TX BIOS:  Elario L. Cardova
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   [Folkstuff?] - Rangelore
   
   Gauthier, Sheldon F.
   
   Rangelore.
   
   Tarrant Co., Dist., #7 [70?]
   
   Page #1
   
   FC 240
   
   Elario [L. Cardova?], 77, living at 300 E. 12 St., was born
   Nov.,3,1861, in [Nacodoches?] co., at the farm of his father's, whose
   name was [Casanero?] Cardova. The farm was located seven miles E. of
   the town of [Nacodoches?]. In addition to farming, Cardova raised
   cattle which grazed on the free range, and hogs which also hunted
   their living in the woods adjacent to the farm. Elario's first
   recollection regarding cattle was seeing [a?] herd begin driven past
   his home by soldiers. When Elario was eight months old his father
   died. The family [continued?] to cultivate the land and when Elario
   was old enough to assist with the [farm?] work he worked in the
   fileds. When he was in his tenth year, his mother married the second
   time and at this time Elario left home to make his own way in the
   [world?]. He went to Goliad co., and secured employment on a cattle
   ranch. He followed ranch work until he was 21 years old. During his
   ranch career he saw some of the conflict which took place on the
   range. [When?] he quit the range he returned to the farm for his
   livelihood and then later entered the retail [business?] which he
   still follows.
   
   His story of range life follows:
   
   "I was born, reared and lived in the State of Texas, the [entire?]
   period of my life to date. So far as I know I shall remain in the
   State the remainder of my life. Whether or not I have done wisely and
   have remained in the best State of these United States, I can not say.
   Because I don't know anything about the other States, except what I
   have learned reading the papers, using the phrase the late Will Rogers
   used.
   
   "My parents were born in the Nacodoches section. My [grand?] parents
   came to America from Spain.
   
     NOTE: C12 - 2/11/41 - Texas
     
   00022My grandmother's family, on my mothers side of the family, came
   to Texas from Barcelona Spain, at the time Spain ruled this section of
   America.
   
   "The Spanish Government made a grant of land to my grandmother, Rachel
   Del Los Santes [Coez?], and her three brothers. The [grant?] consisted
   of 11 leagues of land in the Nacodoches section. Later, as the records
   will now show, one league was surveyed and [conveyed?] to Casanero
   Cardova, my father, by the Del Los Santos Coez people.
   
   "The Del Los Santos Coez family came to America as agents of the
   Spanish Government. Part of their duties were to learn the Indian
   Language and customs, and then deal with the Indians in behalf of the
   Government. The family first stopped at Cohuila, which was then the
   seat of Government for this Spanish territory. Their stay at Cohuila
   was for the purpose of studing the Indian language. After completing
   their study, the family then proceeded to the Nacodoches territory and
   lived on the land of their grant. "One this tract of land my father
   and mother was born reared and lived until their death. There I was
   born reared and lived until I was in my tenth year.
   
   "The date of my father's death was July, 3, 1862. My father died eight
   months after my birth, which was Nov., 3, 1861. My grandparents were
   dead, except grandmother Del Los Santos Coez, and she lived with my
   parents.
   
   "I was the youngest of all the four children. My oldest brother was
   about 15 at the time of my father's death. He and mother managed the
   cultivation of farm land.
   
   "I was the youngest of all the four children. My oldest brother was
   about 15 at the time of my father's death. He and mother managed the
   cultivation of our farm land.
   
   "My recollection starts with a scene during the Civil War. 00033The
   scene was a herd of cattle being driven past our home by a party of
   Confederate Soldiers. They were traveling E. and my guess is that the
   cattle were being driven to some point for the Army's supply of beef.
   Seeing them Soldiers and herd of cattle is the only thing about the
   Civil War which happened that registered on my mind.
   
   "For me to say my family suffered any deprivation or not, after
   father's death and during the Civil War period, I must base my
   statement on guesses and what mother told me. So far as I could learn,
   we had plenty to eat and wear at all times. When I became old enough
   to retain impressions, I know then we had all the food and clothing
   necessary to live well.
   
   "Our farm consisted of about 50 acres under cultivation and about 50
   acres in pasture for our milk cows and work stock. In addition to our
   farming we owned longhorn cattle which ranged on the unsettled land.
   
   "Farmes were all fenced and were situated far apart, leaving great
   tracts of land for the cattle to graze on. To tell you how many cattle
   we owned is impossible. The number may have been 500 or 1000. We
   didn't give the cattle any attention. The cattle bred and multiplied
   at their will, and found their own living on the range where it suited
   their taste. All we did to hold the herd was to provide salt licks in
   the section we desired the animals to make their bedding ground.
   
