James and Joseph Magoffin: El Paso PioneersBy Brenda MaurishThe State National Bank, Fort Bliss, a transporting business, street cars, a trading post, El Paso Water Utilities and two baseball teams. Although this mélange may seem unrelated, a closer look will reveal otherwise. In the late 1800s when El Paso was being established two men of wealth, influence, responsibility and integrity helped settle this area -- James Wiley Magoffin and his son Joseph. It was their role in El Paso that brought forth these institutions and businesses. James Wiley Magoffin was born in 1799 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. As a little boy he would pretend that he owned his own businesses, traveled extensively, and helped settle uninhabited territories. He and his friends spent hours creating and taking part in hair-raising adventures such as pretending to explore unconquered territories. Along their imaginary journeys, the boys would triumph over Indian attacks, snow, scorching heat, thirst and near starvation. These children's games gave him dreams to fulfill later in his life. He wanted to experience for himself the adventures he had only imagined. During his adolescence, those dreams didn't go away but burned brighter and brighter within him. James Magoffin discussed his goals with his goals with his father, a wealthy merchant who knew that business was also in his son's blood. Although the exact details are sketchy, more than likely the elder Magoffin financed his son's first business ventures. In his early twenties, James Magoffin left home to start his
frontier journey and to establish a transporting and trading
business. He began selling books, clothes, medications, printing
presses, lumber and wagons along the Santa Fe-Chihuahua Trail.
The route ran from independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, down to
El Paso and into The people of Mexico loved "Don Santiago," as James was
called. He took the time to learn their language and customs and
as well known for his quick wit and great sense of humor.
While on one of his trips he met and in 1830 married Maria
Gertrudis Valdez de Veramendi, a daughter of a wealthy Coahuila
family. This union of love also strengthened his social and
financial standing in Mexico.
By 1844 James and Maria sensed that war was inevitable
because of the strained relations between Texas and Mexico. They
decided that they and their five children would move to
Independence, Missouri, to be safe from tension. It was also a
good business move because James would be at the head of the
Santa Trail.
James and the children arrived in 1845, but sadly Maria died
along the way.
The Magoffins bought a farm and lived in Missouri until 1849
when they moved to El Paso, the mid-point of his business route.
James purchased 100,000 acres of land and called the territory
Magoffinsville. It encompassed all of present-day downtown El
Paso and more. Magoffinsville was a small town complete with a
general store, livery stable and a spacious residence for his
family. Further away, a half mile from the Rio Grande, he built
a plaza with adobe buildings surrounding it.
A few years later the local military post, which had been
established earlier to protect and defend residents against
attacks by Apaches, Mescaleros and Comanches, relocated to
Magoffinsville. Because of the structure and location of the
adobe buildings, they were chosen for the military post whose
name had also been changed -- to Fort Bliss. James Magoffin was
given the military contract to feed and supply the troops.
Even though this area was his home, James continued to travel
from Missouri to Chihuahua and take care of his businesses. When
the San Antonio El Paso road opened up, he frequently visited
his daughter in San Antonio, where he died in 1868.
However, Joseph Magoffin, his first-born son, inherited his
father's adventurous spirit.
Born in January 7,1837, in Chihuahua, he received his formal
education in Lexington, Kentucky. He moved back to the Southwest
in 1856 and contributed significantly to the settlement of El
Paso. Some of those contributions still affect us today.
He served four terms as mayor, starting in 1881. During his
1882 administration, mule-drawn trollies became a form of
transportation in El Paso. A pair of mules traveled the two
routes. One route went down San Antonio street and returned on
present-day Magoffin Avenue. The other route ran from El Paso
street to Seventh Street, to Stanton and cross an international
bridge into Juárez. The trollies later evolved into street cars.
Joseph Magoffin also organized the El Paso Water Company.
Life for the citizens of El Paso changed drastically. No longer
did people have to carry water from the Rio Grande, wait for the
mud to settle, then drink it. L Paso's volunteer fire department
also took shape during his administration.
Mayor Magoffin, who liked sports, responded to a public
demand and started two baseball teams. They played against each
other every Sunday afternoon, thus providing entertainment for
the people in El Paso.
Besides serving as a mayor, Joseph Magoffin contributed
significantly to El Paso in other ways.
He helped organize the State National Bank, holding the
position of vice-president for many years. In addition, Magoffin
served as Justice of the Peace, Collector of Customs, and
District Judge in his lifetime.
El Paso still benefits from the Magoffin father-and-son team
of visionaries who worked to develop barren land into an
international city. The challenges came from a dream of that
little boy in Kentucky, a little boy who pursued his
aspirations as a grown man and passed them into his
children. James and Joseph Magoffin's contributions to this
city live on in street names, a UTEP auditorium and numerous
other El Paso traditions.
|