Hello All: I have made a "new discovery" in our Huerfano County database. My great-grandfather William Becker/Baker voted in the 1861 Territorial Election, District 8 & 9, Precinct 4, Pueblo of the Arkansas River. Was this New Mexico Territory in 1860? If so, which county? > Huerfano County was already settled when the Pikes Peakers headed west, and > it was one of the most stable areas when the territorial government made it > one of the seventeen original counties in 1861 using the St. Vrain-Vigil > land grant as the boundaries--from the New Mexico line to the Arkansas > River, from the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the Kansas state line. The first official business of the new county was conducted at the Autobees ranch. > Charles Autobees was one of the first county commissioners. When the current > Huerfano County boundaries were established in 1867, Badito, a trading > post/stage stop that opened about 1847, was designated county seat-- > because, it is said, the county clerk, appointed by the territorial > government, lived there. Finally, after much squabbling and several > elections, Walsenburg became county seat in 1872. > > Appreciate any help to find this area in 1850 and 1860, so I can check the census for those time periods. Regards, Louise