George Blalock's paternal grandparents were of Scotch-Irish descent and migrated from the British Isles to Augusta, Georgia. George was born in Barnsville, Georgia, on March 24, 1855, to E. C. Blalock. His family moved from Barnsville across the river to Alabama and in 1860 went to Cass County, Texas. In 1875 at the age of 20 George left his family to move to Logan County, Arkansas.
In Arkansas, George met Mary Gertrude Garner, and they were married on July 24, 1878, in Logan County. They moved from Arkansas to Paris, Texas. In 1890, they relocated to Navajoe in Greer County. By this time George and Mary had four children; Claud D., Elmo, Roy, and Ruby. In 1896, their youngest son, Leland was born. Elmo died an early death in 1899, of an ".inflammation of the brain." and was buried at, ".the old family home at Navajoe." (Mangum Star 1899)
George was a farmer and merchant during his years in Greer County. He was also a partner in the Greer County Abstract Co. selling real estate and insurance. He was elected sheriff in 1900 and served one two-year term with his son, Claud, as Deputy Sheriff. He lost in his reelection bid in 1902.
George Blalock became aware that cheap land was available in Mexico and that Mexican President Porfidio Diaz was actively encouraging Americans to settle there. Blalock and his former deputy, Wesley Ricks, left Oklahoma and traveled to Mexico in February of 1902, to explore real estate opportunities. Blalock continued to travel extensively in Mexico in this pursuit. He actively promoted his investment scheme to the residents of Greer County and other communities. Blalock's vision of finding enough investors to purchase land and create a colony of Americans who would move permanently to Mexico began to take shape.
In October of 1902, the Blalock Mexico Colony was formed as a stock corporation in order to purchase land jointly. The corporation was chartered under the laws of the Territory of Oklahoma, with Blalock as its president. His vision had become a reality with the purchase of the 176,515 acre Hacienda El Chamal.
On February 20, 1903, the first trainload of over 200 Blalock Mexico Colonists left Mangum, Oklahoma to establish an American colony in Mexico. George Blalock, his wife Mary, and their four children were on board headed to their promised land.
Life in the Colony was not easy at the beginning. Under Blalock's leadership the colonists overcame many obstacles to develop a community of self-reliant families that begin to prosper. They created a new town at Chamal City, built schools and churches, planted crops, and became cattle ranchers. Blalock continued to serve as president of the colony until 1905, serving a total of three years.
George Blalock was a frequent writer of letters published in the two local newspapers, The Mangum Star and The Mangum Sun-Monitor, back in Greer County. During the first year, he described life in the Colony in an exciting and humorous way. His letters provided encouragement to the remaining stockholders in Greer County who were preparing to travel to Chamal on two additional trains that followed.
By early 1905, Blalock and his family lived at their ranch, Charco Largo, just south of Chamal City. During this time his son, Roy, died as a result of a gunshot to the shoulder. He was crossing a rock fence near Gomez Farias when the incident occurred.
Blalock raised cattle and grazed them in the valley. He started a cattle business with three other colonists. By 1913, they drove their cattle 80 miles south to Atascador, with good rail connections to the cattle markets in Tampico and San Luis Potesi.
In 1910, the Mexican Revolution began, but during the first two years there were very few problems for the American colonists. In May 1912, Blalock's ranch was set afire and his house and all of his buildings were destroyed. By 1913, with the assassination of Francisco Madero, the new president of Mexico, violence escalated. Then the Colony at Chamal became a constant target of revolutionaries. These soldier bandits used force to acquire cattle and supplies to fight and survive. As 1913, progressed it was no longer safe to live in Chamal. Blalock moved with his wife and daughter to Tampico where they operated a boarding house. George continued to return to try and protect his property and cattle at Chamal and Atascador.
At the time of the Veracruz incident in April 1914, Blalock and his family were in Tampico. There they were taken to American boats and surprisingly were taken to Galveston, Texas. Upon arrival, Blalock's family remained in the United States, but George boarded a train the next day and headed back to Tampico. Later, his wife followed and continued to run their boarding house in Tampico until October 1916, when the Blalocks fled to San Antonio, Texas.
Senator Albert Fall conducted United States Senate subcommittee hearings regarding degradations of American citizens in Mexico. In 1920, George Blalock was a witness at these hearings in San Antonio. He described the colony he founded and answered questions regarding murders and other incidents that occurred before and during the Mexican Revolution.
Blalock returned to Chamal in 1920, to see what was left of his property. It was in ruins. He lived there until his death in 1925, and he is buried in the American Cemetery at Chamal. His wife Mary remained in San Antonio and died there in 1929.
The Blalock children also left Mexico. His son, Claud D. Blalock and his wife, Willie, were the first of the Blalocks to leave Mexico returning to live in Greer County, Oklahoma.
Ruby L. Blalock married William Pierce Laughter after returning to Texas. George Leland Blalock returned to Mexico and lived and farmed in the colony for a number of years. In the 1920's Leland filed a successful Special Mexican Claim as executer of the Blalock Estate. Leland was active in early Blalock Mexico Colony reunions however none of Blalock's descendants are known at his time.
