Romero, Secundino

Secundino Romero was born July 1, 1869, in Las Vegas, N.M. He was educated in N.M. and Kansas. While working in the Romero family mercantile business he became active in county Republican Party politics. During his career he was clerk in the Fourth Judicial District, mayor of the Town of Las Vegas, sheriff of San Miguel County, speaker of the House and publisher of El Independiente. He died on August 20, 1929, at his ranch in Cuervo, N.M.

From the description of Secundino Romero Papers, 1824-1911, (bulk 1885-1911). (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 43414321

Secundino Romero (b. 1869) was a rancher, merchant, and Republican political leader in San Miguel County, New Mexico. He held various public offices including Clerk of the District Court, Sheriff of San Miguel County, U.S. Marshall, and Mayor of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

From the description of Secundino Romero papers, 1893-1911. (Santa Fe Public Library). WorldCat record id: 38170105

Secundino Romero was born July 1, 1869, in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was the second son of Eugenio and Ascension Lopez de Romero. He received his elementary education in a private school in Romeroville, New Mexico, and later attended the Jesuit College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Romero attended St. Mary's University in St. Mary's, Kansas, and graduated in 1890 from Spaulding's Business College in Kansas City.

Romero returned to New Mexico in 1892. He worked in the Romero family mercantile business for the next few years and became active in county Republican Party politics. His ranch in Cuervo, New Mexico, south of Las Vegas, would eventually encompass 14,000 acres and would become a successful sheep and cattle ranch.

In 1896, Romero was named chairman of the San Miguel County Republican Central Committee, a position he held until 1911. Romero was appointed clerk of the Fourth Judicial District in 1897, a patronage position he would hold until 1910. During this time, he was also the publisher of El Independiente, a popular weekly Spanish language newspaper.

Romero served as mayor of the Town of Las Vegas from 1906-1911, and sheriff of San Miguel County from 1910-1911. Also during this period, Romero became involved in state Republican politics. In 1912, he was appointed United States Marshal for the district of New Mexico by President Taft. In 1914, Romero was elected to the House of Representatives from San Miguel County and served as speaker of the House from 1915-1917. From 1918 until 1922, Romero again served as sheriff of San Miguel County and in 1922 he was again appointed U. S. Marshal, serving until 1926. Romero stepped down as chair of the Republican Party in 1927 after nearly three decades of leadership in Republican politics in Las Vegas, San Miguel county, and the state of New Mexico. He died on August 20, 1929, at his ranch in Cuervo, after suffering a heart attack. He was sixty years old.

From the guide to the Secundino Romero Papers, 1824-1911, 1885-1911, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)