Birth, Death, Wagon Trains and Things

From 1884—1976

Uncle Bill’s wife was known as “Aunt Martha.” She was the daughter of Abijah Birden Keith and Adeline (Riles or Jones). “Uncle Bill’s” and “Aunt Martha’s” daughter, Mary Luvina York Dockray was also in the train. Mary Luvina York had married James Madison (Jim) Dockray in Belton, Bell County, Texas, August 5, 1875. They became the parents of Grover Cleveland Dockray, who was my dad.

Also in the train were my mother’s parents, Charles Amanuel Arthur and Emoline (Emma) Arthur, married at Stephenville, Texas, October 12, 1873. They were to be the parents of Cressie Arthur, my mother.

I believe there were five wagons in the train when it began its way west. At some point along the way, they were joined by at least one other wagon in which were friends and relatives.

At the beginning of the trip, Mary and Jim Dockray had only one child, Luke Kennedy, age 2 years. Three other children, an unnamed boy and two girls, Margia Hudson and Orpha Naomi, had died before the trip. Somewhere along the way on June 7, 1884, Mary Elizabeth, known as Lizzie, was born. She became the wife of Johnny Posey. Of course the train had to take “time out” for this event.

But this was not the only event for which the train was stopped. When Charlie and Emma Arthur started the journey, three children, Romer, age 9, Cora, age 7, and Dot, a boy, age 2 ½ years, were with them. The train was saddened by the death of Little Dot on May 28, 1884. I am not sure of the cause; my mother has said it was probably what was commonly called “Summer Complaint”. We are not certain of the place where the baby was buried. I do know my Granddaddy Arthur tried desperately to get help. Charlie and Emma had also lost a daughter, Plomia, before the trip started.

During the first part of the trip, grass water were in abundance. The men were driving stock, hoping to find ranch country. They traveled quickly at first for the cattle could get ample water and grass. Later, when the dry lands were reached and water became very scarce, the cattle were pushed as fast as possible to cut down on losses from lack of water and feed.

As the train progressed the cattle became weary and worn, so did the people. My mother tells one story of a mule colt. It seems the colt was bad tempered and delighted in dealing all the dogs misery. The colt kicked and pawed at them until he forced all the dogs to walk all they way under the wagons. One night when they camped for the day, the colt proceeded to make a general nuisance of himself. Each wagon carried a keg of sour dough (for making bread) on the back. The kegs were covered with cloths. This night the colt jambed his head into one of the kegs while supper was being prepared. This adventure scared the colt so, he ran through the camp with his head and face covered with yeast, spreading dust and confusion as he went. Even life in a wagon train was not boring.

Farther west the travelers came. Now they were out on the hot, dry lands. The cattle were hurting for water. Many were lost. One day as the little band stopped to prepare their noon meal, someone noticed a small cloud but thought nothing of it. By the time the meal was ready, the sky had been covered and the cloud had darkened. Soon great drops of refreshing rain began to fall. The cattle, with tongues now swollen from thirst, ran with heads held toward the sky. Soon little rivulets were running and the cattle could drink. What a blessed gift the rain was. It kept falling until the parched earth was soaked and many low places filled with the life-giving water. The little band decided to stay right there and be rested and refreshed. New grass came quickly after the rains so the cattle were strengthened and the people given new hope.

It was about two to three weeks before the journey was continued. From that camp, it was not many days before they reached the Pecos River. They crossed the Pecos somewhere near Seven Rivers. When they came to the river, it was high flood stage. They were at this point of the journey in late July. The river was so high all cattle had to swim across. It seems the east bank of the river was eroded and quite high. Preparations were being made to cross over and the wagons were waiting. My Grandmother Arthur told of waiting at the family wagon while the wagons were being prepared for crossing. It was necessary to chain the wagon beds to the standards to keep them from floating off the wagons. As she waited, someone underneath the bank was heard loudly cursing and raving on and on. At last someone went to see what the problem was. A young man was on the back of a big steer trying to drive the wagon train cattle into the water and also trying to get the steer he was riding into the water. He kept on until the mission was accomplished.

My grandmother did not know the name of the young man. It seems he stayed around the crossing and helped travelers get their belongings from one side to the other. Only a little while after my family crossed, news was received to the death of the young man. He had drowned while helping someone else.

Since “Uncle Bill” York was the proud grandfather of the new daughter born to Jim and Mary Dockray, he took it upon himself to get the baby across the river. He had a big, bay horse which he always rode. The baby was carefully wrapped, he mounted his big bay, the baby was placed in his arms and he swam the horse across the river carrying the baby. At the time my “Aunt Lizzie” was only a few weeks old.

