Miguel Antonio Otero (June 21, 1829 – May 30, 1882) was a prominent
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
politician of the
New Mexico Territory
The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912. It was created from the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico, as a result of ''Santa Fe de Nuevo México ...
and instrumental in the economic development of the territory.
Early life
Miguel Antonio Otero was born in
Valencia, Nuevo México to
Don Vicente Otero and Doña Gertrudis Aragón de Otero. Don Vicente had held prominent civic positions as judge and mayor in Valencia County, under both
Spanish and
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
Governments.
Otero received his early education in Valencia. In 1841 he enrolled at
St. Louis University
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit research university with campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, and Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Mississip ...
in the
state of
Missouri and subsequently graduated from
Pingree College in
Fishkill, New York, where he taught while he began his study of law. In 1851 he returned to Missouri, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar.
In 1852, he returned to New Mexico and led a herd of sheep, thought to belong to his brother, Antonio José Otero, overland to California. Returning from California, he practiced law for a short time.
He was a public advocate of the
Mexican–American War.
Career as politician
In 1852 Otero became the private secretary to the
Governor of New Mexico,
William C. Lane, and was elected to the second Legislative Assembly of the territory of New Mexico. In 1854 he was appointed attorney general for the territory, and served for two years. On July 23, 1856 he was seated as a
Democratic
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
Delegate to the
U.S. House of Representatives, after successfully contesting the election of
José Manuel Gallegos
José Manuel Gallegos (October 30, 1815 – April 21, 1875) was a delegate to the US Congress from the Territory of New Mexico.
Biography
Born in Abiquiú, in what is now Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, Gallegos attended parochial schools ...
. With the support of the Bishop of New Mexico,
Jean Baptiste Lamy
Jean-Baptiste Lamy (October 11, 1814 – February 13, 1888), was a French-American Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Willa Cather's novel '' Death Comes for the Archbishop'' is based on his life ...
, Otero was reelected to the next two Congresses, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1860.
An outspoken Congressman and a strong supporter of the railroad, Otero devoted much of his efforts to the construction of the transcontinental railroad through New Mexico. He introduced the ''Memorial of the
New Mexican Railway Company, in Relation to the Pacific Railroad'' on May 21, 1860.
After Otero had completed his term in Congress, President
Abraham Lincoln nominated him to be minister to Spain in 1861. Otero declined that office to accept an appointment as secretary of the territory of New Mexico, but the Senate did not confirm him because of his involvement in the 1860
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 ...
in
South Carolina and his pro-confederate tendencies.
During the Confederate invasion of New Mexico, the Confederate Army of the West accessed Otero's stores which contained hundreds of thousands of dollars of merchandise. These supplies helped allowed the Confederate Army to sack Albuquerque in March 1862. It was a matter of public dispute over whether Otero was forced by the Confederate Army, with allegations that Otero had willingly cooperated.
Otero failed in another reelection bid in 1880. His business endeavors, however, in merchandizing, banking, and farming, were highly successful. In addition, he was a strong supporter of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. And he became one of the founders and later president of the
San Miguel National Bank in
Las Vegas, New Mexico. He also engaged in out-of-state endeavors, mostly in
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...
.
He died in 1882 at the age of 52 and was buried in
Denver's
Riverside Cemetery.
His son, also named
Miguel Antonio Otero, and nephew
Mariano S. Otero
Mariano Sabino Otero (August 29, 1844 – February 1, 1904) was a Congressional delegate from the Territory of New Mexico, nephew of Miguel Antonio Otero (I) and cousin of Miguel Antonio Otero (II).
Born in Peralta, New Mexico, Otero atte ...
would continue the family tradition of civic service, his son becoming
Governor of New Mexico, and his nephew a delegate.
Both
Otero County, New Mexico and
Otero County, Colorado are named in his honor.
See also
*
List of Hispanic Americans in the United States Congress
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Otero, Miguel Antonio
1829 births
1882 deaths
Hispanic and Latino American Confederates
People of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico
Members of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature
American people of Spanish descent
Neomexicanos
Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico Territory
Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
New Mexico Democrats
19th-century American politicians