Thomas B. Catron

Catron was born near Lexington, Missouri, on October 6, 1840, a son of John Catron and Mary (Fletcher) Catron, and was named after Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton.William A. Keleher, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XdkJAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+lexington+1840&pg=PA57 Violence in Lincoln County, 1869-1881: Facsimile of 1957 Edition], 2007, page 57David Correia, [https://books.google.com/books?id=UCollKHzafsC&dq=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+named+senator+thomas+hart&pg=PT24 Properties of Violence], 2013, Chapter 2 His ancestors emigrated from Germany to Virginia in 1765.{{cite book |last1=Twitchell |first1=Ralph |title=The Leading Facts of New Mexican History |date=2007 |volume=2 |publisher=Sunstone Press |location=Santa Fe |isbn=978-0865345850 |page=519 |edition=2007 Facsimile}} He was educated in Lexington's public schools and at Masonic College in Lexington.Victor Westphall, [https://books.google.com/books?id=4BdSAQAAIAAJ&q=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+%22masonic+college%22 Thomas Benton Catron and His Era], 1973, page 6 He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1860.Herbert Oliver Brayer, Alianza Federal de las Mercedes, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dhtBAAAAMAAJ&q=%22class+of+1860%22 Spanish and Mexican Land Grants], 1923, page 167

During the American Civil War Catron joined the Confederate States Army, serving in Hiram M. Bledsoe's Battery, a unit of Sterling Price's command. Catron took part in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Second Lexington, and Pea Ridge. By the end of the war Catron was a first lieutenant in command of the 3rd Missouri Battery. In the latter stages of the war he served during combat in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, before surrendering in Mississippi at the end of the war as part of Richard Taylor's command.Ralph Emerson Twitchell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=VrsUAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+%22civil+war%22&pg=PA519 The Leading Facts of New Mexican History], Volume 2, 1912, pages 519-520

Catron returned to Missouri after the war and began to study law. In 1866 he moved to the Territory of New Mexico, living in Las Cruces before settling in Mesilla. He traveled to New Mexico with two wagon loads of flour, which he sold to finance his legal studies, and a Spanish grammar book, which he used to begin to learn the language. (He soon became fluent by living in Spanish speaking communities and speaking only Spanish.) Catron completed his legal studies and was admitted to the bar in 1867.Richard W. Etulain, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Wagh66BYxmkC&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+%22university+of+missouri%22&pg=PA197 New Mexican Lives: Profiles and Historical Stories], 2002, page 197William A. Keleher, [https://books.google.com/books?id=d-c1kDce60UC&dq=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+%22university+of+missouri%22&pg=PA117 The Fabulous Frontier, 1846-1912], pages 117-118

Unlike most Southerners who had supported the Confederacy, Catron was a Republican. Almost as soon as he began to practice Catron was appointed District Attorney for the Third Judicial District (present day Doña Ana County), and served until 1868.C. R. Caldwell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=HSysw_UbEIQC&dq=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+%22district+attorney%22+%22dona+ana%22&pg=PA304 Dead Right: The Lincoln County War], 2008, page 304

In 1869 he was appointed Attorney General of the New Mexico Territory.Donald R. Lavash, [https://books.google.com/books?id=UCu_avjCX4EC&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+%22attorney+general%22&pg=PA32 Sheriff William Brady, Tragic Hero of the Lincoln County War], 1986, page 32 In 1872 he was appointed United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, an office previously held by his law partner, Civil War colleague and fellow Republican Stephen Benton Elkins, who had been elected to Congress. Catron served as U.S. Attorney until 1878.Rubén Darío Sálaz, [https://books.google.com/books?id=zbYLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22united+states+attorney%22+catron+1872+1878 New Mexico: A Brief Multi-History], 1999, page 299David L. Caffey, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NMalAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22US+attorney%22+catron+1872&pg=PA92 Chasing the Santa Fe Ring: Power and Privilege in Territorial New Mexico], 2014, page 92

