John M. and Ruth Tompkins Penfield family papers

Collection

Identifier: Ms-0556

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection contains materials of value to researchers interested in Lincoln County. Genealogists, geographers, historians, anthropologists, and other researchers will find the collection a valuable source on Lincoln County. Papers of John M. and Ruth Tompkins Penfield and records of the Penfield Store of Lincoln, New Mexico were donated by descendants of the Penfield family. The Penfield Store was formerly the Tunstall-McSween store of Lincoln County War fame. John Penfield bought the store around 1900 and it was run by the Penfield family until sold to the State of New Mexico around 1957. Also included are papers of Ruth Tompkins Penfield's family, who were involved in mining in the White Oaks area in the latter 19th century. She was a prep student at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts around 1901, received teacher training, then taught school in White Oaks and Lincoln. Additionally, there are records from John Cockrell, an attorney for James Dolan, who ran the store after it was taken over by Dolan.

Dates

1890 - 1960

Conditions Governing Access

Open. All materials in this collection are available for research in the Caroline E. Stras Research Room.

Biographical / Historical

John Penfield was born November 26, 1866 in Portland, Middlesex County, Connecticut. He died at the age of 71 on February 3, 1938 and is buried in the Lincoln Cemetery, Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico. His wife Ruth Tomkins Martin Penfield was born 1887 and died at age 82 in 1970. She is buried in the Lincoln Cemetery, as well. In 1914, John M. Penfield bought the former Tunstall Store. The building once housed a bank and law office for John Tunstall’s associates John Chisum and Alexander McSween, as well as living quarters for himself. After purchasing the building, Penfield operated it as the Penfield Store, selling hardware and general merchandise. That house was inherited by descendants of John Penfield and Ruth Tompkins Penfield who carried on the business until 1957, when they sold the property to the State of New Mexico. The building is on both the National Historic Register and the State Register of Cultural Properties. The Penfield family papers contain correspondence, maps, deeds, newspaper clippings, ledgers, and a small number of photos. At some point before the donation to the archives, some correspondence relating to Pat Garret and other Lincoln County residents was removed from a letter press book. Remaining documents still intact are part of the John Cockrell correspondence series, including letters to and from Pat F. Garrett, Sam Corbet, James Dolan and others. Cockrell was an attorney in Johnson County, Missouri before moving his practice to Lincoln County, New Mexico in 1885. Cockrell was an associate in partnership in the law firm of Catron, Thornton, Clancy and Cockrell in Santa Fe. Included are correspondence, legal documents with a considerable number of personal letters from Cockrell’s father, Senator Francis M. Cockrell of Missouri.

Extent

7.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of John M. and Ruth Tompkins Penfield and records of the Penfield Store of Lincoln, New Mexico. The Penfield Store was formerly the Tunstall-McSween store of Lincoln County War fame. John Penfied bought the store around 1900 and it was run by the Penfield family until being sold to the state of New Mexico around 1957. Also included are papers Ruth Tompkins Penfield's family, who were involved in mining in the White Oaks area in the latter 19th century.