Abel Justus Crawford was a pioneer to the area, having lived in or near Lea County for almost 70 years when he passed away in 1969. Mr. Crawford was born November 10, 1867 in Mount Giliad, Kentucky. He recalled his first job, that of picking cherries for 15 cents per day. As a youth, he … Continue reading A. J. Crawford
Author: Texoso
Buckeye Sheep Ranch
by David L. Minton, Lea County Historian. Used with permission. Today a look at the origin of the name of the area in Our Lea County known as Buckeye. Today it is known primarily as the oil patch southwest of Lovington, but 130 years ago it and a larger area was known as the Buckeye … Continue reading Buckeye Sheep Ranch
Buckeye
According to most sources, Buckeye grew up as the oilfield business increased. It was named for the Buckeye Sheep Ranch which was located in the area. At various times, it included a grocery store, as many as two gas stations, a cafe, welding shops, a hardware store and post office. (1) In addition to the … Continue reading Buckeye
The Cowden Family
Four brothers, W. H. "Bill" Cowden, George Cowden, John M. Cowden and Buck Cowden came to the area in the mid 1880s and settled with their wives and children near what became the town of Jal. The men drove their combined cattle while the women drove wagons. Water sources were found by digging wells. Their … Continue reading The Cowden Family
Deputy Sheriff J. M. Clifton (1903-1932)
The Hobbs Flare (Hobbs, NM) of June 19, 1959 carried a column called "News of Yesteryears." That day, the column quoted an out of print newspaper called the Lovington Tribune from February 26, 1932 and read as follows: "Deputy sheriff and two men were killed in a gunfight at Crossroads. The late Bob Beverly was … Continue reading Deputy Sheriff J. M. Clifton (1903-1932)
The Lee Family
Richard David “Dick” Lee, Sr. was born November 23, 1877 in Brownwood, Brown County, Texas to Brooks William Lee and Nancy Lenora “Jennie” Millican Lee. He married Sarah Viola Forrester in Scurry County, Texas on January 24, 1900. Dick came to the New Mexico Territory with his parents in 1886 from Texas when he was … Continue reading The Lee Family
Open Range Cowboy Association
"To Preserve the Spirit of the Old West as a Spirit That Should Never Be Forgotten" This interesting Lea County group dates back to 1940. After a few years of meeting informally, it was organized as part of a national group of the same name. Its original charter members included Henry S. Record, Will Gray, … Continue reading Open Range Cowboy Association
The Peveler Family
David Lee Roy Peveler was born in Seymour, Baylor County, Texas on June 18, 1886. He married Henri Bess Coleman on December 23, 1914 in Gaines County, Texas. David’s father, William Jasper Peveler (1855-1947) was born in June 1855 to Greenup Cauley Peveler and the former Martha A. Dennis in Young County, Texas on July … Continue reading The Peveler Family
The Knowles Family
Benjamin Lewis Knowles was born in 1834 in Hardeman County, Tennessee to Samuel Lihu Knowles (1797-1887) and Elizabeth Providence Johnson Knowles (1796-1852). He married Mary Hulda Kellogg on December 23, 1852 in Mississippi. Ben served in the Mississipi State Infantry during the Civil War. Over the next twenty-some years the couple had at least ten … Continue reading The Knowles Family
Oil Discovery In Hobbs
The first successful oil well was completed around 1921 and the first successful gas well was completed a year earlier, but the Midwest State No. 1, spudded in 1927 using a standard cable tool rig and found oil on June 13, 1928 at a depth of 4,065 feet is considered to be the well that … Continue reading Oil Discovery In Hobbs
Old Lea County, N.M. 