Story of History of Chaves County

Chofe

"CHOFE Died December 14, 1904."  These are the only words inscribed on a gray granite tombstone that marks a grave over-grown with weeds and brush in the little mountain graveyard on the Williams ranch on the Rio Penasco, near Elk, New Mexico.

 Chofe had no other name and didn't know when he was born.  He was a Negro who had been a slave in Alabama. When the slaves were freed, he remained with his owner, who later moved to Louisiana.

In the early 1890s Boyd and Georgie Williams lived on the Wilderness Plantation near Mer Rouge, Louisiana. They worked many hands in the cotton fields, but Chofe, whom they had inherited with the plantation, was a house servant. He carried water, cut wood, built fires, and helped with cleaning, washing, and caring for the children.

In 1901, the Williams family gave up the plantation to escape the ravages of malaria. They left Chofe in care of relatives, moved to Roswell, New Mexico, and later to a cattle ranch 80 miles to the southwest on the Rio Penasco. The rugged life in the frontier land was very difficult for those who were accustomed to the life of a Louisiana cotton planter with comfortable housing, plenty of servants, and the social life that prevailed at that time.

Chofe was very unhappy after his family left him. Even though he seldom traveled more than a few miles from the Wilderness Plantation, he ran away in an attempt to find New Mexico and his family. One time he got as far as Shreveport, Louisiana, and someone had to go bring him back to the plantation.

Boyd Williams' brother wrote and asked him to come back to Louisiana and get Chofe. It was quite an undertaking, but Mr. Williams drove the wagon the 80 miles to Roswell and took the train to Louisiana. He tried to discourage Chofe.

"Chofe," he said, "if you try to go to New Mexico with me, you'll probably never see another Negro as long as you live."

"That's alright Mister Boyd," Chope answered, "just so long as I can be with you, Miss Georgie, and the children."

Back to the high, dry, sparsely settled land of New Mexico they came--to Roswell by train and the 80 miles of rough, rocky road to the ranch by wagon.

Miss Georgie, as Chofe fondly called her, welcomed her faithful servant who relieved her of many menial chores, especially in caring for the four small children.

When Chofe's work was finished, he tilted his cane-bottomed chair, leaned it against the logs on the south side of the cabin, and dozed in the warm sunshine, as he was an old man.

For two more years Chofe served the Williams family. Never once did he say that he wanted to go back to Louisiana. He was told that he probably would never see another Negro and he never did. His only wish was to serve his master's family loyally and faithfully.

When Chofe's life was over, the Williams family buried him in their ranch graveyard, the only Negro ever to be buried there. His master had inscribed on his tombstone the only information he ever knew-"Chofe Died December 14, 1904."

Chofe, the Negro house servant gave up all past ties in Louisiana to come
to his Master's house in New Mexico. He is standing in the door of the log house in
which the Williams family made their home when they first came to live on the
Williams Half Circle P Ranch on the Rio Penasco near Elk, New Mexico. Picture
was taken about 1903.

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