My Life on the Frontier 1864-1882

by Miguel Antonio Otero

Overview

In this fascinating biography, the former Governor of Mexico, Miguel Antonio Otero, vividly describes incidents and characters of the period when Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico were passing through the last of their wild and romantic years.

This captivating memoir covers the adventures of Otero’s youth through age 23, including several encounters with Western icons such as Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickok, Gen. George Armstrong Custer, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, and Jesse James.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781789123067
Publisher:	Papamoa Press
Publication date:	01/13/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	254
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Miguel Antonio Otero II (October 17, 1859 - August 7, 1944), nicknamed “Gillie,” was the 16th Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1897-1906 and in later life the author of several books on Western lore. He was the son of Miguel Antonio Otero, a prominent businessman and New Mexico politician.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, one of four children, the Otero family moved from town to town across Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico, before establishing a permanent home in Las Vegas, New Mexico about 1879. Otero attended St. Louis University and the University of Notre Dame with his older brother Page, but preferred socializing to studying. He returned to Las Vegas in 1880 to work in his father’s bank, and began his career in politics. In a few years, he served as city clerk, probate clerk, county clerk, and recorder, and district court clerk. In 1892 he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and in 1896 he was appointed as governor of the Territory of New Mexico.

After nine years, and many struggles against a variety of political factions in his own party, Otero was replaced by Theodore Roosevelt in the governor’s mansion in 1906. He returned to banking and mining interests and served as state treasurer from 1909-1911. In later years he received numerous other commissions, including four years as marshal of the Panama Canal (1917-1921).

Otero was the author of several books, including The Real Billy the Kid: With New Light on the Lincoln County War (1936) and his autobiography, which was published in three instalments between 1935-1940: My Life on the Frontier, 1864-1882, My Life on the Frontier, 1882-1897, and My Nine Years as Governor of the Territory of New Mexico, 1897-1906.

Otero died in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1944, aged 84.