   "When we needed a little beef or made a sale, we held a little roundup
   and cut out the critters desired. 00044"In the spring of the year we
   worked [?] the whole section of the range, branding all calves with a
   cow carrying our 'CC' brand. Others did the same thing and, therefore,
   the cattle were almost all branded. While doing the branding cattle of
   various brands would be encountered, and frequently a brand would be
   seen that did not belong to any one in our section. Perhaps the
   critter belonged with a herd a hundred miles away. No doubt some of
   the cattle of our [ection?] would stray the same distance away.
   
   "From what I have said you may gather the fact we did not depend on
   cattle for our livelihood, and that is correct. The farm is where we
   applied our efforts. It furnished our living with the assistance from
   the wild game, fish, cattle, and wild fruit, nuts and berries.
   
   "As part of our farm work we raised hogs, using the same method we
   employed raising the cattle. The hogs bred, ranged and obtained their
   living in the woods. The only feed we fed the hogs was a little corn
   once each week. We did this to hold the hogs close to the farm. They
   ranged a distance of 10 miles away at times, but stayed within a
   distance of five miles most of the time.
   
   "The hogs were always in good flesh condition, and in the Fall the
   beast would be very fat. The animals lived on what we called mass,
   which was nuts, herbs, weeds, and grass that the woods produced in
   abundance. Hogs so raised and fed grew into tasty meat, due mostly to
   the amount of nuts they comsumed.
   
   "All the settlers raised their hogs the same way we did, and each
   owner adopted a mark with which their hogs were marked. The 00055hog's
   ears were the place used for making, and the marks were generally made
   by slitting, clipping, or punching holes in a certain manner and part
   of one or both ears.
   
   "With the woods containing hundreds of hogs an cattle, and wild
   turkey, pheasants, grouse, rabbits, dear and other game, there was no
   shortage of meat. All we needed to do when we needed any of the
   various kinds of meat was to spend a little time to catch the desired
   beast or fowl.
   
   "On the cultivated land we raised vegetables, corn, wheat and cane
   which was used to supply our table and feed the work stock. We raised
   cotton for our money crop.
   
   "We took our wheat and corn to the settlement's grist mill where it
   was milled. A portion of the grist was retained by the miller as pay
   for the milling charge. This we obtained our meal and flour without
   the use of money. Our truck garden supplied us with all the
   vegetables, and more, than we could eat. The cane patch produced an
   abundance of sorghum and sugar. The wild honey bees made and stored a
   great amount of honey in the hollow trees, from which we secured as
   much honey we cared to consume. Thus our sweats were obtained without
   the use of money.
   
   "We obtained our berries and fruits from the wild vegetation in the
   woods. The wild strawberries grew in abundance in certain low spots
   and were the sweatest berry I have ever have tasted. The wild apple,
   grapes and plums grew in the woods in great quanities. Thus our fruit
   was obtained without the use of money. Likewise, nuts of various
   kinds, such as the pecan, hazel and chestnut.
   
   "Our clothing supply was almost wholly made from the well 00066off of
   our sheep ad cotton, which was spun and woven by us farm folks.
   Therefore, our clothes were obtained without the use of much money.
   There was some money spent for thread and buttons, and our shoes was
   the major clothing bill.
   
   "We needed money for taxes, which was neglible, money for spices, tea,
   coffee and medicine. We used very little money for medicine, because
   grandmother concocted almost all we used and we suffered very little
   with sickness.
   
   "Our cotton supply sold for enough money to meet all our needs with a
   blance left after [?] bill were paid. At times a cattle buyer would
   come through our section and we would sell a few critters, which added
   to our cotton crop [oney?].
   
   "Under the conditions existing with us those days in the Nacodoches
   country, as I have related, it was impossible for us to be in want,
   unless we were too indolent to help our selves to nature's bounteous
   supply.
   
   "We lived on a proper variety of excellent food. However, our clothes
   were coarse and did not follow the changing fashion. To be sure, we
   wore no two or three tone ensemble. However, I am sure we appreciated
   a new pair of ordinary boots as greatly as the folks of today do their
   three tone ensemble.
   
   "Our work stock were the longhorn steers. When hitched together the
   horns of each would extend over the neck of the other animal, and
   while being driven, one could hear the horns bumping and clashing as
   the beast walked or trotted on their way. 00077"We lept a few mustangs
   which were used for riding. If one desired to travel to some place,
   hoss back was the means of locomotion. If the whole family desired to
   make a trip, the reliable ox team hitched to a wagon was the means of
   traveling.
   
