Jesse Thomas Smith 1890-1985

In the 1920 US Federal Census, Mr. Smith is listed as living in “Field, Curry County, New Mexico”. His birthplace is listed as Arkansas, being born in about 1890. He is listed as a teacher. He is also listed as being married to Maggie (b1890) with the following children: Marques L (b1916), Jesse T (b1918), and Unnamed Infant (b1920).

In the 1930 US Federal Census, Mr. Smith is listed as living in Lordsburg, NM. He is listed as a principal of the Public School. Maggie and the above children are listed with him, with the addition of Ouida (b1921) and Unnamed Infant is now listed as BillyLee.

Mr. Smith first appears in the Albuquerque City Directories in 1936, living at 1406 E Silver with his wife Maggie (no occupation for Mr. Smith is listed). In the 1937 Directory Mr. Smith is listed as a laborer living at 522 S. Broadway. Maggie is listed separately from him, but at the same location. In the same year, Maggie sued for divorce on the grounds of abandonment.

In 1938, Mr. Smith is listed as a shoe repairer for Library Shoe Shop, 522 S. Broadway. Mr. Smith is not listed for the year 1939. In a 1939 newspaper article, it is reported that Mr. Smith is field auditor for school tax and compensation tax divisions.

In the 1940 US Federal Census, Maggie Smith is listed living at 1604 E Central. She is living with all four of her children and is listed as a widow. The same census records list Mr. Smith living in Los Griegos with his wife Leola. The Directory lists his address as Rio Grande and Candelaria.

The 1941, 1942 and 1943 Directories list Mr. Smith as the district manager of the New Mexico Bureau of Revenue. By 1945, he is listed as the “manager real estate department”. A newspaper article dated 28 Jan 1945 from the Albuquerque Journal announces Mr. Smith’s new position and gives brief history of Mr. Smith’s career.

Mr. Smith is listed as realtor in the newspapers in the 1940s and 1950s. Starting in the 1950s ads start to appear inviting people to self-pick peaches and plums from Mr. Smith’s orchards. Mr. Smith remained at his home on Rio Grande until his death in 1985.

Louis Watt Cantelou 1900-1984

The 1920 US Federal Census has Mr. Cantelou listed living in Santa Fe with his mother while attending school. It also lists his birth occurring in about 1900 in Oklahoma. Mr. Cantelou first appears in Albuquerque in 1923 attending the University of New Mexico. In 1925 he married Nelle Hess (b1900).

Starting in 1926, Mr. Cantelou appears in the Albuquerque City Directory in various employments having to do with surveying. In 1926, he is employed as a transitman for Ross Engineering Office. [Several of the plats contained within the book have Ross Engineering or Ross-Beyer Engineering letterhead.]

In 1927, Mr. Cantelou is listed as a surveyor for “Neel and Cantelou”. From 1928 through 1930, he is listed as the Bernalillo County Surveyor in the County Government section. The 1930 US Federal Census has the Cantelous living at 105 S. Bryn Mawr with their son, Louis Watt Cantelou, Jr. (b1929). Mr. Cantelou’s occupation is listed as Civil Engineer.

From 1931 through 1933, Mr. Cantelou is listed as the owner of General Engineering and Equipment Co. In 1934, he is simply listed as a civil engineer, no employer. From 1935 through 1937, Mr. Cantelou is employed by NM Engineering Co. [This company also appears on several of the plats.] In 1938 and 1939, he again has his own business, this time called LW Cantelou and Co Consulting.

By 1940, Mr. Cantelou has moved back to Santa Fe. From 1940 through 1949, he is listed as the manager of Associated Contractors of NM. In the 1942 City Directory it is the last time Nelle appears listed with Mr. Cantelou. In 1947, he is listed with a new wife named Mabel. Nelle’s obituary states she moved to Alamogordo in 1948.

From 1949 through 1954, Mr. Cantelou is simply listed as “engineer”. His second wife Mabel died in 1955 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Albuquerque. From 1955 through 1964, Mr. Cantelou is listed as a highway engineer for the State Highway Department. By 1958, he gained a third wife by name of Opal. He had retired by 1968. The couple eventually moved back to Albuquerque after 1971. Mr. Cantelou died 1984.

Edmund Ross 1887-1965

Edmund Ross was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1887. His grandfather was Edmund G. Ross. Edmund G. was the deciding senatorial vote against impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Edmund G. was also the governor of the Territory of New Mexico from 1866-1871. Edmund’s father, Pitt, was a surveyor and established Ross Engineering in 1886. Pitt went on to be the surveyor for Bernalillo County in the 1900s and 1910s.

Mr. Ross attended UNM, graduating in 1909. He married his wife, Evelyn, in 1914. They eventually had four children: Evelyn Everett (b1916), Elizabeth Ann (b1920), Jean Everett (b1923), Edmund Pitt (b1926) and Arthur Everett (b.1932).

Mr. Ross began working for this father as a surveyor in 1899 when he was only 12. He took over the office of County Surveyor when his father died in 1925. Mr. Clarence B. Beyer joined his engineering company and it then became known as Ross-Beyer Engineering. [Several of the plats contained within the book have Ross Engineering or Ross-Beyer Engineering letterhead.]

Between the years 1925 and 1949, the office of County Surveyor was held by the same three men: Mr. Ross, Mr. Cantelou and Mr. Beyer. Mr. Ross held the title: 1935-1938 and 1943-1946.

Mr. Ross also surveyed the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District in the late 1920s. Evelyn was killed in a car accident in 1957. Mr. Ross remarried and was survived by his second wife, Viola. He died 14 Nov 1965.

Clarence B. Beyer 1890-1986

Clarence Beyer was born in 1890 in Michigan. He moved to New Mexico in 1905, where he worked at a grocery clerk and secretary for the NM State Fair Association.

He married Susan Ross Cobb in 1917. Susan was a first cousin of Edmund Ross, and in fact was living in the Ross household during the 1910 US Federal Census. Newspapers state they meet while both were working in the State Fair Association in the fall on 1916.

Starting in 1918, Mr. Beyer is listed as a Civil Engineer when he is mentioned in the newspaper as the acting city engineer. He started working for Ross Engineering Company in 1923. The company became Ross-Beyer Engineering in 1943. [Several of the plats contained within the book have Ross Engineering or Ross-Beyer Engineering letterhead.]

Mr. Beyer was Bernalillo County Surveyor 1931-1934, 1939-1942 and 1947-1949.

Mr. Beyer worked for Ross-Beyer Engineering until he retired in 1969. Mr. Beyer passed away in 1986.