Adeline Axtell Drive

The long driveway from Broadview Rd into the camp runs through a parcel of land that is very narrow at the entrance, but widens out considerably by the time it enters the north parking lot.  The 1876 tax map shows that this parcel was owned by Adeline Axtell.  The 1891 tax map lists the owner as A.S. Axtell, presumably the same person.  So who WAS this Adeline Axtell?

There is very little information so far, but what exisits is both bizarre and intriguing.

Adeline was the first lady of New Mexico territory from 1875 to 1878.  Adeline S. Williams of Summit County married Samuel B. Axtell on June 20, 1840.  Biographical information on her husband then outlines his career without further mention of her. 

Her husband, Samuel Beach Axtell, was briefly governor of Utah territory in 1875, where he was heavily criticized for not being hard enough on the Mormons.  He was then appointed to governorship of New Mexico Territory.  He is best remembered for being possibly the most corrupt governor in the history of the United States up to that time.  In one famous exploit, he issued a proclamation to the effect that he had no paper left for issuing proclamations on. 

For his complete ineptitude, he was promoted to Chief Justice of the NMT Supreme Court.  (Source: http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Beach_Axtell).

The questions are:  Where was Adeline during her husband's wild west days?  Was she out having her own territorial adventures?  Or did she make her own life elsewhere?  Did Adeline ever live on her Richfield property?