“[The following article was written by Kathryn Henry, a reporter for the  Clovis News-Journal, and appeared in the News-Journal last week.]

With a Grandchild or great-grandchild for every one of his 77 years, Frank M. Boyer, resident of Vado, lays claim to being the head of the largest Negro family in New Mexico. He had been a resident of New Mexico 50 years and was a member of one of the survey gangs which laid out the city of Clovis. The aged man is well known to many of the early day residents of Eastern New Mexico.”

Las Cruces Sun-News, Sunday, March 30, 1947

Roswell Daily Record Tuesday, May 4, 1920

In March of 1947, Kathryn Henry, a reporter for the Clovis News-Journal, interviewed a “Vado Negro Leader” named Frank, who claimed to be head of the largest Black family in the State of New Mexico. Francis (Frank) Marion Boyer lived many lives in the Borderlands, and the Blackdom Oil Company was one of them. In Mexico’s northern frontier, Frank co-founded and helped build Blackdom; an institution to generate sovereignty for free people under the condition of Blackness.  He delivered on his promise of sovereignty and the evidence showed in him being the head of the largest “Negro” family in New Mexico. Kathryn was the last known person to interview Frank before he passed away two years later in 1949. 

by Dr. Timothy E. Nelson ©

Tuesday, April 20, 1920 “Will Drill at Blackdom”

The Ragsdale family was an early Blackdomite dynasty to help establish #TheAfrōFrontier; successful in all the ways that mattered. Moses, the patriarch, and Clinton, his son, was the visionary who migrated from Mississippi to Chaves County, New Mexico. In 1906, Clinton in his mid-30s lived with the Boyer family until 1907. In the freedom of the Borderlands, Clinton was eager to build and often pitched a tent to spend star-filled nights on his land.

The Ragsdale family epitomized Blackdomite society as #AfrōFrontierists®️ when Clinton signed in partnership with the infamous #MittieMoore. Her land added a whole square mile to Blackdom commons. In 1919, her story was the antithesis of Blackdomite society and she added to Blackdom’s greatest triumph. Mittie’s addition brought higher royalty when leasing to oil companies and wildcats. 

Blackdom Oil Company was on the horizon of Clinton’s vision and it included Mittie. The more land Blackdomites had in the pool, the greater the royalty. 

#NoteToTheReader: One can not overstate the inherent tension that came as a result of the interaction between the deeply intellectual, rural, religious Black people in opposition to Black people associated with sinful commercial vice.

Shortly after building a home, Clinton brought his wife, Molly, in her early 30s. The family came together on the homestead with son Ezell. Molly’s mother Jennie was in her 60s when she joined them along with all four Ragsdale children. The whole family was able to read and write. By the 1930s, the Ragsdale family homesteaded (3)Sq miles in Blackdom—Clinton (1913,1920, and 1926), Ezell (1917, 1920 and 1921).

Roswell Daily Record: Tuesday, April 20, 1920 [Pg2]

The Ragsdale family structure was the business of intergenerational wealth. Ezell completed a homestead before he was conscripted into military service during World War I. When he returned from military service, Ezell began a second homestead that he completed in partnership with the Blackdom Oil Company.

Early in Blackdom’s revival (1909-1919), the masonic vision manifested into grand meetings of substance. Clinton Ragsdale, along with all other family patriarchs of Blackdom were accountable to one another and responsible to research, consume and enlighten others of certain knowledge. At Blackdom’s annual Thanksgiving Galas, with Frank Boyer as Toastmaster; Monroe Collins was responsible for reporting on all processes related to homesteading. George Wilson was functionally a veterinarian, which required him to acquire knowledge about livestock. Clinton was responsible for pumping and windmills. 

In 1919, Clinton Ragsdale, Joe Blue, Henry Smith, and #ErastusHerron of Blackdom were signatories for the infamous #MittieMoore’s final homestead proof adding 320 acres and later another 320 acres. Clinton’s expertise in pumping was a rare commodity that made him one of the elites among Blackdomites. Blackdom was moving toward oil exploration and pumping could produce endless amounts of money. Clinton’s knowledge, skills, and abilities could solidify royalties for generations.

Imagine Clinton Ragsdale, Mittie Moore, and Erastus Herron on Tuesday, April 20, 1920, opening the Roswell Daily Record and reading, “Will Drill at Blackdom.”

by Dr. Timothy E. Nelson ©