George "Dad" Peppin

George Peppin was a Frenchman born in Chittenden County, Vermont in 1838. By October 2, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Fifth Regiment California Infantry. He was mustered out at La Mesilla in 1864. Peppin was a stonemason and builder by trade. He arrived at Fort Stanton in 1868 to fulfill a contract for extensive repairs. Peppin would build two homes for Van C. Smith, residences in Roswell, built the foundation for the two-story Murphy & Co store, supervised the construction of the McSween home, and fulfilled a $3500 contract to build the crude, infamous Old Pit jail in Lincoln.

George Peppin was a deputy for Sheriff Brady and escaped death on April Fool's Day, 1878. He was appointed Sheriff by Gov. Axtell on May 28, 1878 and served from June to December-- when he resigned. While being appointed Sheriff, he was under indictment for the killing of Regulator Frank McNab. On February 7, 1879, US Marshal John Sherman Jr cancelled Peppin's commission as Deputy US Marshal. That same month, he returned to Fort Stanton as the "Post Butcher."

In April of 1879, he was indicted for arson and assault with intent to kill for his role in the Five Day Battle. He was released on bond until the next term of court, and his bond was signed by: D.M. Easton, $175, Edgar A. Walz, $175, and Jose Montoya, $350. Peppin resided at Fort Stanton with his family and later returned to Lincoln in January 1893 after being appointed County Jailor by Sheriff George Curry.

The photo is a known photo of George Peppin taken in 1904 either for or by Emerson Hough. If you look carefully, you notice his left hand appears to be disabled. That's because in August of 1877, while working with his son Juan, a weight fell on the blade he was using and it drove the blade through his wrist, severing every single tendon. George Warden "Dad" Peppin died of bowel trouble at his home in Lincoln on September 18, 1904.

SOURCES: Frederick Nolan "West of Billy the Kid" pg. 122

From Binder "Residents of Lincoln County, N-S", Box: 14, Folder: 2. Lewis A. Ketring, Jr. collection of Lincoln County research, Ms-0529. New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections.