Joseph Hoy Blazer was born in Pennsylvania in 1828 or 1829. He studied dentistry in St. Louis and practiced in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1867, as a former Union soldier and retired freighter, he established himself in the timber business and as a retail dealer in general merchandise. He acquired a share in George Nesmith's ranch and sawmill situated at a point over looking the south fork of the Rio Tularosa, in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The mill, known up until that time as La Maquina, had been there for many years before Blazer's arrival. Timber from it had been used to construct or repair buildings as far apart as Fort Davis, Texas, and Fort Selden, New Mexico. The water-powered mill supplied the lumber requirements of the small ranches in the vicinity and later of the Mescalero Apache Indian Agency. When the Reservation was set up Dr. Blazer was permitted to retain the property in private ownership. The post office was moved from South Fork to Blazer's Mill in 1874 and Dr. J. H. Blazer served as Postmaster until 1887 when the post office was moved to Mescalero, Otero County, New Mexico. Blazer's family from Iowa moved to New Mexico in 1877. His son, Almer N. Blazer later took over the Mill until 1899 when the local Indian Agent forcibly took possession of the land. Dr. Blazer lived in his home about a mile west of the Mescalero Indian School until his death in 1898. Blazer's Mill is remembered in New Mexico as the scene of the "Roberts-Brewer" fight during the Lincoln County War in 1878.
From the guide to the Blazer's Mill Records, 1835-1902 (bulk 1870-1899), ., (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research)
