J. Denton Simms

Cowboys, Indians and Pulpits is the memoir of J. Denton Simms. It is Simms' story, in his words, and is largely drawn from the time frame of the early 20th century until 1940. The subject matter focuses around the Simms' family as it moved into south central New Mexico, and then later when Simms moved to northwestern New Mexico and his two decades of pastoral ministry among the Jicarilla Apache.

Simms lived a long life and the portion of it addressed at length in his memoir was one of great transition in the West. His parents moved to New Mexico shortly after a period of violent range wars and there were many struggles for them as they became established. As he felt called to ministry and left his parents home for northwestern New Mexico he continued to be both an observer and participant in a great period of change for the Jicarilla Apache.

Simms tells his story in a very engaging and captivating manner. As the current successor to the ministry he began one hundred years ago in Dulce, NM, I read them with great interest. HIs family were the first to reside in the house I currently call home and I enjoyed hearing more stories about what happened here and in the church building next door. He wrote at length of the long-time trading post operator, Emmet Wirth, and I read those stories being privileged to know several of Wirth's grandchildren ass personal friends.

One thing I would have liked to read more of was Simms faith story and the ways in which he strove to bring the Gospel alive on the reservation. That absence notwithstanding, I thought this was a good book and told and interesting story of the history of the people and place where I have been called to serve, and a man whose service left an impact that is still felt a century later.… (mais)