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Clovis Named in Honor of First Christian King of France, Says Clayton Reed, Once Owned SiteTown’s First MerchantSanta Fe Pays $5,000 Forj 320 Acres For Future TownThe steady march of civilization over the old trails that cut across a barren plain to n spot not unlike the vast expanse surrounding: it— Clovis—probably has brought more wonderment to Clayton Reed than to any other man.Clayton Reed has watched Clovis develop as p father watches the growth of a son. He feels Clovis is a part of him.Mr. Reed, back in October, 11)00, stopped heading kafir corn one day to sell the townsite on which ClovisMr. Reed farm, wheres on his homestead hail proved a claim a few years previous*. The particular corn field in which he.was working included the spot where the First Baptist church now stands.He was approached by a stranger who gave his name as K. C. Reid, a representative of the Santa Fe Land and Townsite company.Sell* Quarter for $2,500When the railroad representative mentioned he wanted to buy the farm, Mr. Reed tied his lines to the spoke of a wagon wheel and left the field. Mr. Reid told him the Santa Fe Railway company wanted the land for railroad purposes.The land the railroad wanted was a quarter of a section covering the territory from the present railroad yards north to Seventh street, and from Main street east to Prince street. They also wanted a quarter of a section lying between the present Main street and Thornton and between the present railroad property and Seventh street, which belonged to Mr. Reed's sister, Miss Nellie Reed.“Mr. Reid asked me what 1 wanted for the land and 1 was about to ask him $1,000, when he suggested that my sister and I come to Texico the following day to talk the proposition over,” Mr. Reed saul.My sister and I went to Texico the next day and Mr. Reid greeted us with a telegram from Santa F'e officials offering us $2,500 for each of the two quarter sections.“Within thirty minutes we had closed the deal and mytorni waClayton Reed, who lives near Texico, stopped heading kafir in 1906 to sell his farm to the Santa Fe Land and Townsite company for a site for the location of Clovis. Mr. Reed was Clovis’ first business man.What It Takes To Make Good Clovis CitizensWhat constitutes a good citizenhere in Clovis lt;ilse\\here? Hereare a few qualifications;1. Faithful work on his job, helping the industry he serves to meet the needs of the people.2. Care of his home place, so that the spot of the earth he controls I helps make h is home town more pleading.3. Intelligent interest in community affairs, so that his vote andpiai-townlots.”theworth of thoseSl'CUOns of land is :Today quarterunbelievable compared with the original sale price.The original name for the- city which has sprung from am *ng the kafir corn aJid maize fields :!' Mr. Reed's farm was Riley Switch.Origin of Clovig Name In May. 1907. the new town made its formal bow to the unbroken prairie anil its name a- announced as Clovis. Mr. Reed said that he understood the town was named by a daughter of one of the Santa Fe officials, who named it after Clovis, first Christian king of France.C. V. Steed and I built the first business house in Clovis.” Mr. Reed said. “Joe Farris was the contractor who worked with us. Mr. Steed and I at that time were engaged in the real estate business.”Mr. Reed looks back over these short years with amazement. He has seen Clovis springing with startling rapidity from a railroad siding to one of the largest and most influential cities in New Mexico.Dallas and Fort WorthIT* _ I. M-*.McFARGrocery aBrings to the peopleA MODERN, ST(Handling only the best ceries, fresh vegetables, We maintain a free del tomers.As one progressive busii
Newspaper Details
Clovis Evening News Journal
Clovis, New Mexico, US
Mon, Oct 19, 1931
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Little D.
MO, USA 13 Nov 2016
Other Publications Near Clovis, New Mexico
The Clovis News
The Eastern New Mexico News
Clovis Evening News Journal
Clovis News Tribune
Clovis New Mexico Evening News Journal
