I was not raised in New Mexico / Colorado but my mother and her siblings were. They were Archuleta’s and the original settler, Jose Maria Archuleta, was there in 1805 or thereabouts. Archuleta Mesa is up there and is rumored to be a hotspot for the paranormal and UFO activity even today.
Our first ancestor to the New World was a soldier in the service of Captain Juan Usebio Ornate (sic) - a mercenary and ship master in the employ of the King of Spain and he made landfall (1540) in what is today, Vera Cruz. Our ancestor arrived with 10 horses and a full outfit of expensive weaponry and armor so I imagine the ladies found him quite desirable as an escort thru the dangerous country.
Soon they began a long march northward and did not stop until the arrived in what is now Durango, Colorado - and later Abiquiu. My uncle Jerry is a former editor of the Denver Post and did most of this research using resources available to him through his work. Jerry is now 97 years old and has stories of shamen, desperate outlaws and “ Brujas” who stole children in the old days.
Oh, these are the most marvelous stories. Your uncle Jerry did a great service with his research. Pass on the thanks of a history buff. I sincerely hope it’s on the web. Such work deserves not to be lost.
My grandfather reported for the Denver Post in 1902. He was a rare earths miner and naturalist, as well.
http://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/jackbell/jackbelltimeline.htm