Alejandro Otero

Alejandro Otero

Alejandro Otero was born on October 23, 1893, in Las Vegas, San Miguel County, New Mexico Territory. His parents were Feliciano Otero (1865-1936) and Facunda Dolores "Lola" Bernal (1867-1905). Alejandro had three siblings: Antonia (b. 1888), Narciso Abelino (b.1892), and Santiago (1898-1963) and two siblings, Stella and Max (b. 1900), from his father's second marriage.

Alejandro married Cleotilda Gallegos (1894-1949) on May 22, 1912, in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Together they had seven children: Antonia (1913-1920), Feliciano (1917-1994), Eliseo (1919-1993), Mariano (1921-1992), Rosa (1924-2012), Maria Lucia (1927-1927), and Marcelino (1928-1984).

Alejandro Otero

Census records indicate that Alejandro worked during his 20s and 30s as a laborer. The 1930 United States Federal Census lists his occupation at age 36 as a "watchman" for the New Mexico State Hospital located in Las Vegas. During the worldwide economic depression known as the Great Depression, Alejandro remained employed at the New Mexico State Hospital but earned extra money with his eldest son shipping lumber for bridges, and scraping or repairing abandoned or old Model T and Model A vehicles. Interviews with multiple sources stated that Alejandro was well respected in the Las Vegas community throughout his life and was often called "Don Alejandro" as a sign of respect. He enjoyed fishing and played the banjo. In 1949, Alejandro's wife Cleotilda died from complications with diabetes, which left Alejandro a widower.

Interview sources and the Las Vegas Daily Optic newspaper from 1952 and 1954 state that Alejandro served the Las Vegas community by holding the position of Constable. Although it is unclear whether he held the position of Judge for Precinct No. 8, Upper Las Vegas, he was a candidate in the November Election of 1952.

Alejandro soon fell in love with widow Margarita Dolores Armijo Sanchez (1913-1971) and they had three children together: Frances Armijo (b. 1950), Alejandro Jr. (b. 1952), and Johnny (1953-1954).

As reported in the Albuquerque Tribune, on January 10, 1955, Alejandro was seriously injured in an automobile accident and died a day later in a Las Vegas hospital. Alejandro's funeral service was handled by Rogers Mortuary and his funeral service took place at a Las Vegas Catholic Church. He was laid to rest at St. Anthony's Cemetery in San Miguel County. **

Alejandro Otero's signature from June 5, 1917

**Las Vegas Daily Optic, Thursday, January 13, 1955, Las Vegas, New Mexico