Baca County History

by the Plainsman Herald

Year: 2016

  • Did Ben Franklin Really Have a Key Role in Bringing Broomcorn to America?

    In the talks I have given about broomcorn I have always mentioned that Benjamin Franklin is often credited with bringing broomcorn to America in the 1700s. This concept is usually presented as fact, but it turns out  that whether this is true or not is actually up for debate.  I introduced you to some of…

  • Broomcorn Research Progress 2007: by Dr. Sam Moyer

    Reposted with Permission by Dr. Sam Moyer. Although there hasn’t been broomcorn production in Baca County for many years, there actually has been quite a bit of research done  in the not so recent past.  My newest broomcorn acquaintance is Dr. Sam Moyer,  a geneticist and a broom maker from New Jersey.   Dr. Moyer has…

  • I would rather be in a Tulsa Jail than cutting broomcorn…

    We know that harvesting broomcorn was a hard itchy process but  at my “Broomcorn Capital” presentation 2 years ago Shorty Miller may have driven the point home when he told us that one broomcorn Johnnie told him, I would rather be in a Tulsa Jail than cutting broomcorn.   I haven’t posted much broomcorn info lately…

  • Lucius McAdam: Baca County Pioneer and Confederate Veteran

    Lucius McAdam came to Las Animas County Colorado in 1886.  This was a couple years before Baca County was split off from Las Animas County and established as a county.  McAdam was born in Chariton County Missouri January 16, 1845.  He left Chariton County in 1884, spent a couple years in western Kansas before moving…