Long, Thomas and Sarah Hickman
Lea County Families, "Then and Now" Vol I, 1979
Long, Hickman and Rodgers Families of Lea County and Allied Family Lines
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Submitted by: Ruth Dennis Brown
Will Rodgers said that all he knew was what he read in the papers. I can truthfully say, that all I know is what I have been told, and what I have been able to document. Please understand that much of the information is only as valid as the memory or interest of the person supplying the information.
After New Mexico became the 47th State on January 6, 1912, pioneer families began moving into southeastern New Mexico to file on homesteads under the Homestead Act of May 20, 1862. A homestead consisted of 320 acres. They were to live on the land, building homes, out buildings, digging wells, fencing, etc, which would add to or improve the land, before the land was officially and legally granted to them but her government of the United States. All water and mineral rights were included in the Original Homestead Act. On December 29, 1916, legislation was enacted which gave homesteaders the right to file on an additional 160 acres, however the Federal Government retained all mineral rights, giving only the water and the surface rights to the homesteader. Therefore, most homesteads contained 480 acres.
Lea County was not formed from Chaves and Eddy Counties until 1917. My maternal Great Grandparents moved to Lea County in 1911 – my maternal grandparents in 1914, homesteading and settling southeast of Eunice.
My great grandparents were Thomas and Sarah Elizabeth Hickman Long, known to everyone as “Tom and Sally Long”. In an article published in the Eunice Star, dateline, Thursday, September 4, 1958, Sally recalls their arrival to New Mexico, she states: “ It was December (1911) when the Long’s arrived in New Mexico, having made the trip in a covered wagon . They lived in a cabin that belonged to “Dry” Gould in the Nadine area for about three months. The cabin was heated by a wood burning stove, and the only fuel was mesquite tree roots and cow chips, consequently they suffered from the cold weather, In February, a Mr. White who lived 25 miles south of them, which would be 6 miles southeast of Eunice, was forced to give up his homestead because of his wife's health. He relinquished his claim to 320 acres of land and gave Mr. Long the right to file for it. He paid the man for the improvements that had been made on the land, and they moved into their first home in New Mexico, which was a one – room, dirt floor, lean to- cabin. (This was their home until the summer of 1914, when Tom went to Pecos and purchased the lumber to build their first home). The article continues to tell of the lack of a school and of the men going to Pecos for lumber and supplies. Since the only road to Pecos went by the way of Carlsbad, the distance was much greater than it is, and the road was little more than a cattle trail. In places the sand was so deep it took two teams to pi;; the wagons through. The first night after the school was completed; everyone in the community met in it, put all their children to bed on pallets, and danced all night! As the sun came up the next morning, they all started home, just wore plum out, but the happiest crowd in the community. School was in session. “if and when” there was a teacher. The school house was used for school, community functions and church. A preacher, referred to as a “Circuit Rider” would come by and preach for them occasionally. When asked about denomination of the “Circuit Rider”, Mrs. Long replied:” Oh, honey, we never thought to ask, we were so hungry to hear the word of God, that it made no difference to us.” The school became known as the “Old White” school house.
Thomas Long was the youngest son of John Wesley Long (B: May 9, 1829 in Georgia, died July 10, 1912 in Kingsland, Texas) and Francis Elizabeth Ellison (b: March 30, 1836 – died in Denton Co. Texas). His brothers and sisters were: (1). John D. (Doc) Long, b: January 7, 1857; (2.) James (Jim Buchanan Long b: March 25, 1859) married July 31, 1879 in Llano Co. Texas, Sarah Elizabeth Myers at the old Brantley ranch on the Llano River; (3.) Doke Long b: October 2, 1861, d:1939, married August 17, 1882 in Llano, Texas; Mary Elizabeth Fisher, b: March 29, 1866 in Llano, Texas, died 1937- both are buried in Llano, Texas; (4). Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Long B; October 4, 1854, d: January 4, 1934, married February 18, 1873, in Denton County, A. L. Sutton b: January 7, 1852 in Arkansas, Of their seven children, two were John F. Sutton, who became District Judge of the 51st District Court, San Angelo, Texas and Claude R. Sutton who was the judge of Marfa, Texas.
John Wesley (Jack) Long was a one-eyed man, “having received a musket ball in the left eye” while serving as a Sergeant with Company C. 21st Texas Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Col. William H. griffin Commanding, during the Civil War. He owned a small tract of land on the Llano River. I am told there is a big mountain nearby in Llano County that was named for the Longs. Also, a spot on the Llano River is called Jack Long Falls, as Jack lived at this place many years. Sherman Long (son of Doke Long), now owns his father’s property and the property owned by his grandfather Jack. The old Long home has been incorporated into Sherman’s home. It is a very small, semi-two story house, with a fireplace. Jack Long’s musket stands by the fireplace. Jack Long was living with his son Doke when he died, across the river from Pack Saddle Mountain. There is an old lead mine located in or around Pack Saddle Mountain where they would go to get the lead to make shot for their muskets. This mine has been looked for by many, but has never been found, apparently lost forever.
Little is know of Tom Long’s mother, Francis Elizabeth Allison. It is said that she was injured in an Indian raid in Denton County just prior to his birth. He was her last child. After her death, Tom was reared by his sister Betty. Her date and place of death is unknown but it is believed that she died and was buried in Denton County, Texas. About ten years after her death, John Wesley Long married in Rockwall County, Texas, August 21, 1880, Rue Ann Holloway, b: May 16, 1848, d: April 20, 1945. Children from this marriage were: Will, Andes, Rob, Homer and Molly.
Thomas Long, b: August 9, 1865, Denton County, Texas d: Aug 5, 1951, Eunice, New Mexico, married in Llano County, Texas, May 23, 1888, Miss Sarah Elizabeth Hickman b: February 3, 1871, Warren, Arkansas, d: March 7, 1964, Eunice, New Mexico.
Sarah Elizabeth (Sally) Hickman was the daughter of John Franklin Hickman, b: January 6, 1831, d: Nov. 15, 1906, in Bronte, Texas and Mary Louise Lindsey, b: Aug 30, 1849 in Arkansas, d: Mar 9, 1918 in Bronte, Texas. They were married Nov 4, 1865, in Drew County, Arkansas.