Curry County
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Sidney J. Boykin, who is the president of the First National Bank of Clovis,
and one of the foremost business men of the town, was born in Texas on the 16th
of December, 1861. His parents were S R and Emily (Medford) Boykin, the former
of whom died in 1903 and the latter of whom passed away when her son S. J., was
but seven years old. At the time of the Civil War S R Boykin served as captain
in the Home Guard of Texas and his military record was highly creditable. He was
a farmer by occupation and his labors were rewarded by good crops.
S. J.
Boykin, who is one of a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters,
was educated in private schools as was the time of his boyhood there were no
public schools in Texas. When but fifteen years of age he went to work and he
has since learned much in the school of experience. He rode the range in the
employ of others until he was twenty-five years of age, when he went into the
cattle business in the eastern part of New Mexico for himself. He was connected
with ranching until 1913, when he sold his land turned his attention to trading
in cattle, in which business he is still active. In the same year he purchased a
large interest in the First National Bank of Clovis and was made vice president
of the institution, which position he held until November 1, 1915, when he was
made president. The business of the bank is growing constantly and its
prosperity is largely due to the sound judgment and business ability of its
president.
Mr. Boykin was married November 18, 1885, to Mrs. Elizabeth
Walters. His ballot is cast in support of the measures and candidates of the
democratic party as he believes firmly in its principles, and fraternally he is
a third-degree Mason. He holds membership in the Commercial Club, thus keeping
in close touch with the other progressive men of Clovis, and he is an important
factor in the carrying out of the plans of that organization for the business
expansion of the town. For many years he was resided in this State and he has
great faith in its future, believing that its development has just been begun.
James S. Fitzhugh, who is engaged in the practice of law in Clovis, Curry
County, was born in Waco, Texas, on the 14th of July 1863, of the marriage of
John S and Mary I (Everett) Fitzhugh. The father was a farmer and also engaged
in teaching school for a considerable period. He was one of the early settlers
in Texas and at the time of the Civil War fought in the Confederate Army and his
military experience also covered service against the Indians. He held the office
of justice of the peace and was highly esteemed in his community.
James
S. Fitzhugh attended the public schools and Baylor University at Waco and
following his graduation from that institution in 1888 became a student in the
law department of the University of Texas, where he remained for a year. From
1889 to 1891 he taught school but in the latter year was admitted to the bar and
began the practice of his profession at Waco, where he remained until 1903, with
the exception of two years, 1900 and 1901, when he served as president of the
Blum College at Burkeville, Texas. In 1903 he went to Carlsbad, New Mexico,
where he practiced until September, 1904, when he located to Portales, whence he
removed to Roswell with W. W. Gatewood in 1905. In the following year he
returned to Portales and in the spring of 1907 came to Clovis, where he has
since resided. In 1906 he was treasurer and legal adviser of the Brownhorn
Townsite Company, which built Melrose, New Mexico. In 1907 he gave up the
practice of law but has since resumed it and has built up a gratifying clientage
in Clovis. He has invested in real estate in New Mexico from which he derives a
good financial return. In two-years time he built many of the business blocks
and residences of Clovis and accumulated over one hundred thousand dollars in
that time and was the heaviest tax payer in Curry County.
Mr. Fitzhugh
was married in September, 1889 to Miss Hettie M Spalding, a daughter of Dr. W.
E. Spalding, a pioneer of Kimball, Texas, where he was very prominent in public
affairs. His brother, Dr. A. T. Spalding, is now pastor of the Baptist church at
Galveston, Texas. The family came originally from Georgia, where its
representatives were also well known. Mrs. Fitzhugh passed away in October,
1904, leaving five sons and three daughters. In 1908 Mr. Fitzhugh was married to
Mrs. Ida Gossett of Clovis, and they have one child, Gordon.
Mr. Fitzhugh
is a democrat in politics and fraternally he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge,
the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees. His religious faith is that of the
Presbyterian church. He keeps well informed as to the events and issues of the
day and is greatly interested in the advancement of his State although he has
never been an aspirant for political office. In 1912 he was urged to become a
candidate for the supreme court but refused. He has been a member of the board
of education of Clovis and has served as chairman of the board for three years.
A. W. Hockenhull of Clovis, who is now serving as assistant district
attorney, was born in Missouri on the 16th of January, 1877. His father, Charles
H Hockenhull, was a farmer and stockman but has passed away. The mother, who
bore the maiden name of M. A. Long, is still living and resides in Oklahoma.