While holding office as U.S. Attorney Catron moved to Santa Fe. In 1884 Catron was elected to the New Mexico Territorial Council, and he served again in 1888 and 1890. In 1892 Catron ran unsuccessfully for Delegate to Congress. He ran again in 1894 and won, serving one term March 4, 1895, to March 3, 1897. From 1895 to 1896 Catron was President of the New Mexico Bar Association. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to Congress in 1896, and served on the Territorial Council again in 1899 and 1905.Ralph Emerson Twitchell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=o1CwTgi4tw8C&dq=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+council&pg=PA429 Old Santa Fe: Facsimile of Number 281 of the Original 1925 Edition], 2007, page 429C. R. Caldwell, [https://books.google.com/books?id=HSysw_UbEIQC&dq=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+congress+1892&pg=PA304 Dead Right: The Lincoln County War], 2008, page 304

From 1906 to 1908 Catron served as Mayor of Santa Fe.Sunstone Press, [https://books.google.com/books?id=J7DhRhtSnGoC&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+mayor&pg=PA427 All Trails Lead to Santa Fe: An Anthology Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the Founding of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1610], 2010, page 427

As a lawyer familiar with the intricacies of old Mexican land grants, Catron gained an interest in or clear title to 34 grants totaling {{convert|3000000|acre|km2}}. As a member of the group of land speculators known as "Santa Fe Ring," he became by 1894{{cite journal |last1=Butler |first1=Charles |title=History of the Tierra Amarilla Grant |journal=New Mexico Geological Society Guidebooke |date=1977 |page=91}} the largest landowner in the United States.William W. Dunmire, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fMSxVxkiq3YC&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+three+million+acres&pg=PT73 New Mexico's Spanish Livestock Heritage], 2013, Chapter 9{{sfn|Gonzales|2003|page=302}}

After annexing New Mexico in 1848, the U.S. required that Spanish and Mexican land grants be "confirmed" by the U.S. courts and Congress. Hispanic claimants of land in the land grants often did not speak English and were suspicious of and unfamiliar with the American legal system—so different from the Hispanic. Many of the claimants were poor and unable to pursue the lengthy and expensive legal process of getting a claim confirmed. Moreover, the Surveyors General appointed by the U.S. had little knowledge of Hispanic land practices and customs. "The situation was ripe for fraud.{{cite web |title=History: Land Grants |url=https://albuqhistsoc.org/SecondSite/pkfiles/pk208landgrants.htm |website=Albuquerque Historical Society |access-date=14 May 2023}}{{cite journal |last1=Lamar |first1=Howard R. |title=Land Policy in the Spanish Southwest: 1846-1891 |journal=The Journal of Economic History |date=December 1962 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=502–504 |doi=10.1017/S0022050700066717 |s2cid=154377195 |url=https://www.justor.org/stable/2116109 |access-date=15 May 2023|url-access=subscription }} The results were "large grants owned by speculators were erroneously confirmed; other grants which should have been confirmed were not...[and]...some valid grants were confirmed, but to the wrong people." The Santa Fe Ring of lawyers and politicians, often in league with the Surveyors General, abused the adjudication system for their own benefit.{{cite journal |last1=Gomez |first1=Placido |title=The History and Adjudication of the Common Lands of Spanish and Mexican Land Grants |journal=Natural Resources Journal |date=1985 |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=1039, 1070–1071 |url=https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nrj/vol25/iss4/11 |access-date=15 May 2023}}

Among Catron's acquisitions was the {{cvt|600000|acre|sqkm}} Tierra Amarilla Land Grant. Disputes about ownership have continued into the 21st century and erupted into violence on at least one occasion, a 1967 raid on the Rio Arriba County courthouse by Reies Tijerina and Hispanic claimants to grant land.{{cite web |last1=Prieskop |first1=Victoria |title=Fresh Dispute over Historic New Mexico Land Grant |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/fresh-dispute-over-historic-new-mexico-land-grant/#:~:text=The%20dispute%20is%20the%20latest,south%20of%20the%20Colorado%20line. |website=Courthouse News |access-date=10 November 2023}}

