Page 37 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021- Online Magazine
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LOCAL HISTORY
Lubbock County Judge, R. F. who had lived in Hockley County site for the city of Levelland, was
Brown, signed the order on the for at least six months and was at first surveyed and platted in 1912
12th of January to proceed with least 21 years of age was eligible by C. W. Post, the cereal magnate,
the election, which was to be held to vote. Women had been given on acreage that he’d bought from
within 30 days. Judge Brown also the right to vote the previous year. Fountain G. Oxsheer in 1906.
specified the place of election for Texas was the first southern state to Legendary surveyor, Willis D.
each of the four precincts and the ratify the Nineteenth Amendment Twichell, was hired by Post to
presiding officers for each. to the U. S. Constitution. plat the future townsite. Mr. Post
had originally named it “Hockley
• Lee Cowan was appointed officer This election not only chose the City” and dreamed of making it a
for Precinct No. 1 at the school county officials, but voters were to “center” in this part of the Plains.
in Ropesville, which had been decide the location of the county He concentrated his efforts instead
organized in 1917. seat. The choice was between the at Post City in Garza County. Post
already established community of died in 1914 without realizing his
• Presiding officer for Precinct Ropesville or a townsite that had
No. 2 was Walter Frazier at been chosen by C. W. Post at the hopes for Hockley County.
Zavala Camp – located at the center of the county. 52 votes were Hockley County became the next
headquarters of the Slaughter cast for Hockley City, a location on to last county to be organized in
Ranch on Zavala County school a survey map surrounded by prairie Texas. Cochran County to the west
land. Located in the Southeast grass. Ropesville lost the election as was organized in 1924. These
portion of Hockley County, the county seat by
ranch headquarters, bunkhouse, a slim margin
windmill, and stock tank, had of only
been developed by F. G. Oxsheer. seven votes.
Cottonwood trees had been The site of
planted around the large stock Hockley City,
tank, making it a landmark seen later named
for miles. Levelland,
• Precinct No. 3 was designated at became the
the Swaim’s Place on a “strip” of county seat
land owned by William Swaim and a center
in the Northwest part of Hockley of commerce
County. M. S. Farr was appointed when the
presiding officer. Mr. Swaim railroad came
had built a two-story house in 1925. It
on his land, dug a well, put up became a
a windmill, and made other progressive
improvements. community
and later the
• Precinct No. 4 was the South home of South
Spade Camp, likely the current Plains College.
headquarters and two-story
residence on the Spade Ranch. The land in
E. S. Cornelius was the presiding the center
officer. of Hockley
County,
The election was ordered to be held that would
on February 19, 1921. Every person become the
Lubbock Senior Link 37
