About 1928, as well as we can determine, land developers commissioned a structure of a Native American. It once stood in the middle of a dirt road and faced the location of the old Monument Spring. The artist who constructed it is unknown. The monument itself had no name originally, as far as we can … Continue reading The Monument in Monument
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Hat Ranch
The Hat Ranch dates back to around the mid 1890s when associates Andrew Briggs "Sug" Robertson (1855-1921) and Winfield Scott (1849-1911) began to operate in partnership. Scott is thought to have been the majority owner. Its brand has been described as a half circle over a bar. We have also seen it sketched out looking … Continue reading Hat Ranch
Dale “Tuffy” Cooper
Tuffy Cooper was born November 7, 1925 in Lovington, New Mexico to Alaska J. Cooper (1894-1959) and Tommie Lou Bingham Cooper (1904-1990). His grandparents were James Wesley Cooper (1858-1941) and Iolia M. Weir Cooper (1868-1940) and Thomas Swindell Bingham (1872-1944) and Louella Mae Simcoe Bingham (1874-1950). Tuffy’s fraternal grandparents came to New Mexico in 1906, … Continue reading Dale “Tuffy” Cooper
The Madera Family and the Pitchfork Ranch
In the October 13, 1966 issue of the Jal Record, it was reported that the Lea Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors named Rubert "Bert" Madera as the Outstanding Lea County Conservation Rancher of the year, stating that he was the operator of the Pitchfork Ranch located about twenty miles west of Jal. … Continue reading The Madera Family and the Pitchfork Ranch
A Cattleman’s Will
When Henry S. Record died, he left most of his estate to the New Mexico Baptist Orphanage in Portales. The bequest was in honor and memory of his late wife, Nettie Harris Record who predeceased him. Mr. Record had been a founder of the orphanage and was actively involved in it as he got older. … Continue reading A Cattleman’s Will
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
Deputy Jack Seay
Albuquerque Journal, 27 Jun 1932. The deputy went by Jack Seay, but his name was Thomas William Caspian Seay, Jr. He was born August 21, 1893 in Liberty Hill, Texas to Thomas William Seay and Bunett Louise Bingham Seay. Jack grew up in the Hill Country of Texas in Marble Falls. Jack registered for the … Continue reading Deputy Jack Seay
Clyde D. Woolworth and the Woolworth Family
Clyde Dean Woolworth (1883-1938) was the first member of the family to come to Lea County. He was born to a large family in Carthage, Panola County, Texas. His father was Justus Morgan Woolworth and his mother was Mary Jane Paxson Woolworth. Clyde was one of at least eight children. The family story is that … Continue reading Clyde D. Woolworth and the Woolworth Family
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
Old Lea County, N.M. 