I am very interested in contacting any descendants of the original pioneeer families of Farmington, NM or if there is still the San Juan Pioneer Association in existence.
I would like to find out how to go about getting the copies of the homestead records of this area.
My great grandfather Charles William VIRDEN andhis brother Milton VIRDEN came from Waterloo, Iowa to homestead land in Farmington (New Mexico Territory) in 1877-1878. They homesteaded the property which is now part of the H.C. King Ranch (The Virdens sold the property to H.C. King in 1885 and moved to the MAUPIN homestead next door). The 2 VIRDEN brothers married the 2 MAUPIN sisters (Josephine and Ida) living there on land that Silas T. MAUPIN had homesteaded. Silas T. MAUPIN's land became the property of Elenor Davenport McDONALD.
The VIRDEN brothers were on of the original 4 or 5 families living in an area of 5-6 miles in the early 1880s (Millers, Hartmans, McGalliards, Virdens, Maupins) and allegedly this was land to La Plata St down by the old light plant on Main across the Animas River to the south. The VIRDEN brothers were part of the early pioneers who helped start the town of Farmington, dig the irrigation ditches, farm the land, plant apple trees, etc. Charles W. VIRDEN and Josephine MAUPIN were the first to be married in the town on May 8, 1881 and it was apparently a big TA-DO! Their marriage license is on display in the pioneer museum in Farmington.
The VIRDEN brothers also owned a trading post there approx. south/southwest of Farmington on the Animas River. The buildings/store was standing until 1911 flood washed it away.
I have bits and pieces of stories, records from family VIRDEN and MAUPIN, VIRDEN/MAUPIN family bible, census records, etc. that I would be willing to share and exchange with others who share this same heritage.