Downtown El Paso in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Felix Martinez
(1857-1916)
Photographed by James Hulse, July 22, 2024
1. Felix Martinez Marker
In the early twentieth century, Felix Martinez was a prominent Hispanic businessman who worked closely with Anglo American leaders to transform El Paso into a major commercial, industrial and agricultural center of the American Southwest. Born in 1857 in the frontier town of Peρasco, New Mexico, Martinez was elected to the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives and Territorial Council, where he fostered economic development, educational reform and public health. He published La voz del Pueblo from 1890 to 1916, which became the leading Spanish-language newspaper in the territory.
After moving to El Paso in 1897, Martinez co-established the El Paso Electric Railway Company, which brought electricity to many of the city's homes and businesses. He helped found the El Paso Realty Company, owned the El Paso Daily News (1899-1907) and contributed to the construction of today's Centre Building (formerly the White House Department Store and Hotel McCoy) on pioneer plaza. Martinez worked with reformers to rid the city of gambling, crime and prostitution in the early 1900s. He also served as a director of the 11th District Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas. He was a leader in the joint U.S.-Mexico effort to construct a dam and reservoir at Elephant Butte on the Rio Grande. Completed in 1916, the dam modernized
this page online
Erected 2016 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18419.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Hispanic Americans • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 31° 45.472′ N, 106° 29.349′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. It is in Downtown El Paso. It is at the intersection of South El Paso Street and East San Antonio Avenue, on the left when traveling north on South El Paso Street. The marker is located along the street north of the roundabout. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 S El Paso St, El Paso TX 79901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Texas’ Trans-Pecos & Big Bend Region. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A City Is Born (a few steps from this marker); Hotel Paso Del Norte (a few steps from this marker); Pioneer Plaza (within
Photographed by James Hulse, July 22, 2024
2. Felix Martinez Marker
Also see . . . Martinez, Felix (18571916). Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)
Felix Martinez, businessman, publisher, politician, and diplomat, son of Felix and Maria Reyes (Cordova) Martinez, was born at Penasco, Taos County, New Mexico, on March 29, 1857. He studied for five years at St. Mary's College at Mora, New Mexico. In 1871 he began work as a store clerk, first in Trinidad, Colorado, and, after a few months, in Pueblo, where he also took private business courses for three years. He moved to El Moro, Colorado, in 1876 to work as a clerk but was soon part-owner of a mercantile business. He moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1879 and entered a business partnership. On September 24, 1880, he married Virginia Buster, who was fourteen years(Submitted on July 26, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)old. They had six children. He sold his business in 1886, feeling that the sedentary nature of the mercantile trade did not agree with him. In its place came efforts in politics, publishing, and real estate. In 1884 Martinez ran for San Miguel county treasurer on the Democratic ticket. Although he lost, he cut sharply into the traditional Republican majority in the county. He won a close race for county assessor in 1886, and he was elected to the territorial House of Representatives in 1888. In 1890 he purchased a small Santa Fe newspaper, La Voz del Pueblo, and moved it to Las Vegas. It became the foremost Spanish-language newspaper in New Mexico. At about this time, he was beginning to take notice of a fast-growing populist party in San Miguel County, el Partido del Pueblo Unido (the United People's party). He soon assumed leadership of the party, but by 1892 he had used his influence to effect a fusion between the Populists and the Democrats. In 1892 he was elected to the Territorial Council (upper house of the Legislative Assembly), where he sponsored legislation to establish what is now New Mexico Highlands University and the state mental hospital, both in Las Vegas. In December 1893 Martinez became clerk of the United States and Territorial Courts for the Fourth Judicial District of New Mexico, located in Las Vegas.Photographed by James Hulse, July 22, 20243. The view of the Felix Martinez Marker along the street
Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