Catron was an early advocate for New Mexico statehood, and in the early 1900s marshaled the territorial Republican Party to lobby Republicans at the national level for New Mexico's admission to the Union.{{cite book | first=Le Baron Bradford | last=Prince | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0X8UAAAAYAAJ&q=%22thomas+b+catron%22+statehood&pg=PA91 | title=New Mexico's Struggle for Statehood | year=1910 | page=91}}{{cite book | first=Robert W. | last=Larson | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OlME56WpfAC&q=%22thomas+b+catron%22+statehood&pg=PA98 | title=New Mexico's Quest for Statehood, 1846-1912 | date=15 August 2013 | page=98| publisher=UNM Press | isbn=9780826329479 }}{{cite book | first=Richard | last=McCord | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7cM-bMFblxAC&q=%22thomas+b+catron%22+statehood&pg=PA52 | title=Santa Fe Living Treasures: Our Elders, Our Hearts | year=2009 | page=52| publisher=Sunstone Press | isbn=9780865347205 }}

When New Mexico was admitted as the 47th state in 1912, the New Mexico State Legislature elected Catron as one of the state's first U.S. Senators. Catron won the "long term" (four years), while Albert B. Fall won the "short term" (one year). Catron took office on March 27, 1912.Dodd, Mead And Company, [https://books.google.com/books?id=I00xAQAAMAAJ&dq=catron+albert+fall+%22united+states+senator%22+1912&pg=PA466 The New International Year Book], 1913, page 466

To win election to the Senate, Catron made a personal alliance with Fall (later to be involved in the Teapot Dome scandal), ensuring that each of them would be elected. This alliance antagonized New Mexicans of Spanish heritage, who had hoped that one of their own would become a Senator.New York Times, [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/04/07/100358751.pdf New Mexico Natives Bitter Over Defeat], April 7, 1912

At the start of his Senate career Catron served as Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department. In 1916 he was a candidate for reelection, but lost the Republican nomination to Frank A. Hubbell.Texas History Online, El Paso Herald, [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth138444/m1/2/zoom/ Catron After Fall's Job], September 30, 1916 Hubbell went on to lose the general election to Andrieus A. Jones.Chicago Daily News, [https://books.google.com/books?id=AWQTAAAAYAAJ&dq=andrieus+jones+hubbell+1916&pg=PA302 Almanac and Year Book for 1918], 1918, page 302

After leaving the Senate Catron returned to Santa Fe, where he resumed his law practice and business interests, and served in local offices including President of the Board of Education.New Mexico Department of Education, [https://books.google.com/books?id=MRxVvxvdM8UC&dq=%22t+b+catron%22+%22board+of+education%22&pg=RA1-PA23 New Mexico Educational Directory], 1916, page 23

Catron was mentioned as a Senate candidate in 1918 if Fall did not run for reelection, but Fall decided to run, received the Republican nomination, and won another term.Newspapers.com, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/11617031/ Deming Headlight], August 23, 1918Calvin Alexander Roberts, Susan A. Roberts, [https://books.google.com/books?id=SttlyvdXitEC&dq=%22albert+b+fall%22+reelection+1918&pg=PA162 New Mexico], 2006, page 162

After leaving the Senate, Catron attempted unsuccessfully to receive an appointment as Ambassador to Chile.David L. Caffey, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NMalAgAAQBAJ&dq=catron+%22new+mexico%22+ambassador+chile&pg=PA203 Chasing the Santa Fe Ring: Power and Privilege in Territorial New Mexico], 2014, page 203William A. Keleher, [https://books.google.com/books?id=d-c1kDce60UC&dq=thomas+catron+%22minister+to+chile%22&pg=PA117 The Fabulous Frontier, 1846-1912], 2008, page 117 In retirement Catron continued to reside in Santa Fe. He died in Santa Fe on May 15, 1921, and was interred in a mausoleum at Fairview Cemetery.Mark Grossman, [https://books.google.com/books?id=DxupZ6O0p64C&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+fairview+cemetery&pg=PA49 Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed], 2003, pages 48-49