A. W. Hockenhull received his early education in the public schools and
later attended the Southwest Baptist College at Bolivar, Missouri, from which he
was graduated in 1897. Subsequently he spent two years in the University of
Missouri at Columbia, after which he entered the University of Texas at Austin,
which institution conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1904. For
four years he engaged in the practice of his profession at Bolivar, Missouri,
but at the end of that time came to New Mexico and homesteaded land on the
plains south of Tucumcari. In 1909 he removed to Clovis, where he has since
resided, and in the intervening years he has built up a representative practice.
He has also held office in the line of his profession, having served as probate
judge and being at the present time city attorney and assistant district
attorney. In all of these capacities he has proved capable and aggressive and he
holds the confidence of both the general public and his brother attorneys. He is
a director and stockholder of the Clovis National Bank and is interested in
anything pertaining to the development of his town.
Mr. Hockenhull was
married on the 20th of November, 1901, to Miss Mamie Drake, by whom he has three
daughters, Gertrude, Virginia, and Helen. Mr. Hockenhull is a stalwart democrat
in politics, believing that the policies of the party are based upon sound
principles of government, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues
of the day. He holds membership in the Commercial Club, fraternally is connected
with the Knights of Pythias, and the Greek letter fraternity, Sigma Alpha
Epsilon, and in the religious faith is a Baptist, while his wife is a
Presbyterian. Both are well known and highly esteemed in their community.
Daniel L. Moye attended the public schools as a boy and has since learned
much through observation and experience. He remained upon the home farm
assisting his father until he was twenty-seven years of age, after which he
followed agricultural pursuits on his own account for a time. In 1904 he left
Kentucky and went to Paris, Texas, where he engaged in the grocery business for
two years. He decided, however, that New Mexico offered better opportunities and
on the 15th of February, 1906, came to this State. He homesteaded land in Curry
County, on which he lived for five years, and for the first part of that period
his only shelter was a tent. He soon gained a high place in the esteem of the
fellow citizens and in the early spring of 1911 was elected constable and in the
fall of 1911 was chosen the first sheriff of Curry County under the state
constitution for a term of five years. He has made an excellent record in
office, proving fearless, aggressive and sound in judgment in the discharge of
his duties. He has won the commendation of all good citizens of the county and
is a candidate for reelection. He is interested financially in farming and tock
raising and derives a good return from his investments.
On the 20th of
March, 1892, occurred the marriage of Mr. Moye and Miss Florence Turner, a
daughter of Newton and Sallie A. (Goodman) Turner, of Simpson County, Kentucky.
Mr. and Mrs. Moye have two children, Newton Atkins and Ura Curtis. Mr. Moye is a
democrat in political belief and is much interested in everything pertaining to
local government affairs. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge and
to the Odd Fellows and he is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce, thus
keeping in touch with other public-spirited citizens.
Walter C. Zerwer, of Clovis, is the present clerk of Curry County and is
proving accurate and systematic in the discharge of his duties. His birth
occurred in Ellis County, Texas, on the 3rd of January, 1885, and he is a son of
Cris and Emma Zerwer, both deceased. During his active life the father
concentrated his energies upon farming.
After completing the course
offered in the public schools, Walter C. Zerwer attended business college at
Dallas, Texas, and subsequently worked for a time in a grocery store. Later he
was employed as stenographer for a few years, after which he engaged in the real
estate and loan business. In December, 1908, he removed to Clovis, New Mexico,
and from that time until January, 1912, was active in the insurance and real
estate fields here. He was then made deputy county clerk and in 1914 was
appointed city clerk of Clovis. He proved very efficient in that capacity and on
the 25th of August, 1914, was chosen county clerk, which office he is now
acceptably filling.
On the 14th of August, 1907, Mr. Zerwer was united in
marriage to Miss Nettie A Hyatt, a daughter of John C and Cora (Akers) Hyatt,
who are now living in Clovis. Mr. and Mrs. Zerwer have two sons, Arthur Lee and
Walter C. The democratic party has a stanch supporter in Mr. Zerwer and his
religious faith is that of the Church of Christ. He has thoroughly identified
his interests with those of his community and state and is recognized as a
progressive and public-spirited citizen.
Extracted from 1917 The Leading Facts of New Mexican History, Vol III, by Ralph E. Twitchell
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This page was last updated
08/13/2026