Bigham, J. O. and Lavina

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

Submitted by: Nola Stanbro Bigham

J.O. (Jim Bigham) with his wife Lavina, and four children, Nix, Garland, Orion, and Maude, came to New Mexico in 1909, and homesteaded near old Plainview. At this time all are deceased except Maude Bigham Jeske of Eugene Oregon.

Jim Bigham was a natural born artist. He also wrote poetry of a sort, about most everything, and it often got him into trouble. One day at Plainview he was talking with an old friend of his, A. F. Meroney. Mr. Meroney's wife had left him and he jokingly said something about ordering him one from Sears & Roebuck. Jim wrote the order and read it to Mr. Meroney. It terminated their frindship for awhile until Mr. Meroney realized the humor in it. The order:

Sears Roebuck, Chicago, Ill.

Enclosed find order which kindly fill:

I see in your catalog pictures galore, Of women fat of women poor, Of women tall of women short.

In fact I see most every sort.

So send me one by parcel post.

I am not particular just anything most.

But send her ahead with all possible speed, as I realize a wife is my greatest need.

It matters not if she is old fashioned, or tony.

Yours Truly (in haste) A. F. Meroney

To one it was a joke, to the other too personal-so life goes.