Then and Now, Lea County Familes and History, Vol I, 1979
Submitted by: Charline Dye
The Blakey Ranch of Monument
The bitter scars of the war between the states left its mark on many families, and the William C. Blakey family was one of them. William and his wife Mary Greenlee Blakey, were owners of a farm and Mercantile in Missouri until the Yankees burned three of their houses and took the merchandise from the store. William served with the South, and after the war, in 1875, being completely wiped out, moved his family from Missouri to Graham, Texas. There William and Mary reared their family of seven children: W.C. Jr., Albert, Walter, Bell, Clara, Lee and Charles Brannon.
Charles Brannon Blakey, born March 16, 1854, married and started his family with Adelia Francis Collins, born October 22, 1870, and her son Prince. The Blakey moved to Roosevelt County in 1910, forty miles southwest of Portales, at Redland, where they ranched until 1916 when they moved to Monument, New Mexico which was then in Eddy County. The Blakey family was living in Lea County, New Mexico when the County was organized.
The children of Charles and Adelia were: Prince Collins, a Knowles, New Mexico rancher who died in Hobbs, New Mexico in 1952; Yelverton C., born January 8, 1896, who died of flu in the epidemic of 1918, enroute to France, he was buried at sea; Charles Dewey,, born December 4, 1897, who is presently residing on his ranch four miles west of Humble City; and L.R., born April 26, 1902, who ranched at Ft. Sumner and died there on his ranch November 6, 1946. His wife, Nancy Laughlin, resides in Hobbs.
Charles Brannon died January 20, 1924, following surgery in Carlsbad. Adelia died in Hobbs on November 17, 1951.
Charles Dewey Blakey continued rhe ranching tradition of his family in the Monument area. Charles had a son, Bill, born July 1919, when he married Florena E. Rankin, on February 2, 1934. Flo had two children, Geraldine G. born 1923 and Richard R. (Bud) born in 1925.
Charlie and Flo ranched with such well known neighbor - ranchers as the Weir's, Houston's, Cochran's and Coopers'.
Charlie recalls a man who was "like one of the family," who worked for them a number of years, William Bryan, better known as "Prunes." Othe memories still vivid to the rancher are those brought on by "The Great Depression" and drought ara.
"We saw some rough times; we sold calves for $0.03 to $0.04 per pound. Prices became depressed in the twenties - that was the toughest part of it. Then I recall we weatherd dome bad doughts; once we went two years without rain."
The Blakey Ranch bought the old "Y Diamond Ranch" from Baxter Culp and several small places that joined the spread. The Blakey Ranch was sold to Will Terry. Charlie and Flo moved to Grant County where they ranched for the next 35 years until their return to Lea County in 1976.
Charlie and Flo purchased the Crawford Culp Ranch, four miles west of Humble City, New Mexico and enjoyed having old friends drop by for visits.
Blakey, "Branding" photo believed taken at the Blakey Ranch in Monument