Colfax County, New Mexico Genealogy

Guide to Colfax County, New Mexico ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Colfax County is located in northeastern New Mexico, where the plains meet the Rockies. It was established on January 25, 1869. Raton is the County Seat. This county was named for Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), seventeenth Vice President of the United States under U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.

County Courthouse
Colfax County Courthouse 230 N 3rd Street Raton, NM 87740 Phone: 575-445-5551 Colfax County Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1890, probate records from 1903 and land records, and land records from 1864; District Court Clerk has divorce and court records.

Populated Places
The following are locations in Colfax County, New Mexico:

City
 * Raton (county seat)

Town

Census-designated place

Towns or Places with Name Changes An Alphabetical List of Colfax County Towns and Place Names that have undergone a name change. The Older name will be listed first and generally followed by the more current name.

History Timeline
Additional Information
 * The Santa Fe Trail's Raton Pass offshoot brought settlers from the Eastern United States to join the existing Mexican and Native American populations. Colfax County was named for Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), the seventeenth Vice President of the United States. Detailed Historic and Cultural Overview. History and Historic Trail Maps (Dept.Interior).


 * The Colfax County War 1875.

Resources
1. List of Online Resources 2. List of Offline Resources

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Mining The mountains of Colfax County were rich in gold, silver, copper, iron, and coal. page 64; p.90-107;

30 miles to the west of Lucien Maxwell's ranch, Elizabethtown and Virginia City were established in the Moreno Valley close to the extensive placers and mines. Resulting in 5 million dollars of gold output between 1867 and 1872. Near these mines, "one of the richest copper mines of the world" had been established before the discovery of gold in 1867. page 65.

The existence of coal deposits were first officially noticed by Wislezenus, Tour of Northern New Mexico in 1848. p.63, and by Lt. Colonel Emory, Notes of Military Reconnoissance of 1848, page 19. Although, travellers of The Santa Fe Trail, knew of its existence, many years prior. In 1865, Prof. Richard Dale Owen, noted that a five foot coal bed was clearly visible from Lucien Maxwell's hacienda and was close to the stage road. The survey estimated coal deposits to measure 870, 000 acres with contents of 30 billion, 805 million tons. Coal was mined in large scale.1907, the year of greatest production, output of 1,844,550 tons was reached.

Early Mining

Early coal mining operations. page 64.

Early Places

Early places prospected for gold page 67.

Mining Claims

List of Mining Claimsfor Colfax County.

Mining Camps

List of Mining Camps.

Census Records
Federal Census Records Federal Censuses were taken for New Mexico starting in 1850. For links to Federal census indexes, see New Mexico Census.

Colfax County

1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 Free Census Search

1870 US Census, Colfax County: (A-Free), (Fren-Midd), (Mila-Truj), (Truj-Z), Index, transcription and index,

1880 US Census Free Search

1912 - Business Directory:

County Officials, Baldy, Bell, Black Lake, Blossburg, Bonito, Brackett, Brilliant, Capulin, Carlsbrook, Cerrososo. Chico, Chicorica, Cimarron, Clifton House, Colfax, Colmor, Cunningham, Dawson, Dean, Dillon, Dorsey, Elizabeth, French, Gardiner, Gato, Harlan, Hebron, Hunt, Keota, Koehler, Koehler Junction, Lloyd, Lynn, Maxwell, Meloche, Metcalf, Miami, Nash, Otero.

1930 - Federal Census Index: A-C, C-G, G-L, L-P, P-S, S-Z.

Kiowa

1920 - Partial Federal Census Record

Raton

1910 and 1920 Partial Federal Census Records

State Census Records
 * 1885 New Mexico Territorial Census 1885 at Ancestry(free)
 * Late 1800s 1800s Arizona and New Mexico Territories Census, Late 1800s ($)
 * Guide to1788 and 1790 Census of El Paso del Norte

Emigration and Immigration
1. List of immigrants from Nanno and Portolo, Italy

Genealogies
Online Surname Links

1860

See census enumeration in Mora and or Taos counties. For free census search, click here.

1870

See census enumeration precincts: Elizabeth City Precinct 1, Elizabeth City Precinct 2, or Elizabeth City Precinct 3. Or, For free census search, click here.

1880

See census enumeration precincts: 1. Upper and Lower Dry Cimarron, 2. Chico, 3. Cimarron, 4. Elizabethtown, 5. Otero, 6. Rayado, 7. Springer, 8. Ute Creek. Or, For free census search, click here.

1900

See census enumeration precincts: 1. Baldy, 2. Black Lakes, 3. Blossburg, 4.Catskill, 5. Chico Springs, 6. Cimarron, 7. Cimilario, 8. Colmor, 9. Dorsey, 10. Elizabethtown, 11. Elkins, 12. Gardiner, 13. Johnson Park, 14. Martines, 15. Maxwell, 16. Mesa, 17. Pena Flor, 18. Ponel, 19. Ponil Park, 20. Raton, 21. Rayado, 22. Springer, 23. Trinchera. Or, For free census search, click here.

