Orson Oriel Richins and Rachel Hennefer established a homestead in southwestern New Mexico after being forced from their ranch in Colonia Diaz during the Mexican revolution. The homestead was located in the “boot heel’ of New Mexico, on the eastern side of the Continental Divide in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, USA.
In 2002, descendants of Orson O. Richins & Rachel Hennefer determined to visit Orson’s homestead. David and Charles Walter researched the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) records to locate the former homestead site. Next, they secured permission from the landowners, as the homestead site was on private ranch land. The date of the discovery trip was set for May 25, 2002, which was the 121st anniversary of Orson O. Richins & Rachel Hennefer’s wedding date (May 25, 1881).
“The day was bright and clear, with just a few puffy clouds in the sky, which is typical for May in southwestern New Mexico,” David Walter, expedition planner, said. Thirty (30) family members converged upon the Hachita Store from three directions: Shawn Blasi, Bernard Richardson Jr, and David Walter drove three (3) cars south from Lordsburg, New Mexico along Interstate 10 to the Hachita exit, where they met Charles R. Walter Sr., Charles R. Walter Jr., and Keith A. Walter, who had driven three (3) cars west from Deming, New Mexico. Driving south on NM SR 146 towards Hachita, NM until they arrived at the Hachita Mercantile store, where they rendezvoused with Darrow Richins, Russell Richins, Scott Richins, Mel Richins, and Albert Jones in four (4) more vehicles coming from Cotton City, New Mexico.
Cotton City
Starting point for the Richins party” Darrow, Russell, Scott, Mel and Albert Jones.
Lordsburg
Starting point for Shawn Blasi, Bernard Richardson Jr, David Walter and Howard Walter.
Deming
Starting point for Charles R. Walter Sr., Charles R. Walter Jr., and Keith A. Walter.
Richins Homestead
The explorers’ goal for the day: Homestead of Orson Oriel Richins and Rachel Hennefer.
Hachita Cemetery
Colonia Diaz
As the explorers made their way south from Hachita, they stopped at the Hachita cemetery to take pictures of family gravesites: Golda Ireta Richins Wright, and her son James Lee Wright. Then they continued their journey south on NM SR 81 for approximately 10 miles. Then they travelled a generally southernly direction for approximately 11.5 miles along graded dirt roads that turned into primitive ranch tracks.
dFrom prior research, the party knew it was near its destination, but there were no section markers or other signs to help them locate the old Richins homestead. Howard Walter had provided a copy of a photo of the Richins homestead taken on September 23, 1913. The caption information that accompanied the 1913 photo reads: “Orson O. Richins Ranch Sept 23, 1915. The farm (Dry Land Farming) in the background. The home we lived in with dirt floor, and a tin roof, with bear grass on top to deflect the heat. Visitors with buggy and white horse by house. The wagon on the right is the one we used to go places in. Every Sunday morning driving 20 miles to Hachita to hold and attend Sunday-school and church. Ena A. (Richins) Walter Mitchell.”
Inscription on back of photo:
"The farm (Dry Land Farming) in the background. The home we lived in with dirt floor, and a tin roof, with
bear grass on top to deflect the heat. Visitors with buggy and white horse by house. The wagon on the
right is the one we used to go places in. Every Sunday morning driving 20 miles to Hachita to hold and
attend Sunday-school and church." - Ena Walter Walter Mitchell.
The explorers decided to use that photo to match the skyline profile of the Big Hatchet Mountains to the west to locate the correct location. After about two hours of walking ridgelines, they found the exact location from which the original photo was taken. (On the way home at the end of the day, Scott, Russell and Darrow Richins visited the owners of the ranch land where the Richins homestead was located. Scott Richins reported. “The Petersona (ranch owners) confirmed we had found the correct location and informed us that the windmill at the homestead site is still called the Richins Windmill.” If they had only asked the owners first, they would have saved themselves a lot of time!)
David Walter took a photo to show how the land looks today. Later the 1913 photo was superimposed on David’s modern view to show how things had changed.
“This little valley was the best farmland in the area that we had passed through, and it correlates with the BLM map that Charles R. Walter Sr. had researched,” David Walter said. “There is a windmill and stock tank at this location. I surmised that the windmill is on one of the two wells that grandfather had dug on his property. The house was just to the right of the tree in the present-day photo. In fact, the tree was probably planted to shade what would have been the south side of the house.”
After exploring the homestead site and finding a few old artifacts, the group gathered for family photos by generation. The first photo group is Orson O. Richins’ grandchildren and their spouses who were in attendance. The second photo group is the great-grandchildren generation and their spouses. The third photo group is the great-great-grandchildren that were there.
One can only speculate as to why Grandpa Orson selected this area to settle in. We observed that his homestead was on the best land in the area for farming. This was very evident during our trip in May 2002, as it was the only land we saw on our route that was suitable for farming. He may have been familiar with this area from his experience freighting when he lived in Mexico. Other factors that may have influenced his decision to settle in this area could be its proximity to the ranch he and his family had to abandon in their forced exodus from Colonia Diaz (near present-day Ascension), Chihuahua, Mexico. He may have been hoping that the political climate in Mexico would moderate, and he and his family would be able to return to their home and property there.
L-R – Melbourn Richins, Pearl Walter, Howard Walter, Charles Walter,
David Walter, Anna Walter, Darrow Richins, Albert Jones, Maxene Jones.
L-R – Keith Walter, Pat Walter, Jadean Walter, Lori Walter, Charles Walter Jr, Melody Richins,
Russ Richins, Shawn Blasi, Russell Richins, Scott Richins, Bernard Richardson Jr., Ronda Richardson.
L-R – Carolyn Richins, Diedre Richins, Elizabeth Richins, Lauren Blasi, Leland Blasi
(in arms), Robert L. Jones III, Tyrus Blasi, Savannah Blasi, Daron Richardson.
As the explorers stood on the small hill overlooking the homestead site, and seeing what the area was like, their admiration for their grandparents’ fortitude and commitment increased. To persevere in a raw and primitive land, to wrestle from the elements the opportunity to raise a family was overwhelming. Their situation was compounded by being forced from their homes and property and having to start over when they were in their 50s. “Their examples of faith and obedience inspired gratitude for them and their legacy,” David Walter said.