Details: Loney Keistler Wagoner
***Loney Keistler Wagoner***
(b. April 1861; d. February 2, 1939)
South Carolina. Black.
Occupation: farmer, farm laborer, teacher.
Father's occupation: barber, trial justice.
Loney (or Lonnie) Keistler Wagoner was born in South Carolina to James K. and Violet Wagoner. The family lived in Yorkville, South Carolina during Reconstruction. Loney's father James was a local Republican politician and worked as a trial justice (a position similar to Justice of the Peace) in Yorkville during Reconstruction. He was also appointed as a Commissioner of Election in 1872 by Governor Scott.
Loney first appears in University of South Carolina records in the January 1876 course catalogue. He is listed as a college student following the modern studies track. The university closed before he completed his degree.
It is unclear what Loney did immediately after Reconstruction. His parents remained in Yorkville, and his father worked as a barber until his death in 1881. However, Loney does not appear to have lived with them as he does not appear in their household in the 1880 Census.
By 1900, Loney had moved out west. During the 1900s and 1910s, he was living in Limestone County, Texas. There he worked as a teacher and farmer.
Loney moved to New Mexico in the 1910s. In 1915, he moved to the newly formed black colony Blackdom. He set up a homestead there, and worked as a farm laborer to build up capital. Later, when the community was more established, he worked as a teacher.
Blackdom became largely abandoned over the course of the 1920s. By 1920, Loney had moved to the town of Hagerman (in Eddy County). He had moved to the city of Roswell by 1931.
Loney died on February 2, 1939. He is buried in South Park Cemetery in Roswell, New Mexico.
Sources
1). 1870; Census Place: Division 1, York, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1512; Page: 284A
2). 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 4, Limestone, Texas; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0058
3). 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Limestone, Texas; Roll: T624_1574; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 0047
4). 1920; Census Place: Otis, Eddy, New Mexico; Roll: T625_1076; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 68
5). 1930; Census Place: Hagerman, Chaves, New Mexico; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0016
6). Nelson, Timothy Eugene. The Significance of the Afro-frontier in American History: Blackdom, Barratry, and Bawdyhouses in the Borderlands, 1900-1930. PhD Dissertation. University of Texas at El Paso. 2015.
7). LeMay, John. Roswell. Arcadia Publishing. 2008
8) Roswell, New Mexico, City Directory, 1931.
9) "Election Commissioners." Yorkville Enquirer [York, SC]. August 22, 1872. p. 2.
10) "Recent Deaths." Yorkville Enquirer [York, SC]. March 24, 1881. p. 2.
Posted 10/21/21 with photo from findagrave