From Seven Rivers the little train wended its way up the Penasco River to the vicinity of the old CA Bar headquarters, (now 1976, Runyans). They made a rather permanent camp there for they stayed throughout the winter. In April of the year 1885, a son, Dink Phillip, was born to Charlie and Emma Arthur. During this first winter my Granddaddy Arthur hauled freight by wagon from El Paso. We are not sure how long they remained at this place.

The Yorks and Dockrays lived around Elk for sometime. Uncle Bill became the owner of what later came to be called the Elk Store. He purchased the store from an unknown gentleman. After keeping the store for sometime, it was sold to a Mr. Bauman, who in turn sold to Bud Cleve. Most of these men were some way engaged in the cattle business and worked with or for the CA Bar.

In the years from 1885 to 1901, Mary and Jim Dockray became the parents of Mark Dockray, 1886; Grover Cleveland, 1890 (Cleve was my dad); Edna in 1893 (she became Mrs. Roy Worley); and William Hiram, known as “Bill” in 1901.

W. H. (Bill Dockray) in the only one of these children now living (1976). He and his wife Laura Marshall Dockray, reside near Mayhill as do three of their children: Robert, W. I. (Bill Jr.) And Herbert. Another son, Henry, lives in Alamogordo. Their daughter, Marjorie, lives in Roswell.

For some time between 1885 and 1907 Mary and Jim Dockray lived on what has been called the “Old Merritt Place” located about the now-existing county line of Otero and Chaves County. Some of the time they also lived on Sixteen Springs Canyon. Uncle Bill (William) York died June 11, 1904. Martha E. York his wife, died March 21, 1907. They are buried side by side in the Elk Cemetery.

At the death of Martha York, Jim Dockray was administrator of the York Estate. After the estate was settled, Jim and Mary bought a place about two and a half miles from Mayhill at the mouth of Carr Canyon; the place has been referred to as the old Carr Place. At present (1976) one of Jim’s and Mary’s grandsons, Robert Dockray and his wife, Dorothy Helen Chandler Dockray, own that place.

Later Jim and Mary left the Mayhill area and went to the Dexter-Hagerman area. Jim farmed for Ira Marshall for many years.

In 1934 they returned to the Mayhill area and lived on the home place of Cressie and Cleve Dockray, this being the place settled by Charlie and Emma Arthur. They lived on that place until Jim’s death, January 5, 1945. At that time Mary went to live with her daughter, Lizzie Posey, where she remained until her death, February 15, 1950. They both are buried in the original Mayhill Cemetery.

The Charlie Arthur family made their way on up the Penasco to a place three miles east of Mayhill on the place now owned by Curley Derrick. They stayed there for about a year and during that time in 1887, a daughter, Mary Caroline, known as Carrie, was born to them.

Charlie and Emma were not yet settled. They moved on up the Penasco to a place two and a half miles south of Mayhill and bought a claim of 160 acres from a Mr. Keen (or Kane), who had never proved up on the claim. Now the Arthur family were home at last. They proved the claim and prospered. Charlie continued to freight by wagon from El Paso, and also to farm and ranch. During these years other children were born to them— Margia Lillie in 1891 (she became Mrs. Homer Barkley) ; Eula Lizzie in 1893 (she became Mrs. Roe McNatt); and Cressie, April 5, 1896 (she became Mrs. Cleve Dockray and also my mother). She still lives on the place proved by her father.

Eula McNatt is the only living one besides my mother. She lives in Tularosa, New Mexico.

Then tragedy struck. Charlie Arthur became seriously ill and was sent to El Paso for treatment. My mother tells of seeing her daddy leave on a train from Alamogordo, and of the fear of trains she had for many years because of this. She was very young at the time.

Charlie Arthur was allowed to return home but very little could be done for him. In the late fall of 1898, while he lay dying, Emma was awakened by my mother, Cressie, calling for a drink. Emma who slept on a pallet on the floor by her sick husband, raised up and saw their barn and all the winter’s feed engulfed in flame. There were indications of it having been purposely set. Neighbors came but nothing could be done. The winter’s supply of feed was a total loss. It was only by the hard work of a bucket brigade that the home was not burned.

The following April 12, 1899, Charlie Arthur lost his battle for life and was laid to rest in James Canyon Cemetery.

Emma, my “Grannie” continued to live on the little place on the Penasco. My mother, Cressie, was only 3 years old at the death of her father. Emma and the little family stayed on in spite of hardships. By this time Romer had married Julia Tomlinson and had a family of his own. Cora had also married and was away from home. Dink and the younger girls were still at home. Dink married Alma Miller and ranched on the Felix.

