Joseph EDWARDS Records, Eddy County, New Mexico USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted By: Richard Wilkinson jrrrr@ZiaNet.com ************************************************************ ROCKY ARROYO EDDY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO JOSEPH EDWARDS CEMETERY SITE Records extracted by Richard Wilkinson Typing by Richard Wilkinson Jan 2000 Submittal by Richard Wilkinson Jan 2000 My thanks to Jed Howard, local county historian, for his assistance in the following information. This site is located well off the beaten path near the Rocky Arroyo. It appears to be on private property so ask permission before leaving the public road. It is found before getting to the Rocky Arroyo Cemetery. The Rocky Arroyo Cemetery can be found just off the road on State Highway 137(also known as the Queen's Highway). This site is about 1 mile south of Highway 285 off Waterhole Road. To get there from Carlsbad, NM, you must go north on Highway 285 about 12 miles from the city limits and turn left (south) on highway 137. Turn left on the dirt road marked as Waterhole Road and follow it to just before getting to the Rocky Arroyo. You will come to the site just off the road to the right, maybe 3/4 of a mile or so after leaving the paved road. If you drive down into the arroyo you have gone too far. It will be up top on the right and you will see a pile of stones marking the grave 100 yards or so away. The GPS (global positioning system) coordinates are 32 deg 29 min 14 sec North by 104 deg 24 min 37 sec West. The margin of error is 49 feet. You will easily see the site if you are within 49 feet of the site. Joseph Edwards was first married to Susan C. Susan is buried about 1.5 miles up stream from Joseph. Susan remarried after the death of Joseph. She married to one of their ranch hands, Walter E. Thayer. Joseph Edwards home- steaded in the area prior to the Jones family (see archieves for Rocky Arroyo Cemetery) Joseph had 3 or 4 boy children with Susan while they were married. Some of his children grew up and remained in the area and some moved away. Joseph was shot to death by Kip McKenney while stealing cattle at or near Rattle Snake Springs in the Washington Ranch area. Washington Ranch is located about 25 miles south of Carlsbad on the way to El Paso, TX. His body was taken back to Rocky Arroyo for burial. Kip McKenney was once a deputy with Sheriff Pat Garrett, of Lincoln Co. The stone for this single grave appears to have broken into three parts. Someone has repaired the original stone and layed it down at an end of the site. It has been set in concret. The stone is carved to say: Sacred is the Memory of Joseph M. Edwards born Aug 3, 1848 died May 8, 1881.