Re: Antonio Jose Otero
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In reply to:
Otero 1842 Peralta, Valencia, New Mexico
6/21/01
an excellent character reference to Antonio Jose OTERO is in Leading Facts of New Mexico History by Ralph Emerson Twitchell published by Torch Press of Cedar Rapids, IA 1912
see vol 2 p273-274 footnotes
"Antonio Jose Otero was a native of Valencia county, New Mexico, having been born at the town of Valencia on the 13th day of March 1809.His father's name was Vicente Otero, and his mother was Gertrudes Chaves.His grandfather was Pedro Otero, who came to Santa Fe about the year 1776.He afterwards moved to Valencia.Judge Otero lived at Peralta, when the Americans took possession of New Mexico, and was thirty-five years of age when Kearny made him a judge.He presided over the third district court, which at that time comprised everything south of Santa Fe and all of what is today the territory of Arizona.He was a man of large views and commanding influence, and was held in high esteem by those who knew him personally.He received a portion of his education at Laguna, N.M., where he was taught by Father Penol, a Franciscan friar.He also studied with the eminent Rev. Antonio Jose Martines, of Taos.He was endowed by nature with fine intellectual powers, all of which were developed and strengthened by a discipline which enabled him to comprehend readily and accurately the important questions demanding his attention in after years. ... He was an excellent man and a just and impartial judge.He died in 1871, about sixty-one years of age, honored and respected by all.Though the population of New Mexico is so largely Spanish, Judge Otero is the only man of Spanish origin who ever held a place in the supreme court of the territory.He was a very cautious man, rarely giving expression to an opinion until, upon reflection, the matter under consideration was clearly and definitely fixed in his mind.It is a matter of more than passing notice that Judge Otero, born and reared under the Spanish and Mexican governments, whose laws and customs were so different from those of the United States, growing to manhood in a portion of the world, at that time far removed from all the influences of modern thought and civilization, residing in a locality whose inhabitants were engaged six months in every year in wars with hostile Indians, could so well fill his place upon the bench.He delivered the only opinion from the superior court which has been preserved - the case of Joab Houghton, admr., vs. Manuel Armijo."