Fort Sumner in De Baca County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Deluvina Maxwell

Photographed by James Hulse, March 24, 2025

1. Deluvina Maxwell Marker

Inscription.
A Navajo woman born in Canyon de Chelly, AZ, Deluvina was taken as a slave during an Apache raid when she was a child. Later adopted by Lucien Maxwell of Fort Sumner, she was a loyal servant of the Maxwell family.

She was present in Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881, the night William Bonney was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett and his posse. Later in life she was quoted as saying, "I hated those men and I am glad that I have lived long enough to see them all dead and buried."

She died in 1927 and is buried in the old Santa Barbara Cemetery in Albuquerque in an unmarked grave. This marker is in remembrance of her contribution to the history of New Mexico and the legend of Billy the Kid.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 14, 1881.

Location. 34° 24.206′ N, 104° 11.602′ W. Marker is in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in De Baca County. It is on Billy the Kid Drive south of Pecan Drive. The marker is located in the Old Fort Sumner Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3533 Billy the Kid Dr, Fort Sumner NM 88119, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern New Mexico

and in the Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest,

on the Great Plains,

on the Southern Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lucien Bonaparte Maxwell (a few steps from this marker); Charlie Bowdre

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Tom O'Folliard (within shouting distance of this marker); Billy the Kid's Elusive Tombstone (within shouting distance of this marker); Billy the Kid (within shouting distance of this marker); Joe "Texas Red" Grant (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Historic Fort Sumner Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); William "Billy the Kid" Bonney Grave 1859-1881 / Old Fort Sumner Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Sumner.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Old Fort Sumner and “Billy the Kid’s” Grave (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

The view of the Deluvina Maxwell Marker in the cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 24, 2025

2. The view of the Deluvina Maxwell Marker in the cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 743 times since then and 124 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 5, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.