The Person:
From Wikipedia entry on Miguel Antonio Otero:
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"Miguel Antonio Otero (June 21, 1829 – May 30, 1882) was a prominent American politician of the New Mexico Territory and instrumental in the economic development of the territory.
Miguel Antonio Otero was born in Valencia, Nuevo México to Don Vicente Otero and Doña Gertrudis Aragón de Otero. Don Vicente had held prominent civic positions as judge and mayor in Valencia County, under both Spanish and Mexican Governments.
Otero received his early education in Valencia. In 1841 he enrolled at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri and subsequently graduated from Pingree College in Fishkill, New York, where he taught while he began his study of law. In 1851 he returned to Missouri, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He was a public advocate of the Mexican-American War.
In 1852 Otero became the private secretary to the Governor of New Mexico, William C. Lane, and was elected to the second Legislative Assembly of the territory of New Mexico. In 1854 he was appointed attorney general for the territory, and served for two years. On July 23, 1856 he was seated as a Democratic Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, after successfully contesting the election of José Manuel Gallegos. With the support of the Bishop of New Mexico, Jean Baptiste Lamy, Otero was reelected to the next two Congresses, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1860.
An outspoken Congressman and a strong supporter of the railroad, Otero devoted much of his efforts to the construction of the transcontinental railroad through New Mexico. He introduced the Memorial of the New Mexican Railway Company, in Relation to the Pacific Railroad on May 21, 1860.
After Otero had completed his term in Congress, President Abraham Lincoln nominated him to be minister to Spain in 1861. Otero declined that office to accept an appointment as secretary of the territory of New Mexico, but the Senate did not confirm him because of his involvement in the 1860 Democratic National Convention in South Carolina and his pro-confederate tendencies.
Otero failed in another reelection bid in 1880. His business endeavors, however, in merchandizing, banking, and farming, were highly successful. In addition, he was a strong supporter of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. And he became one of the founders and later president of the San Miguel National Bank in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He also engaged in out-of-state endeavors, mostly in Kansas City, Missouri.
He died in 1882 at the age of 52 and was buried in Denver's Riverside Cemetery.[2] His son, also named Miguel Antonio Otero, and nephew Mariano S. Otero would continue the family tradition of civic service, his son becoming Governor of New Mexico, and his nephew a delegate.
Both Otero County, New Mexico and Otero County, Colorado are named in his honor."
The Place:
From the Wikipedia page for Otero County, Colorado:
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"Otero County is one of the 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,831.[1] The county seat is La Junta. The county was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, one of the founders of the town of La Junta and a member of a prominent Hispanic family.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,270 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 1,262 square miles (3,270 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (0.6%) is water."
The Courthouse:
This two story white brick and glass building is located at 13 W. Third St. in La Junta, Co. This cornerstone is on the southern entrance to the courthouse. This cornerstone is on the western side, which appears to only have a single story. The cornerstone reads:
"Otero County Court House
Laid by
The M. W. Grand Lodge
A. F. & A. M.
Nov. 15. 1958
Glenn B. Van Fleet G. M."
The glass in this building is tinted dark and is reflective. The northern entrance shows the name of the Building - Otero County Courthouse.