Colfax County Family Photo Album

1. Photos taken 1860 to 1879. 2. Photos taken 1880 to 1899. 3. Photos taken 1900 to 1919. 4. Photos taken 1920 to 1939.

Land and Property Records

 * Bureau of Land Management
 * General Land Office Records Search
 * Mining

Colfax County was, historically, a mining area. Most of the mines have closed. See, List of Mines.
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796 - 1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry- index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1861 - 1936 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
 * Colfax County Residents (60) who received Patents: Go to Google Search Patents. Type in "New Mexico" "county of Colfax" OR "Colfax County"

Local Histories
Lists of Settlers, 1860

1. Rayado (356)

2. Rio Colorado (707)

Lists of Settlers, 1870

1. Precinct 1 (800): A-E, F-M, N-Z.

Post Office: Elizabeth City. Location: Elizabethtown and environs.

2. Precinct 2 (132): A-Z

Post Office: Elizabeth City. Location: Cimarron.

3. Precinct 3 (1,060): A-E, F-M, N-Z.

Post Office: Elizabeth City. Location: Rayado and outskirts.

Lists of Settlers, 1880

1. Upper and Lower Dry Cimarron (470)

2. Chico (113)

3. Cimarron (1,247)

4. Elizabethtown (287)

5. Otero (50)

6. Rayado (270)

7. Springer (34)

8. Ute Creek (133)

Lists of Settlers, 1900

1. Baldy (111) 2. Black Lakes (205); 3. Blossburg (191); 4.Catskill (976);

5. Chico Springs (398)

6. Cimarron (3363)

7. Cimilario (105)

8. Colmor (1,343)

9. Dorsey (226)

10.Elizabethtown (580); 11. Elkins (61)

12. Gardiner (1,195) A-F, G-L, M-R, S-Z

13. Johnson Park (793)

14. Martines (365)

15. Maxwell (276)

16. Mesa (505)

17.Pena Flor(156)

18.Ponil (50)

19. Ponil Park (100)

20. Raton (3,863)

21. Rayado (135)

22. Springer (589)

23. Trinchera (191).

Pioneer or Settler Biographies, A-Z

Pioneers, Others

Published Online Information

Listed by surname

1.A-F 2.G-O 3.P-Z

Maps and Gazetteers
1895 Colfax County Map, 1895 new Mexico State Map

1895 Map of Taos, Mora, and Colfax Counties


 * Colfax County Interactive Map of Minerals and Mines

Cornelio Vigil Map of the Beaubien Miranda Land Grant. US Dept. Justice. Map 3, page 34.


 * note: The book "Translating Property - The Maxwell Land Grant and the Conflict Over Land in the American West, 1840-1900" by Maria E. Montoya, provides a limited preview through the page 7 link.  You may inquire at your local library for an inter-library loan. The ISBN number for this book is ISBN 0-520-22744-1.  Some places of interest in this book are as follows:
 * Maxwell Land Grant, Map 1, page 7.
 * Map of the Property Claims on the Ponil River, ca. 1885: page 106.
 * Map of Cimarron, New Mexico, 1865: Figure 20, Page 14 in the insert between pages 77 and 78.
 * Surveyor's sectional map of Colfax and Mora Counties, 1889. Figure 21, Page 15 in the insert between pages 77-8.
 * Sites of the Maxwell and White Incidents on the SantaFe Trail, Map 4, page 42.
 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of New Mexico - shows boundary changes for New Mexico Counties
 * NMGenWeb - historical maps

Migration
Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe Trail went through Colfax County in two places.

1. The Mountain Route went south from Trinidad, Colorado, through Raton Pass, down the slope toward the town of Cimarron. There was a stop on the Canadian River at the Clifton House. About nine miles to the southwest the trail splits, one going to the town of rayado and the other to Cimarron. The Road travels on to Springer.

2. The Santa Fe Trail crosses Colfax County from the eastern border of the Kiowa Grasslands near Clayton, New Mexico, and travels through the Gaine's Cattle Ranch, then beneath the Point of Rocks Mesa, and then travels through the Gillespie Ranch, east of Springer.

More information on the Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe National Historic Trail

Santa Fe Trail Family History Project

Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway

Santa Fe Trail Aerial Photos

Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical Society

Military Records
Pre-Statehood (6 Jan 1912)


 * Muster Roll - Coronado Expedition - 1540
 * Soldier List - Onate Expedition 1598-1608
 * Partial List of New Mexico Settlers - 1600

Revolutionary War

 * 1775 - 1783 - at FamilySearch - images only
 * For more nationwide Revolutionary War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

Civil War

 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch
 * Civil War Pension Index Card Search More information at Union Pension Records
 * For more nationwide Civil War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.
 * List of Pensioners 1883

World War I

 * WWI Civilian Draft Registrations free online
 * 1917 - 1919 - New Mexico, World War I Records, 1917-1919 at Ancestry($)
 * For more natiowide World War I databases, see US Military OnlineGenealogy Records.''

