Pete (Pedro) Maxwell, the oldest son of Lucien and Ana de la Luz (Beaubien) Maxwell, was born at Taos on April 27, 1848. His life was always lived in the shadow of his flamboyant father and his father's famous friends. In 1857, Lucien Maxwell founded the town of Cimarron and made his home there, living in great luxury until a series of ill-advised financial ventures decimated his enormous wealth. When Fort Sumner was abandoned, Lucien Maxwell purchased the site and, after making substantial improvements, moved there in 1871. After his father's death in 1875, Peter became general manager of the business. According to local tradition, after his ignominious flight from the bedroom in which Billy the Kid (Henry McCarty, alias William H. Bonney) was killed, he was always referred to as "Don Chootme." He died at Fort Sumner on June 21, 1898.
Pete (Pedro) Maxwell, the oldest son of Lucien and Ana de la Luz (Beaubien) Maxwell, was born at Taos on April 27, 1848. His life was always lived in the shadow of his flamboyant father and his father's famous friends. In 1857, Lucien Maxwell founded the town of Cimarron and made his home there, living in great luxury until a series of ill-advised financial ventures decimated his enormous wealth. When Fort Sumner was abandoned, Lucien Maxwell purchased the site and, after making substantial improvements, moved there in 1871. After his father's death in 1875, Peter became general manager of the business. According to local tradition, after his ignominious flight from the bedroom in which Billy the Kid (Henry McCarty, alias William H. Bonney) was killed, he was always referred to as "Don Chootme." He died at Fort Sumner on June 21, 1898.