Time does strange things. During the time Cressie Arthur and Cleve Dockray were going to school, their paths met at the school at Mayhill, New Mexico; these being the children of the wagon train travelers.

On April 14, 1912, Mr. C. A. Redic performed the ceremony which made Cressie Arthur the bride of Cleve Dockray. These are my parents.

Emma, at the time of this union, asked my parents if they would be willing to stay on the home place with her. Of course they were glad to do this. Cressie and Cleve became the parents of four children, a son Arthur C., born March 30, 1915–died August 15, 1917; Mable, born June 22, 1918; Glynn, born August 14, 1921; and Lanelle, born March 18, 1924.

Mable became Mrs. Ross Hooten and she and her husband now reside on the old home place at Mayhill. They are the parents of three children–Mrs. Geraldine Bundy of Ruidoso, Mrs. Kay Montoya fo Ruidoso, and Lee of California. They have three grandchildren, Shane and Tammy Bundy and Anne Montoya. Mable and her husband, Ross, have lived most of their married life on the place, just across the road from our mother.

Glynn became Mrs. Sank Tunnell. She and her husband, Sank, now live in Artesia where they are both in the teaching profession. At present, Sank is retired after teaching a total of 36 years, 23 in Artesia teaching eighth grade arithmetic; Glynn is still teaching. She now teaches sixth grade social studies at Zia Intermediate School.

Sank and Glynn are the parents of two children. Their daughter, Sharon Lynette, is now married to Larry Thomas. Sharon and Larry are both teachers and at present are teaching on the Navajo Reservation 40 miles north of Gallup, New Mexico, at Navajo, New Mexico. Their son Arthur Dockray Tunnell, is now following in his dad’s footsteps and is teaching high school math in Clovis, New Mexico.

Sank and Glynn were fortunate enough to be able to buy 40 acres of the old home place from an aunt when the estate was settled. They now own the part of the place were Glynn was born.

Lanelle became Mrs. Kenneth Potter, Jr. of Mayhll. She and her husband operate the Phillips 66 service station there. As odd as it may seem, Nell’s home is joining the place Charlie and Emma first settled, three miles east of Mayhill. Nell and Kenneth have two children, Elaine (Mrs. Johnny Watson), and John, who is a graduate geology student at U.T.E.P. They have one grandson, Ridge Lee Watson and a granddaughter Cressie Elaine Watson.

My Grannie, “Aunt Emmie” as she was affectionately called, died July 10, 1947, and was placed to rest by her husband.

My dad Cleve, died November 1, 1961. He was put to rest by the side of his little son, Arthur C. in the original Mayhill Cemetery.

My mother, Cressie, is still living on the old place, two and a half miles south of Mayhill. She still climbs mountains, makes a garden, and puts me to shame walking over her beloved acres and cheerfully going about this business of living.

On March 31 of this year (1976), five days before her 80th birthday, my mother, and my sister Mable, were out in the garden by the house. They were burning trash to get the ground ready for this year’s garden. Their fire was in the garden next to the highway and was blazing away nicely. All at once they heard a roar up on the hill west of my mother’s house. They looked up and saw a giant whirlwind rapidly approaching. My mother was afraid it would scatter the fire so she started for a shovel. The whirlwind came quickly, dipped down right at her feet, picked her up about three feet in the air, turned her around, causing her to hit on her left shoulder. Mable, very frightened, ran to her. Before she could get to her, mother had already jumped up and was dusting herself off. She was badly bruised and very sore for several days but n o bones were broken. A little thing like a whirlwind was not able to stop her.

You’ll still find her caring for her loved ones in the very place she has spent all her life. A courageous, brave, and loving woman, I salute her, my mother-----Cressie Arthur Dockray.

Written by Glynn Dockray Tunnell - 1976
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Of course since 1976 a lot of changes has happened. My dear little “Grannie Cressie” has passed on to a better life as has my mother and father Kenneth Jr. and Lanelle Dockray Potter. Other members of the family have passed on and children have married.

I now live on and own the “home place”. My daughter Cressie also lives on the property. We treasure the place and value the hours and years of labor and hard work that has been put into it. My aunties Glynn (still living in Artesia) and Mable (still living on the place) are going strong in their late 80's early 90's. Very like their mother it takes a lot to get them down. I feel the “Arthur Homestead” is in good hands for some time to come.

Elaine Watson 2009 Retyped with the permission of Glynn Dockray Tunnell –original author.

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