Obituary of W. A. Paxton

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Obituary of W. A. Paxton

(1862 - 1954)

Alamogordo Daily News

Colorful Early Day Indian Fighter Buried

Final rites were conducted at the Church of Christ in Mayhill Sunday afternoon at 2:00 for W. A. (Uncle Billy) Paxton, 91, one of the most colorful Indian fighters of the early Southwest, who died Friday night, Feb. 19, at the home of a granddaughter, Mrs. Robert Dockray who resides between Elk and Mayhill. Interment was in Elk Cemetery.

Robert A. Waller, Church of Christ minister from Artesia, officiated at the services. Pallbearers included Lee Beall, Alamogordo; Oris Cleve, Elk; John L Parker, Mayhill; Jim Mahill, Mayhill, R. W. Formwalt, Portales, and Buzz Taylor, Hope, N. M. The well-known hymns, "Does Jesus Care?", "Never Grow Old", "O, Think of the Home Over There", were sung by Howard Haynes, Ronell Haynes, C. Dockray, Jerry Zumwalt, Jackie Woodside, and Don Stark.

Mr. Paxton was born March 9, 1862, in Goliad county, Texas and was closely identified with pioneer ranching development in Arizona and New Mexico after coming to the West in 1880.

One historic event in the life of Paxton is that it was he who saved the life of the Indian baby who grew up to become the Apache Kid.

The story goes that after Paxton came to Arizona, he engaged in a number of battles directed by cowpunchers against the Indians. At one time, returning to camp from an attack on Chief Geronimo, the settlers found a dead squaw with a papoose crying in the cradle on her back.

Paxton took the baby, hoping to trade it for two white children held by the Apaches. When no bargain could be made, the boy was reared by a village woman; was sent to an Indian school where he came to be called Zenegolache, meaning "The Crazy One." He was later to become the feared and notorious savage raider known as the Apache Kid. The group of cowpunchers who engaged in this particular fracas with Geronimo was headed by John Parks, his sons, Jim and John, and W. H. (Uncle Billy) Mauldin, now of California. Old Geronimo had about 100 Indians who were marauding in Doubtful Canyon in the vicinity of Duncan, Ariz. The Indians were made to flee.

It was 1902 when Mr. Paxton left Arizona and settled in Otero county. Preceded in death by his wife, and a daughter, Mrs. E. S. Chandler, who both died several years ago, Mr. Paxton’s surviving relatives include a son, Carl of Alamogordo; another son, Earl of Greentree, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Paxton, their son, Billy, and daughter Mrs. Jack Landers and husband attended the funeral services Sunday from Alamogordo.

The body of Mr. Paxton lay in state at Mullins-Hamilton Funeral home prior to services.

Alamogordo Daily News, Tuesday, February 23, 1954. Retyped by Elaine Watson 3-18-2009