WPA John W. Poe
An interview with: Sophie Poe
By: Georgia B. Redfield
FEB 27 1837
John W. Poe the son of Nathan and
Louise [Harber?] Poe was born in [Mason?]
A fondness for descriptive
literature lead to extensive traveling which broadened his views and visions
and gave to him a very accurate knowledge of foreign and National affairs.
From the time, when as a youth he
stole away in the night from his
During the years [1889-70?] Mr Poe
engaged in farming in Jackson County
Missouri. In 1871 he was employed by a bridge contractor in construction work
on the Santa Fe Railroad near
Mr Poe was one of the deputies
under Pat Garrett-Sheriff of
After the killing of Billy the Kid
Mr Poe continued in the [?] ranching and cattle business in
Mr Poe spent the year 1886
traveling and prospecting in
As a peace officer Mr Poe
experienced, perhaps, the most thrilling experiences of his life.
"He served as City Marshall
at
He was a member of
In 1908 became chairman (2years)
of the commision that built the
Mr Poe was a thirty third degree
Mason of New Mexico and one of the most prominent representative of that order
in the southwest, was a member of independent order of Odd Fellows, and of the
Royal Order of Scotland.
Both Mr and Mrs. Poe were leaders
in all special social and cultural circles during the many years of their
residence in
Mr Poe died in 1923.
Mrs. Poe is the author of
"Buckboard Days" published in 1936. This is a story of the life of
her illustrious husband-John William Poe- and the interesting account of the
early settlement of Roswell, and the exciting days during the period of
lawlessness and many daring episodes of Billy the Kid. The account of those
stories were given by Mr Poe himself who as deputy sheriff under Pat Garrett
was active in bringing peace and order out of those terrorizing days of
lawlessness.
Sources Of Information
Twitchill's History Vol V page
273.
Buckboards days - By Sophie Poe -
1936.
FEB 27 [1937?]
So We Were Married
From Buckboard Days
By Sophie Poe-Wife of J. W. Poe.
Published 1936
"One day in may 1882, Milo
Pierce (Captain Joseph C Lea's partner in the sheep business) mentioned an
important name in my hearing. The name was that of a man famous in New Mexico
at that time - John William Poe - special officer of the Canadian river Cattle
Association, and the deputy sheriff who-more than any other- was responsible
for the killing of the outlaw - Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner by Pat Garrett.
"After hearing this
conversation (it was in praise of John Poe) one night, just at bed time,
Captain Lea called me into a back room of his home, where I was a guest. When I
entered the room I saw Pat Garrett sitting with his long legs stretched toward
the fire. Captain Lea walked up and down. These extraordinarily tall men (both
six feet four inches tall) were very solemn, and the Captain said slowly: 'Sophie
I've just had a letter from John W. Poe, our next sheriff, (Pat Garrett refused
reelection) and he is coming to
"I said 'Yes Sir' and waited".
'Poe has been down in
"Pat Garrett had not said a
word but watched me out of one corner of his eye."
'Now Sophie, we, Pat and I, have
talked all this over and we want you to like John Poe and not just like you
like every body else.'
"He looked at Pat Garrett,
who was studying his boots intently, so Captain Lea went on:
` "You see Sophie John Poe is
going to be our next sheriff and he's going to be more than that: eventually he
will be one of the really big men of this section, and Pat and I have decided
you should marry him. That is wht I called you in-to tell you.'
"For a moment I was utterly
dumb. I could only stare at the two amazing matchmaker. Then I exploded.
"What gave you the idea, I
demanded furiously, that you could call me in and just tell me whom I should
marry? Do you think you can dispose of me as if I were one of your prize
short-horns? If you do I'll tell you right now - -"
"Well a few days later
Captain Lea came in and said, "John Poe's in town, and will be over pretty
soon. Better run and smooth up your bangs. I want you to look your very
prettiest for him.'
"It was not hard to obey the
order, I was interested & had n o objections now to meeting this famous
John Poe.
"When I came down to the
living room a few minutes later Captain Lea was letting in a tall wide
shouldered man, and they turned to me.
'Mr Poe', Captain Lea said, 'this
is Miss Sophie Alberding our guest.'
"I am sure that I looked up
into the eyes of this handsome stalwart plainsman and realized, then and there,
that the conqueror of the citadel had come. I realized that what Pat Garrett
had said was true-that none of the men I had been thro'wn with stood on the
same footing with John William Poe.
"So we were married in
SF
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