Luna, Solomon, 1885-1912

Solomon Luna was born in 1858 in New Mexico. He descends from the family of Don Domingo de Luna, cousin to the Duke of Albuquerque and the first of the Luna family to settle in what is now New Mexico. Don Domingo de Luna was given grant lands in what is now Los Lunas, Valencia County, New Mexico.

Solomon Luna has been characterized as a prominent politician and businessman, "one of the leading shopowners of the southwest." He has also been known as "sheep baron Luna." His reputation ties into the professional and political positions he has held. He was advisor to Governor Otero, the president of the Sheep Growers" Association, and president of the Sheep Sanitary Board. He was involved in New Mexican politics from the time New Mexico was a Territory, through its statehood. According to Pittman, "while Solomon Luna had held several offices in Valencia County, he solicited none."

Luna's political career began in 1885, when he was elected to the office of Probate Clerk. In 1892, he held the office of Sheriff. In 1894, he became the treasurer and collector of Valencia County. In 1896, he was one of six members elected (along with T.B. Catron) to the National Republican Committee from New Mexico. In 1900, Luna was offered the Republican nomination to Congress, but he declined. In 1911, Luna was offered the candidacy for the first state governor of New Mexico, but he declined this as well. He did proudly accept, however, a nomination as delegate to the Constitutional Convention of New Mexico in 1910. In a time of great corruption in New Mexican politics, Solomon Luna, according to Lucretia Pittman, was known as "the one who remained clean among corruption."

Solomon Luna died under somewhat mysterious circumstances in 1912 while overseeing the dipping of his sheep on the ranch of Montague Stevens in Horse Springs, New Mexico. Luna's body was found in a dipping vat containing a solution of cresyllic acid and soap. Though murder and suicide were considered, his death was ultimately declared accidental, and it is believed that he lost his footing at night on the way to the outhouse.

From the guide to the Solomon Luna Papers, 1883-1941, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)