Addison "Add" Jones was born a slave in Texas. Much of what we understand about his early life was told by his wife Rosa when she furnished information for his death certificate after he died. He is thought to have been born in Gonzalez County in 1845. Jones worked for many years for George Washington … Continue reading Addison “Add” Jones, Well Known Black Cowboy
ranching
Fern Sawyer
“She died in the saddle, surrounded by friends.” said Peter Holt, as quoted in the October 21, 1993 issue of the Lincoln County News, Carrizozo, New Mexico. Most recently Ms. Sawyer had resided in Nogal, Lincoln County, New Mexico. Fern Sawyer was born at Buchanan, De Baca County, New Mexico, on May 17, 1917 to … Continue reading Fern Sawyer
A. J. Crawford
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
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
Joe Cooper Recalls Youth In Jal Area
Memories of the days when he first came to Lea County were revived by The Jal Flare's special edition in Joe Cooper, who lives ten miles north of Jal. He came here in '10 from Pyote, Texas with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Cooper, and has lived in this area for the last … Continue reading Joe Cooper Recalls Youth In Jal Area
Ranchers and Water
From the Jal Flare, Jal, NM. 7 Mar 1939: Here's a story which amply illustrates how ranchers felt about water here in the early days. When Walter C. Cochran dug the first water well in this area, at the hackberry trees which are now Hubbs and Justis Water Company, he found water, the farthest west … Continue reading Ranchers and Water
Walter Colquitt Cochran
Walter Cochran was born August 14, 1952 in Georgia to Col. Winston W. Cochran and the former Mary Dickson. His family is believed to have moved to Texas when he was still an infant. He married Nannie Dodson in the 1880s. Walter C. Cochran came to Jal in 1883 from Palo Pinto County in North … Continue reading Walter Colquitt Cochran
The Fort Family
One of the early families to come to the area were the Forts. Benjamin Herman Fort was born December 15, 1857 in Scott County, Arkansas to John Gabriel Fort and Dorinda Jane Bell Fort and was the youngest of their eleven children. Benjamin married the former Louisa Swilling "Lou" Bramlett in Paris, Arkansas in 1879. … Continue reading The Fort Family
William Standifer Williams and Minnie Alice Anderson Williams
William Standifer Williams was born in the early 1860s in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Samuel Lowry Williams (1807-1898) and Katuriah Taylor Williams (1825-1893), a farming family. His father was one of the earliest Anglo residents of that area and is known as the Father of Chattanooga. William was one of the youngest of some thirteen siblings … Continue reading William Standifer Williams and Minnie Alice Anderson Williams
Old Lea County, N.M. 