File:Julia Anna Walz.jpg

In 1887 Catron married Julia Anna Walz (March 28, 1857{{spaced ndash}}November 8, 1909), a native of Ohio. She had lived in Mankato, Minnesota, was a graduate of Oberlin College, and was teaching school when she met Catron. They had five children, four of whom lived to adulthood: John Walz; Charles Christopher; Thomas Benton II; and Fletcher Arthur[https://books.google.com/books?id=o1CwTgi4tw8C&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+julia+fletcher+christopher&pg=PA429 Old Santa Fe: A Brief Review of History 1536-1912], 1912, James B Raciti, page 429

Catron received an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University of Missouri in 1868, and in 1920 the University of Missouri awarded him an honorary LL.D.Columbia Missourian, [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89066315/1919-04-23/ed-1/seq-1/ Catron Says Wood is Choice of West], April 23, 1919Victor Westphall, [https://books.google.com/books?id=4BdSAQAAIAAJ&q=%22thomas+benton+catron%22+honorary+%22master+of+arts%22 Thomas Benton Catron and His Era], 1973, page 7

Catron County, New Mexico, is named in his honor.Robert Hixson Julyan, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p3fMJnT1gx0C&dq=%22thomas+b+catron%22+%22catron+county%22&pg=PA68 The Place Names of New Mexico], 1996, page 68

A Chicano Spanglish poem, Lo que dirá ("What He Will Say") was written by T. A. Tornillo and published in the October 15, 1892 edition of El Hispano Americano, a newspaper in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It invites people not to vote for Catron in the November 8 election for Delegate to Congress and describes him as a ladrón banquero ("robber banker").{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYP4Xlm4r44C&dq=el+pueblo+on+that+day+will+blare+que+el+panz%C3%B3n+never+got+there&pg=PP266|title=An Other Tongue: Nation and Ethnicity in the Linguistic Borderlands|author=Alfred Arteaga|date=1994 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=0-8223-1462-2 }}

• Albert Jennings Fountain

{{reflist}}

• Caffey, David L. Chasing the Santa Fe Ring (2014).
• Duran, Tobias (1984) "Francisco Chavez, Thomas B. Catron, and Organized Political Violence in Santa Fe in the 1890s." New Mexico Historical Review 59: pp. 291–310.
• Garraty, John A. and Carnes, Mark C. (eds.) (1999) American National Biography. Oxford University Press, New York, {{ISBN|0-19-520635-5}}.
• Jacobsen, Joel K (1993) "An Excess of Law in Lincoln County: Thomas Catron, Samuel Axtell, and the Lincoln County War." New Mexico Historical Review 68: pp. 133–51.
• Lamar, Howard R. (ed.) (1998) The New Encyclopedia of the American West. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, {{ISBN|0-300-07088-8}}.
• Taylor, Michael L. “The Library of Thomas B. Catron and the Transformation of New Mexico,” Libraries: Culture, History, and Society v. 2, no. 1 (2018): 1-23.
• Westphall, Victor (1988) "Thomas Benton Catron: A Historical Defense." New Mexico Historical Review 63: pp. 43–57.
• Westphall, Victor (1973) Thomas Benton Catron and His Era. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, {{ISBN|0-8165-0341-9}}.

• [https://nmarchives.unm.edu/repositories/22/resources/4449 Inventory of the Thomas B. Catron Papers], University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest Research

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Category:20th-century mayors of places in New Mexico

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Category:Mayors of Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Category:Members of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature

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