World War II

 * 1941 - 1945 - World War II Records, 1941-1945 State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from: New Mexico
 * 1941 - 1945 - World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from: New Mexico
 * 1941 - 1945 - New Mexico, World War II Records, 1941-1945 at Ancestry($)
 * For more nationwide World War II databases, see US Military Online Genealogy.

Vietnam War

 * Vietnam War - Angel Fire Memorial

Newspapers

 * Current local newspaper addresses and phones
 * Historic Periodicals and Newspapers
 * Digital Collections for Colfax County Newspapers
 * New Mexico Online Historical Newspapers - identifies historical archived and digitized newspapers available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.
 * Search Historic Newspapers Library of Congress.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records


 * 1801 – 1993 New Mexico Wills and Probate Records 1801-1993 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

See Details

Vital Records
Birth and death certificates are NOT issued at the Colfax County Clerk's Office. They may be obtained from one of the following locations: They CANNOT copy birth and death certificates under any circumstances.

Birth

 * Local Office: New Mexico Public Health Office 226 East 4th Street Raton, NM 87740 Phone: (575)445-3601
 * State Office: Office of NM Vital Records and Health Statistics 1105 S. St. Francis Drive P.O. Box 26110 Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110 Phone:(505) 827-0121 Credit Card Orders: 877-284-0963
 * 1726 – 1918 at FamilySearch

Marriage

 * 1727 - 1900 New Mexico Marriages 1727-1900 at Ancestry($)
 * 1871-1900 Marriage Index 1871-1900 (Grooms name Ab to Lo), (Grooms name Lo to Zw)
 * 1889-1893 and 1897-1901 Marriages 1889-1893, and 1897-1901 - Justice of the Peace Records, Precinct #20 - NMGS

Death

 * Local Office: New Mexico Public Health Office 226 East 4th Street Raton, NM 87740 Phone: (575)445-3601
 * State Office: Office of NM Vital Records and Health Statistics 1105 S. St. Francis Drive P.O. Box 26110 Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110 Phone:(505)827-0121 Credit Card Orders: 877-284-0963
 * Albuquerque Journal online obituaries search
 * NMGenWeb, Colfax County page.
 * Linkpendium for Colfax County
 * Worldcat, Library Booksregarding Colfax County
 * Colfax County Online Genealogy Message Boards: Cousin Connect, GenForum, Rootsweb,
 * Colfax County Newspaper Abstracts *New Mexico Pedigree Project, Index of Surnames
 * 1788 – 1798; 1838 – 1955 at FamilySearch
 * 1889 - 1945 at FamilySearch
 * New Mexico Death Records1889-1945 Search. More information at New Mexico Death Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * New Mexico Death RecordsUS GenWeb Index Project
 * Social Security Death Index Search

Archives

 * Colfax County Archives and Libraries
 * Center for Southwest Research
 * New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
 * National Hispanic Cultural Center
 * Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico
 * Rio Grande Historical Collections

Family History Centers

 * Farmington New Mexico Family History Center
 * Raton Family History Center, 2136 La Mesa Drive, Raton, New Mexico, 87740. Phone 505-445-9226.

Libraries

 * Angel Fire Community Library
 * Eagle Nest Public Library
 * Arthur Johnson Memorial Library
 * Springer - Fred Macaron Library
 * Seton Memorial Library

Museums

 * Eagles Nest
 * Elizabethtown Museum
 * Cimarron
 * Kit Carson Museum of Rayado
 * Philmont Museum
 * Villa Philmonte
 * Raton Museum, Roger Sanchez, 218 S. First, Raton, New Mexico, 87740. Phone 505-445-8979.
 * Springer
 * Dorsey Mansion history Ranch
 * Santa Fe Trail Interpretative Center and Museum Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical Society

Societies

 * Santa Fe Trail Interpretative Center and Museum Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical SocietyLocal
 * Angel Fire: Genealogy Club of Angel Fire, PO Box 503, Angel Fire, NM 87710
 * Cimarron: Cimarron Historical Society, Les Davis, Cimarron, New Mexico, 87714.
 * Raton: Raton Historical Society
 * Springer: Springer Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical Society., Mike Taylor, 606 Maxwell Ave., Springer, New Mexico, 87747. Phone: 505-483-5554 or 505-483-0474.

State
 * Colfax County Genealogy Trails
 * Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico
 * Historical Society of New Mexico
 * Los Alamos Historical Society
 * New Mexico Civil War Ladies League
 * New Mexico Daughters of the American Revolution
 * New Mexico Genealogical Society
 * The New Mexico Genealogist
 * New Mexico Jewish Historical Society
 * New Mexico State Historian
 * Route 66 Association of New Mexico
 * Southern New Mexico Genealogy Society
 * Taos County Historical Society

Websites

 * Unicoi County, NM History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New Mexico Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * New Mexico Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records