Solomon Luna

Solomon Luna (1858–1912) was an American rancher and banker. He became one of the largest sheep owners in New Mexico. By the time of his death, "he was one of the wealthiest and most respected men in New Mexico."[1]

Solomon Luna
BornOctober 18, 1858
Los Lunas, Valencia County, New Mexico, U.S.
DiedAugust 29, 1912
Bernalillo County, New Mexico, U.S.
Cause of deathdrowning
Resting placeMount Calvary Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Alma materSaint Louis University
OccupationRancher, banker
Political partyRepublican Party
ChildrenMaximillian Luna
Parent(s)Antonio Luna
Isabella Luna

Early life

Solomon Luna was born on October 18, 1858 in Los Lunas, New Mexico.[2] His father was Antonio Luna and his mother, Isabella.[2]

Luna graduated from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.[2]

Career

Luna was a rancher in New Mexico.[1] In the 1880s, he sued William B. Slaughter and his brother John Bunyan Slaughter over rangeland they had claim; Luna won the lawsuit.[1] Meanwhile, he "became the largest sheep owner in New Mexico."[1]

Luna was the treasurer and tax collector of Valencia County from 1894 onwards.[2] Luna was a delegate at the 1910 state constitutional convention.[3] In 1911, when the New Mexico Territory became the state of New Mexico, Luna was elected in this same capacity.[2] Additionally, Luna served as the president of Bank of Commerce in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1904 onwards.[2]

Personal life

Luna was married and had a son, Maximillian Luna, who served in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War.[4] His son predeceased him.[4] Luna was the uncle of suffragist Nina Otero-Warren.[3]

Luna was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.[2]

Death and legacy

Luna died by drowning in a sheep vat on his ranch in Bernalillo County, New Mexico on August 29, 1912.[4] He was buried at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico. By the time of his death, "he was one of the wealthiest and most respected men in New Mexico."[1] Los Lunas High School, a high school in his hometown of Los Lunas, was named in his honor. In 1963, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[5]

References
  1. Sánchez, Joseph P.; Spude, Robert L.; Gómez, Art (2013). New Mexico: A History. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 159–160. ISBN 9780806151137. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  2. "Solomon Luna". Office of the State Historian. New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  3. Martinez, Stephen C. (2006). Civic Ideals in New Mexico: The Sacred Quest for Citizenship (PDF) (Thesis). New Mexico Humanities.
  4. "Sol. Luna Is Found Dead On Ranch. Republican Leader of New Mexico Is Found Drowned in Sheep Vat. Could Have Been A U.S. Senator". El Paso Herald. El Paso, Texas. August 30, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Hall of Great Westerners". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
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