Too late for the house - remember the man

Washington Ellsworth Lindsey grew up a poor farm boy in Ohio. He slept in the loft of his family's log house, climbing a straight ladder along the wall to reach his room.

He loved fishing in Capitana Creek, searching for arrowheads and tramping through the woods.

From a young age, he understood the opportunities provided by education and he talked of moving west.

In 1891, he earned an advanced degree from the University of Michigan, paying his way through college by working odd jobs, teaching in country schools and sometimes boxing.

Because he openly advocated for westward expansion, his classmates at Michigan called him "Greeley," as in Horace Greeley, the New York newspaper editor who encouraged readers in 1865 to "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country."

Indeed Lindsey did go west, landing in Portales on June 20, 1900.

We know these things because of the research of Eastern New Mexico University Professor Ira C. Ihde, who published Lindsey's life story in the New Mexico Historical Review in 1951.

Lindsey came here, according to Ihde, because a doctor suggested a high and dry climate might benefit his wife Mattie, who was "seemingly growing deaf," Ihde reported.

The Lindseys bought a homestead claim in north Portales, a 160-acre tract, on which they immediately built a small home.

"Later he enlarged (the home) and, except for short intervals, this remained his home throughout his life," Ihde wrote in the Review.

The house still stands more than 120 years later ... at least it will be standing for a few more days. Roosevelt County bought the house, surrounded by about 6 acres, for $133,240.58 in 2018. The county plans to build a barn for its road equipment. The house will be demolished.

There is no sense trying to save Lindsey's house, which has been vacant the past four years. We've been having this discussion for weeks now. No one has stepped up to spend the money needed to restore it, and it's not taxpayers' responsibility. And the people who lived there over the past 95 years since Lindsey's death have renovated it so many times it no longer looks like Lindsey's house anyway. At least two rooms have been added and the governor wouldn't know what to make of all the modern appliances and the indoor plumbing.

But it's good we've had the debate about his house because it's reminded us to remember the great man who built it.

He helped create Roosevelt County

One of Lindsey's first public acts after moving to Portales was writing a proposal to create Roosevelt County. The county seat before 1903 was in Roswell. Lindsey lobbied for the new county, arguing the Pecos Valley and Northeastern Railroad's appearance in 1898 had spurred a population growth, justifying a new center for local government. The territorial legislature agreed and carved Roosevelt County out of Chaves and Guadalupe counties.

He remained politically active and was soon appointed the county's Republican chairman. He was elected Portales' first mayor in 1909. He played an active role in New Mexico achieving statehood in 1912 and became New Mexico's lieutenant governor in 1916. After Gov. Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca died in office, Lindsey became the state's third governor, on Feb. 18, 1917.

Ihde's report in the Historical Review references Lindsey as a long-time "friend of education," crediting him with the financial stability of Portales' earliest public schools. He was on the school board for years and Lindsey Elementary (now Lindsey Steiner) was named in his honor.

For those reasons and more, his likeness stands outside the Roosevelt County Courthouse, right hand grasping a shovel as if he's building a community that will thrive for at least a century ... so far.

He cultivated friendship, fellowship

But perhaps the politician Lindsey is not the only reason we should remember him. By all accounts, he was one of us, getting to know his neighbors from what Ihde described as "a two-seated hack drawn by one horse, called 'Old Mouse.'" Lindsey and Old Mouse were well known throughout the region until he traded the horse for an automobile, which he also named: "Bull Moose."

"He cultivated friendship and fellowship in his home, his church, and his fraternal organizations," Ihde wrote.

And, like us, he sometimes suffered and failed in his life's ventures.

Ihde estimated Lindsey lost $50,000 in his efforts to bring irrigation to the community's farmers. He also lost money speculating where railroad shops might be located. He regularly disagreed with his fellow Republicans on political issues and Roosevelt County, by 602 votes, favored the Democrat W.C. McDonald over Lindsey in the election for lieutenant governor in 1916. And illness consumed the final months of his life.

The Portales Valley News reported Lindsey suffered "a very serious attack of the flu" in February 1926 and never fully recovered. On April 5, Lindsey reclined on a couch in his home on what today is North Boston Street, and he shot himself through the heart. "The cause of his rash act was probably despondency over his ill health, and from a message which he left behind, it was indicated that he had contemplated the act for some time," the newspaper reported.

He was 63.

'Pleasant gentleman' was faithful friend

His loss was felt around the state.

"(Lindsey) was a pleasant gentleman whom we counted as a friend," were the words from the Santa Fe New Mexican's editorial board.

"With no previous executive experience and little acquaintance with public office, he was thrust into the office of governor during a most difficult time, and while not a particularly aggressive figure as 'war governor,' no one impugned his motives nor his patriotic efforts to discharge the duties of his office in the best of his ability. He had many friends and will be missed ..."

The Albuquerque Journal-Herald reported on his funeral.

"All the business houses were closed during the hours of the funeral and burial as were all the schools," the newspaper reported. "A large number were in attendance at the funeral, and there were many beautiful floral tributes."

The Portales newspapers also mourned Lindsey's death.

The Valley News reported the "sympathy of the entire state" was with the former governor's family. It reported Lindsey had recently remodeled his home and "prospects were bright" for the future. It also noted Lindsey had been "identified with the activities of town and community" for years.

The Roosevelt County Herald didn't exist when Lindsey died, but the paper reported his death on the front page of its inaugural edition on May 12, 1926.

"We realize that this paper has been born since the demise of ex-Governor Lindsey," the paper reported. "(B)ut since he was an ever faithful friend of Roosevelt County, we do not feel like issuing our first paper without a mention of this esteemed gentleman ..."

The loss of his 121-year-old house is sad. But it's far more important we remember Washington Ellsworth Lindsey the man.

And remember Old Mouse, too.

David Stevens writes about regional history for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him:

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