Industry
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Susan McSween Barber and her second husband, George Barber, patented 400 acres under the Desert Land Act in 1883. The act required irrigating the land, and in 1881 Susan built a dam across Three Rivers stream and a half-mile ditch to convey water to her property. By 1888 she had taken on two partners, claimed ownership of 1,158 acres, and acquired 8,000 head of cattle. Her Three Rivers Ranch made her the territory’s largest cattle baroness and the Cattle Queen of New Mexico. She is buried in the White Oaks cemetery.
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New Mexico · United States
