Three Angels over Rancho Grande

A biography of Patrocinio Martinez — part-Apache pioneer and first sheriff of Socorro County, back when Socorro still contained what became Catron County — who by this account arrested many men and killed none.

Context: Pacific Press Publishing, 1975 (a Destiny book, D-154). A Seventh-day Adventist biography: the narrative turns on the family’s conversion after “Brother Vargas came to town.”

Why it’s on the list: Law and order in the pre-county era, and a part-Apache man holding office while the Apache wars were fought around him — a complication the other sources leave out.

Where I saw it: Recommended by Debbie Lee alongside her four-part Catron County Centennial History, posted publicly by the Catron County Historical Society in April 2022. It is part of the Catron County reading list assembled for the Luna novel research — the county Kyle’s family town sits in.

Debbie Lee’s note: “Bio of Patrocinio Martinez, first sheriff of Socorro County, before it was split to include Catron county. (The family was from Reserve, as is mine, although we’re not related. The bio has some authentic history and authentic incidents that occurred in the early days. Please Note: The bio is written with a religious bent.)”

Connections

• Patrocinio Martinez — the subject
• Catron County — carved out of Socorro County in 1921