Cowden, Stephen Wayne and Ollie Gann 36

Lea County Families and Histories, Then and Now, Vol II

Cowden, Stephen Wayne and Ollie Gann

By: Billie E. Pearson

Ollie Gann was the fourth child of Ellra Leslie and Kirk Gann, born December 15, 1901 at Hamilton, Texas.  Her brothers and sisters: Judy Driver, Ross Gann, Maude Graham, Eva Schierbell, Price Gann and Joe Gann. All are deceased except Price and Ollie.

Ollie’s father bought ranchland in the Draw south of Eunice from a Mr. Ray and had a house built there. He moved his family there just before the terrible blizzard of 1918.

Oiil;e met Stephen Wayne Cowden at a ball game. Wayne was a son of Effie Leck and Tom Cowden, born May 15, 1899. Wayne had two brothers, Leck and Morris and one sister Effie Mae Kjellander. Leck and Eiffe Mae survive,

Wayne worked for and lived with his uncle Fred and Aunt Zeni Nymeyer, west of Eunice about four miles. Warlick’s store was the only place in Eunice to buy gasoline and they did not always have it. Wayne would ride horse back to town to see if they had gas; if so, he would ride back to the ranch, drive his car to Eunice and fill it.

Once after a snow, Ollie, Wayne, Judy, Eve, Ross and Pete Stephens were going to a dance at the San Simon in Wayne’s car. The car got hot so Ross and Pete walked to north well for water. Ross, not being able to see well on account of the snow, fell into an old hand dug well. It was about 25 feet deep and had old barbed wire, hides and fence posts in it. Ross sure was afraid there would be a rattlesnake in it.  After several attempts he finally got out. They all went to the dance and danced all night. Many of the cars then did not have lights. A Mr. Grizzell said ;”those Gann kids are going to kill     someone driving around at night with no lights on that gitney”.

Ollie and Wayne were married February 24, 1925 at Wayne’s grandmothers’ in Carlsbad. They moved to the Christmas Place south of Eunice. They lived there two or three years, then leased the Avery place near Jal. Wayne sold his cattle in 1928 or 1929 and they moved to Lovington, He and Ace Christmas started buying oil royalty. In 1934 they moved to the Jornado Ranch at Las Cruces. In 1937 Wayne bought the ranch east of Carlsbad from Tom Woods and Roy Stovall. They lived on the ranch until May 1949 when they moved to their home on Carlsbad. Wayne sold the ranch to Cliff Key in 1967.

Ollie and Wayne had a Golden Anniversary party in 1975 with 200 attending. Wayne died March 19, 1980. Ollie still lives in their home in Carlsbad.