There has long been a rivalry between Hobbs and Lovington, and in 1931 there was a move to subdivide Lea county into two counties, one retaining the name Lea and another called Seligman. The Albuquerque Journal issue of February 27, 1931 carried an article with these headings "Would Divide County To Honor Arthur - Hobbs … Continue reading Seligman County?
history
Pooch Saves Baby
On January 26 at 3 o'clock, Marilyn Janet Justis, 2, was playing in her yard with Mr. K. B. Walker's dog, Pooch. A few minutes later she wandered away and fell into an empty cess pool. Pooch howled and danced around the mouth of the hole until he attracted the attention of Marilyn's mother, Mrs. … Continue reading Pooch Saves Baby
Max Evans
Max Allen Evans was born August 29, 1924 to Walter Burnace (W. B) Evans (1900-1979) and Hazel Glenn Swafford Evans (1904-1994) in Ropesville, Hockley County in Texas. Max was one of two children and had a younger sister named Glenda Rhue. Max grew up in the Panhandle of Texas and southeastern New Mexico and drew … Continue reading Max Evans
Byers and Hobbs Families
Minnie Hobbs Byers was the daughter of James Isaac Hobbs (1852-1923) and Frances Perlee Mooring Hobbs (1857-1942). She was a twin with her sister Winnie Hobbs Dalmont and both were born March 6, 1896 when the Hobbs family was still living in Texas. Their parents were James Isaac Hobbs (1852-1923) and Frances Paralee Mooring Hobbs … Continue reading Byers and Hobbs Families
Founding of Eunice
[Transcribed from the 60th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo program for the event held August 5-12, 1995] The early settlers to the Eunice area would have been the Daugherty brothers whose "84" Ranch headquarters was two miles east of what would become the town of Eunice. Before this time however, … Continue reading Founding of Eunice
Pearl
The settlement called Pearl was named for Pearl Stark Roberts, wife of Nathan Cornelius Roberts who settled about five miles west of Monument in what was then Eddy County. Pearl Roberts was named postmistress in 1908 and the post office was housed in a room of their small pioneer home on the Roberts Ranch. The … Continue reading Pearl
Founding of Jal
[Transcribed from the 60th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo program for the event held August 5-12, 1995] The Cowden Brothers had operated the vast JAL Ranch since 1886 coming from Palo Pinto County, Texas. The lure of shallow water and good grass led to their coming to the Monument Draw … Continue reading Founding of Jal
Hobbs’ First Teacher
Mrs. Harold P. Collier, formerly Miss Olive Manning, was hired to teach in Hobbs in 1915. She recounted her early memories in a newspaper article in the Hobbs Daily News back in 1936. The first school building was also completed in 1915, but in stages. Only the basement had been dug by October of that … Continue reading Hobbs’ First Teacher
Power’s Motel in Lovington
Early settlers, Dick and Mary Power, owned a motel south of downtown Lovington and it served the area for many decades. Mary was the former Mary Eaves whose family had come to what became Lea County in 1909 and Dick arrived in 1914. She was the daughter of Paschal Simeon and Mary Susan Brown Eaves. … Continue reading Power’s Motel in Lovington
An Advertising Balloon Gets Loose
On May 6, 1978, an advertising balloon became detached from the ground at a motor vehicle dealership in Hobbs. A doctor and an employee of the dealership noticed that it was coming untethered and got in touch with Lea County pilot Zip Franklin who first flew after the loose balloon and finally brought it down … Continue reading An Advertising Balloon Gets Loose
Old Lea County, N.M. 