Wells, Lewis Tate and Mary Mann

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

Submitted by: Jaunita Nelson

     In 1907, Lewis Wells Tate came to New Mexico to help Mr.Perry move his family and household goods. He was so impressed with the country that he wrote back to his wife Mary Mann Wells that it was a good country "One can see as far as his eyes will let him."
    The following spring Mr. & Mrs Wells left Navarro County, Texas with two wagons loaded with household goods. Mrs Wells drove one wagon with a pair of mules; the second, Mr. Wells drove, drawn by a pair of oxen. The three youngest daughters were with them, Ruby, Otis and Omah. It took two months to make the trip, arriving in New Mexico in July of 1908.
     Mrs. Wells was disappointed because there were no tress. Mr. Wells reminded her that he had told her "One can see as far as your eyes will let you see," to which she replied, "but there is nothing to see."
     They homesteaded on 320 acres of land near the Hi-Lonesome ranch. The first job was to dig a dugout to live in. This was the quickest and cheapest means of a place to live until they could get enough improvemnets on the place to comply with the governments regulations for homesteading. Later they built a two story house. The first and only one in Lea County for many years.
     Besides farming and a few cattle, Mr. Wells drove a frieght wagon from Midland, Lameas and Roswell, bringing in supplies to knowles and Lovington.