Lemon, John, ca. 1831-1871.

Mercantile store, freight business, and flour mill owner in La Mesilla, New Mexico. Lemon served as probate judge of Dona Ana County from 1865-1869, and later as deputy collector of U.S. customs in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Lemon was active in local politics, working with William L. Rynerson to strengthen the Republican party. He was killed during an 1871 rally in Mesilla, when Republicans and Democrats clashed in the town plaza. Lemon's widow, Luciana, married Rynerson the following year.

From the description of John Lemon family papers, 1862-1948 (bulk 1861-1913). (New Mexico State University). WorldCat record id: 45468507

John Lemon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania around 1831. He was orphaned at a young age and raised by an uncle. Lemon traveled from Pennsylvania to California by wagon train in 1848. He apparently joined another uncle in California, working as a mail carrier and then as a cowboy.

Lemon married Luciana Pope in 1849. Luciana Pope was the daughter of Julian Pope and Dona Maria Juliana Rodriguez, who were living in Napa Valley when John and Luciana met. The couple had seven children, Maria Juliana, Frank, John Jr., Calita Lemon Kennedy, Rose, Julia Lemon Christy and Katie Lemon. Only John Jr., Calita, Julia and Katie survived to adulthood.

The Lemons owned and operated a hotel in San Bernardino, California, in 1858. They sold the hotel in 1859 and for a time ran a resort hotel at Faywood, New Mexico, near City of the Rocks. Around 1860 the family settled in Mesilla, Territory of New Mexico.

In Mesilla, Lemon opened a mercantile store and a freighting business serving area forts including Fort Selden, Craig and Cummings. Customers of his businesses included Kit Carson, Gen. James Carleton, Judge Roy Bean, Daniel Frietze, Jacob Appelzoller, W. L. Rynerson and the Bennetts.

Lemon served as Doña Ana County Probate Judge during 1864-1869, and later served as Deputy Collector of U.S. Customs in Las Cruces, and as Customs Inspector in Mesilla.

Lemon's business interests were interrupted during the Confederate occupation of Mesilla during the American Civil War. His refusal to support Colonel Baylor resulted in imprisonment for a time and confiscation of his property. Lemon apparently was sentenced to be hanged but the punishment was not enforced.

After the Civil War, Lemon and William L. Rynerson worked to build the Republican party in Mesilla. On August 27, 1871, Lemon participated in a Republican rally held in Mesilla. The same day, the Democratic party also held a rally in a different area of the town. As the rallies ended the opposing sides converged in the Mesilla Plaza, where a riot ensued. Lemon, the first of nine fatalities of the riot, was clubbed in the head by Democratic leader I. N. Kelley.

Luciana Lemon married William Rynerson in December 1872. The Rynersons lived in Las Cruces. Luciana and Rynerson had three children: William Jr., Henry, and a daughter who died in infancy. Rynerson died in October 1893, and Luciana died on June 29, 1900.

From the guide to the John Lemon family papers, 1862-2000 (bulk 1862-1913), (New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special Collections Department)