowa. While contemplating his options, Dr. Blazer enrolled his children in classes at Henry for the following year.
By 1872, Dr. Blazer and his family returned to New Mexico where they engaged in farming, general store and mill operations at Blazers. Unfortunately, on April 4, 1878, a gunfight broke out at Blazer’s Mill as a result of the Lincoln County War between Richard Brewer’s group, the Regulators, and Buckshot Roberts. The confrontation left both Brewer and Roberts dead. Despite being accused of Roberts’ murder, Billy the Kid was later acquitted.
Due to the presence of the store, post office, and mill at Blazers, plans were made to establish the area as a small town. However, in the summer of 1878, the government chose to situate the new boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Indian Agency, effectively enclosing Blazer’s property like a peninsula. When the Reservation was set up, Dr. Blazer was allowed to keep his land in private ownership.
Unfortunately, Indian agents Morice Bernstein and Major Godfroy faced difficulties due to insufficient funding and poor management, leading them to rent an office and storage space from Dr. Blazer. Initially, Blazer rented the space for 25 dollars a month but later raised it to 50. The office building on the hilltop had four large rooms, with Dr. Blazer occupying one as an office, Mrs. Godfroy using another as a restaurant, and Mr. Godfroy having his government agency office in a third. The last room was used as living quarters for the Godfroys and their children. Mrs. Godfroy’s cooking skills quickly gained attention and Blazers became a popular spot for travelers to stop and eat, like a roadhouse or rest stop. Eventually The Godfroys rented a section in Blazers very large home as living quarters for 15 additional dollars per month.
After dealing with numerous incidents of travelers and Mescalero trampling through his produce fields, Dr. Blazer grew frustrated and wanted to sell his property. However, when he requested that the Indian agency purchase his land, they declined. After discovering that Morice Bernstein and Godfroy had recommended against the government purchasing the property for unknown reasons, tensions arose between the parties. Perhaps Bernstein and Godfroy were seeking new accommodations or storage options, despite the ample space offered by the existing mill and buildings.
During the month of August 1878 agent Morice Bernstein was gunned down at Blazer’s Mill by The Regulators in an alleged act of self defense. The Blazer family believing the Indians were attacking, took shelter inside their torreon, which stood right next to the mill.
During the shooting of Morice Bernstein, The Blazer family hid in the torreon attched to the mill
Late in 1883 Dr. Blazer traveled back to the mid-west where on January 7, 1884 he remarried to Julia M. McWade at Monroe Green, Wisconsin. Blazer brought his new bride back to his lucrative establishment where they lived out the rest of their lives. Dr. Joseph Hoy Blazer passed away on October 29, 1898 at age 70. Cause of death and place has yet to be determined.
Almer N. Blazer took over the Mill for some years before his father’s death and after, when in 1899, the local Indian Agency forcibly took possession of Blazer’s land, Almer moved to Texas. Emma found love with Dr. John Howard Thompson, a caring physician on the Mescalero Reservation, and they eventually tied the knot. Meanwhile, in El Paso, Texas, Blazer’s son Almer carried on in the mill business while designing mechanical inventions such as; The Blazer Internal-Combustion Rotary Engine, 1898; the Blazer Power Wheel, 1898; and the Blazer Deep- Well Pump in 1910. Almer also enjoyed pursuing his passion for local history.
Almer’s son, Paul, continued his father’s tradition of researching local history and discovering fascinating historic photographs. The diary written by Emma Blazer along with her letters can be viewed at The University of Arizona’s Special Collections
For more on the site Blazer’s Mill with maps and modern photos, click the link below!
https://palsofbillythekidhistoricalsociety.com/blazers-mill/
For more on the shootout at Blazer’s Mill involving Billy the Kid and The Regulators, follow the trail below!
https://palsofbillythekidhistoricalsociety.com/blazers-mill-shootout/
