This is part of an ongoing series on Albuquerque history, based on the experiences of Dr. William B. Lyon and his fiance Corie Bowman, as related by them in letters sent in the years 1881-1882. Today's article discusses their early courtship in La Mesilla, NM (known today as simply Mesilla).
Dear Miss Corie,
I am going out [on] the Bermudes road about a mile, thence by a new trail I have found to Cruces, then home.
If you would like a horseback ride this glorious day, I will have Billy saddled up and call for you.
Yours,
WBL
With this short, undated note, Dr. William B. Lyon began his courtship of Corie Bowman in the town of La Mesilla, NM, sometime in early-to-mid November of 1881. It is not clear from the collected letters exactly how long the two had known each other previous to this invitation, but there is an air of familiarity in their early exchanges that hints at a long standing, if somewhat paternal, acquaintance.
Lyon, born in Butler County, Pennsylvania in 1842, had been in Mesilla since 1879, settling there for a time after being employed by the US Army for over a decade. The military had played a major role in Lyon’s life for much of his 39 years, beginning with his enlistment as a youth of 20 with the 134th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. After the War, he attended Georgetown Medical College, was appointed an Assistant Surgeon to the US Army upon his graduation, and came to the territory of New Mexico for a series of assignments that centered on Forts McRae and Stanton.
During his time in La Mesilla, Lyon had become a friend of the Bowman family, perhaps after serving them in his capacity as a doctor. Judging by comments made in the letters, patriarch George D. Bowman, land registrar of La Mesilla and one-time Minnesota newspaper man, greatly respected Lyon’s intelligence, but the family as a whole had concerns about Lyon’s lack of religious commitment, a matter that became a frequent source of contention during his engagement to Corie Bowman.
After receiving his short note, Corie Bowman consented to join Lyon on the horseback ride, although it seems that her feelings for the Doctor were strictly platonic at the time. At only 25 years old, she considered Lyon to be merely one of her father’s friends, and was somewhat intimidated by his intelligence. She, like the rest of her family, was also very religious, and perhaps any romantic inclinations she felt toward Lyon were precluded by his apparent agnosticism.
The ride itself was uneventful, although Lyon had intended to make his feelings for her known. Instead, he struggled to find the courage to proclaim his affections for the entire ride, but ended the day without saying a word on the subject. A few days later, he poured his affections into a note that he delivered to Bowman by hand.
What witchery is there about you that makes suh a miserable coward of me. Do you know that during our ride the other day I was, I don’t know how often on the verge of telling you what you ought to have guessed already, that I have learned to love you very dearly, so much that it almost frightens me when I think that I do not know that you care for me at all. I feel very greatly ashamed of myself that I haven’t the courage to say what I mean, but I was so happy with you that day, I could not risk an unfavorable answer…
… When I contrast your pure and beautiful life of love and happiness with the wild and reckless desperation with which I have wasted my own, I feel that it would be ungenerous, unmanly to seek your love… but these resolutions were about as effectual as the Pope’s Bull against the Comet, a single kind word or look from you would dispell them and I would find myself haunting your presence until I have made myself ridiculous…
… I will not give up this hope until you tell me yourself it is hopeless. Oh, Corie, do not crush it unless you have very positive reasons.
I will hand you this tomorrow, and will call in the evening and hear you tell my fortune- you witch- unless you forbid me.
Yours truly,
Wm. B. Lyon
She did not "tell his fortune" that evening, however. Evidently, blind-sided by the Doctor's affections, she struggled to express her confused feelings for him in a letter dated nearly a week later.
I was surprised yesterday and could not say what I wanted to... I like you very much better than any man I know outside of our own family... In some things you are my ideal. In intelligence you are far above me, and that is one reason I did not think of your caring for me. I know so little and what I do know I cannot tell. I often thought you turned away in disgust when I was speaking, saying to yourself, "how foolish"... I never could talk as well when you were around because of what I imagined you were thinking...
I want the one I love to be a professing Christian, and that you are not, Dr., although I do think you are one at heart. I have prayed for a long time that you might become a professed follower of Christ, and if you pray too, I am sure that our prayers will be answered...
I have always imagined that if I ever loved, I would love instantly, and without thought. This may not be so, but I still think it will. Now Dr., if after reading this and with almost the certainty of my refusing, then, you would rather have me wait until spring before giving you a decided answer, I will do so. I will leave it for you to decide...
Yours truly,
Corie
The threat of an almost certain refusal apparently cowed Dr. Lyon, and he elected to allow Corie until Spring to deliver her answer.
Next- Her answer, and the road to New Albuquerque.
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