Jesus Gil Abreu
Encyclopedia
Jesus Gil Abreu was a rancher and pioneer who owned a New Mexico
ranch that now comprises Philmont Scout Ranch
.
He was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico
. His father was on the staff of New Mexico Governor
Albino Pérez
and was killed along with the governor during the Revolt of 1837 (New Mexico)
.
After the revolt, he headed east on the Santa Fe Trail
where he worked for Kansas City, Missouri
founder John Calvin McCoy
at Westport, Kansas City
and Independence, Missouri
.
During the Mexican-American War in 1845 he was engaged by a sutler
to be an interpretor for the United States Army
. When the troops were dispatched to Santa Fe Ceran St. Vrain
dispatched Abreu in advance to buy up the goods of competing sutlers for St. Vrain so it could enjoy a monopoly with the United States.
Abreu worked in a store for St. Vrain in Santa Fe, and worked as an interpretor for the United States and in the winter of 1848-49 delivered the U.S. mail between Santa Fe and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (a process which took 40 days).
During the California Gold Rush
he traveled to California in 1850-51.
When he returned to New Mexico he worked for Joseph Pley, a partner of Lucien B. Maxwell who after marrying the daughter of Carlos Beaubien had become the owner of the million-acre Maxwell Land Grant
.
He at first worked in Mora, New Mexico
and then at the Maxwell store in Rayado
.
On November 26, 1859, he married Petrita Beaubien, another daughter of Beaubien. In 1862 he acquired 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of the land grant for his Abreu Ranch.
A history of the New Mexico described the ranch:
The family sold most of the ranch in 1911 after his death and was bought by Waite Phillips
in the 1920s who was to donate 35857 acres (145.1 km²) to the Boy Scouts of America
in 1938.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
ranch that now comprises Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico, covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico...
.
He was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. His father was on the staff of New Mexico Governor
Spanish governors of New Mexico
The following is a list of governors of the Province of New Mexico under the Viceroyalty of New Spain.*Juan de Oñate *Cristóbal de Oñate *Pedro de Peralta *Bernadino de Ceballos...
Albino Pérez
Albino Pérez
Albino Pérez was a Mexican soldier and politician.Pérez was appointed Governor of New Mexico in 1835. He was assassinated near the city of Santa Fe in 1837 during the Revolt of 1837 after he tried to impose taxes ordered by President Antonio López de Santa Anna.In June 2007 a monument...
and was killed along with the governor during the Revolt of 1837 (New Mexico)
Revolt of 1837 (New Mexico)
The Revolt of 1837, also known as the Chimayó Rebellion, was a popular insurrection in New Mexico against Albino Pérez, the Mexican governor at the time.-Background:Governor Pérez had arrived from central Mexico in 1835...
.
After the revolt, he headed east on the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
where he worked for Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
founder John Calvin McCoy
John Calvin McCoy
John Calvin McCoy is considered the "father of Kansas City."McCoy was born in Vincennes, Indiana. He studied at Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky, during 1826-1827...
at Westport, Kansas City
Westport, Kansas City
Westport is a historic neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Originally its own town, it was annexed by Kansas City in 1897. Today, it is one of Kansas City's main entertainment districts.-Background:...
and Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
.
During the Mexican-American War in 1845 he was engaged by a sutler
Sutler
A sutler or victualer is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters. The sutler sold wares from the back of a wagon or a temporary tent, allowing them to travel along with an army or to remote military outposts...
to be an interpretor for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. When the troops were dispatched to Santa Fe Ceran St. Vrain
Ceran St. Vrain
Ceran St. Vrain , also known as Ceran de Hault de Lassus de St. Vrain, was a major fur trader near Taos, New Mexico, where he and his partner William Bent established the trading post of Bent's Fort. St...
dispatched Abreu in advance to buy up the goods of competing sutlers for St. Vrain so it could enjoy a monopoly with the United States.
Abreu worked in a store for St. Vrain in Santa Fe, and worked as an interpretor for the United States and in the winter of 1848-49 delivered the U.S. mail between Santa Fe and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (a process which took 40 days).
During the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
he traveled to California in 1850-51.
When he returned to New Mexico he worked for Joseph Pley, a partner of Lucien B. Maxwell who after marrying the daughter of Carlos Beaubien had become the owner of the million-acre Maxwell Land Grant
Maxwell Land Grant
The Maxwell Land Grant, also known as the Beaubien-Miranda Land Grant, was a Mexican land grant in Colfax County, New Mexico and part of adjoining Las Animas County, Colorado. This land grant was one of the largest contiguous private landholdings in the history of the United States...
.
He at first worked in Mora, New Mexico
Mora, New Mexico
Mora or Santa Gertrudis de lo de Mora is an unincorporated community in, and the county seat of, Mora County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about half way between Las Vegas, New Mexico and Taos on Highway 518 at an altitude of 7,180 feet...
and then at the Maxwell store in Rayado
Rayado, New Mexico
Rayado or Reyado was the first permanent settlement in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States and an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail.- Overview :...
.
On November 26, 1859, he married Petrita Beaubien, another daughter of Beaubien. In 1862 he acquired 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of the land grant for his Abreu Ranch.
A history of the New Mexico described the ranch:
- The ranch house is one of the most picturesque and attractive in New Mexico and is the scene of a most generous hospitality.
The family sold most of the ranch in 1911 after his death and was bought by Waite Phillips
Waite Phillips
Waite Phillips was an American petroleum businessman who created a fully integrated operation that combined petroleum producing, refining and marketing. With headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he also developed several office complexes and engaged in banking and ranching...
in the 1920s who was to donate 35857 acres (145.1 km²) to the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
in 1938.