Scoggin, Kenneth Carlton and Vergie Viola Cloud

Lea County Families, Then and Now, Vol I, 1979

Submitted by: Virginia Lea Scoggin McCaw

Our dad, Kenneth Carlton Scoggin, was born to Henry and Maude Baker Scoggin, 23 June 1907, in Altus, Oklahoma. Maude Baker Scoggin around the year 1909. Henry Scoggin was remarried but death also claimed him around 1918. Kenneth's step mother took him and his younger sister Thelma, to live in Sweetwater, Texas and then in Breckonridge, Texas. Kenneth quit his schooling in the 6th grade and went to work a Dry Cleaner's Apprentice and provided for himself and his sister with some help from their step-mother.

Kenneth's family history is lost in time as his parents died very young and he had few other relatives. He and his sister maintained a very close family ties throughout their lives.

Our mom, Vergie Viola Cloud Scoggin, was born March 7, 1908 to Carlton Benton Cloud and Viola Bker Cloud in Albany, Texas. Carlton was born of Monroe and Sarah Annie Crosby Cloud, October 2, 1882 in Burnet County, Texas.Carlton and Viola were married 29 June 1903 in Brady, Texas. There were five children born to Carl and Viola, three boys and two girls. One boy died at a very young age.

Vergie worked throughout her high school years, in a soda fountain in Albany and then in her father's garage as a mechanic.Vergie worked very hard even though she was no bigger than a mite. She planned to work herself through college until her father was injured in the business and thoose plans had to be abondoned.

Vergie continued to work in the garage in Albany. It was there that she met Kenneth Scoggin. A fine pair they made, too. Kenneth ws about 5'7", 140 pounds, with sandy-red hair and grey blue eyes and Vergie only 5'4", 89 pounds "soaking wet"with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, that could really snap if she lost her temper. Kenneth was easy spoken, easy going man, with a purpose for everything he did. Kenneth courted Vergie for over a year before they were married.

So it was that Vergie Viola Cloud and Kenneth Carlton Scoggin, were married in Albany, Texas, December 24, 1928, and began their life together. They remained in Albany, two years until early 1931, Kenneth in partnership with Carl Cloud in the garage.

A fine son, Kenneth Carlton Scoggin Jr., was born on 18 January 1931 in Albany, Texas, and was to be their only son and heir to the Scoggin name. Kenney, as he was called, was about four months old when the family moved to Mountainair, New Mexico. They share-cropped on a farm about ten miles north of Mountainair.

Kenneth acquired, by the usual means, a baby sister, Thelma Faye, born November 10, 1932. Shortly after Thelma was born the family moved to Datil, New Mexico. They homesteaded there, along with several other families. Carl and Viola Cloud, John Henry (Dick) Cloud (Vergie's brother), Ella and Tom Andrews (Ella was Tom Cloud's oldest sister), and Uel (Cub Baker) Virgies youngest brother). The Scoggin familiy lived in a one-room shach until they could cut and peel the logs for their small two-room cabin and a similiar cabin for Carl and Viola Cloud. After the cabins were built Kenneth would do odd jobs,  logging or helping with stock on the surrounding ranches to help out Vergie and Carl. The family bought supplies once every six months and cared for themselves and their animals. Vergie, Kenneth and Carl, operated on many an old horse or cow and did what was necessary, since no veterenarion or doctor was to be found for many miles around. In 1936 Vergie and Kenneth cooked for a Dude ranch about 45 miles southwest of Magdalena. They were both good cooks. The trip was into the Gila National Forest for fifteen days with pack mules and horse. Kenny started to school in Datil in a one-room school for all grades and classes.

In 1938 the Scoggin family sold out their stock and homesteads to neighboring ranches and parted company. Carl and Viola were to go to Mountainair and obtain a garage there. Several years later they moved again to Soccorro, New Mexico, wherethey bought afarm. Carl raised alfalfa and sold honey. In later years they moved to Truth or Consequenes, New Mexico.

Kenneth, Vergie and little Kenny and Thelma moved to Cleburne, Texas, where Kenneth worked in a dry cleaning establishment four four months.

On January 1, 1938, the Scoggin family moved to Lovington, New Mexico, where they acquired a dry cleaning shop. The Crescent Cleaners, located on the south side of the courthouse square which was to be the mainstay of the family for several years. Their first home in Lovington was a small house on East Street, behind the Plaza Hotel.

Kenny started in the fith grade, Thelma in the fourth grade, when fate played it's hand suprising all with a new family member of our family. Mom hahd undergone surgery and was told that she would have no more children. Verginia Lea (Ginger) was born October 5, 1941. Kenny with jet almost blue-black hair and blue eyes and Thelma with also very black hair and dark brown eyes could hardly believe they had a baby sister, weighing in at four punds, as she was premature, that had red hair and blue eyes.

A larger home was purchased in 1942, a wood frame house located on the corner of 2nd Street and Adams. South, Lovington, and that house, became what we children called home.

On October 6, 1954, Carl Cloud our grandfather, died in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. He is buried in the old Lovington Cemetery. Viola or grandmother (better known as "Gran Gran") came to Lovington to live with us. She died on February 11, 1972 and is buried next to her husband.

Kenneth and Vergie, sold the cleaners in 1952.

Kenneth died 6 June 1969. He is buried in Resthaven Cemetery, in Lovington, New Mexico.

Kenny married Susan Kay November 22, 1956. Susie is from Sholow, Arizona.

The old house still stands, not looking quite like it used to. But all I have to do is close my eyes and I can see it as it was when we were children.