   "I, as all other boys of those days, learned to ride a mustang at an
   early age. I could ride a gentel hoss at the age of five, and could
   handle to ordinary mustang, for all general purposes, at the age of 10
   years.
   
   "My mother married the second time when I was 10 years old, and then I
   left home to make my own living. That I have done ever since.
   
   "The cattle range was about the only place a young farm boy could
   secure employment. Consequently, I went to the open range county where
   large ranches were established, and I choose Goliad co., as the place
   to find work. I was successful and was given work on a ranch owned by
   the Hughes brothers. That was in 1871.
   
   "I traveled from Nacodoches co., to Goliad co., on a mustang given to
   me by my mother. I did not try to secure a job until I arrived in
   Goliad co., because I was enjoying the scenery, and desired to travel.
   By the time I had arrived in Goliad co., my supply of food was too low
   for comport and then I began to ask for work.
   
   "I was no precocious child in size or ability, but was above the
   average 10 year old boy in size. I told the folks I was 12 years old
   and could easily pass myself off as being that age. I, not having ever
   been awat from home, was some what verdant, and my experience handling
   cattle was limited to that I had learned 00088assisting my folks to
   handle our cattle.
   
   "The Hughes outfit ranged their cattle adjacent to the San Antonio
   River, and during a wet period bog holes became numerous. The outfit
   needed some one to keep a watch for bogged critters. The work did not
   require a top hand or one with the strength of a man. I could meet the
   requirements and there began by career as a cowhand.
   
   "My mount did the hard part of my job and that was the pulling bogged
   critters out of the holes. When I located a bogged animal, I put the
   loop around its horns, with the tope tied to the saddle horn, the hoss
   then did the hauling, pulling from the saddle.
   
   "I did bog work for about two years and during that time I had an
   opportunity to learn much about all the various range work. The old
   rawhides taught me the finer points of handing the laso, riding a
   pitching hoss and other technique of the cowboy's work.
   
   "I was paid $15 a month at the start of my cowboy career and at the
   end of two years was receiving $25 as my monthly pay.
   
   "During the two years I worked pulling mired critters out of bog
   holes, I slept in the bunk house every night, but I was away all day.
   After breakfast I would place a piece of meat, bread and a canteen of
   water in my saddle bag and ride away and return about dusk. When I
   returned I could do a man's job at the table even if I were only a
   slip of a lad.
   
   "We were fed well on plain food, consisting principally of meat,
   beans, canned vegetables and corn bread.
   
   "I graduated to the regular general cowhands work after the
   00099second year and then I lived behind the chuck wagon about half of
   the time. The general Spring and Fall roundups kept us busy about six
   months of the year, and during all the roundup period we slept in the
   open and ate our chuck sitting on our haunches. Then, frequently
   between roundups we would be away from headquarters to roundup cattle
   and cut out critters for sale.
   
   "The Hughes outfit made a few drives, but sold almost all their cattle
   to drovers who came through the country buying cattle to make up
   driving herds. The Hughes outfit ranged around 10,000 head and when
   they made a drive to market it was necessary for them to buy other
   critters to complete a herd to be a paying drive, because their herd
   would not supply from 3000 to 3500 without cutting into the breeders.
   
   "The roundups were participated in by all the cattlemen of the
   section. The different brands would be separated and the strays driven
   back to their home range. The roundup crews worked from one section of
   the range to another, and when the roundup was completed all the
   cattle would be on their home range. Then again, from time to time a
   few would stry off, principally during storms, so by the time the next
   roundup was held the various brands would be more or less mixed.
   
   "The branding of the range cattle was done during the roundup. The
   branding was performed by a branding crew. The cutting crew would call
   out the brand to be applied as the calf was being drugged to where the
   irons were being heated in a fire. The cutters would note the mother
   cow's brand and yell to the brand man. For 001010instance assume they
   called for "BH", then the brander would answer "BH" and then the
   checker would repeat the letters. The "BH" brand would be applied and
   noted in the record book. At the end of the roundup, each outfit was
   given a record of the number of their calves branded.
   
   "In the morning the cooky would be up before daylight preparing
   breakfast. It would generally consist of broiled or fried steak,
   sourdough bread cooked in a dutch-oven, gravy called sop, syrup called
   lick, and black coffee. Breakfast over, all the riders whose job was
   to ride the range and gather the cattle, could mount and ride off, on
   what was called the swing. Prehaps they would ride 10 or 15 miles
   before arriving at the place where the gathering work for the day was
   to be did.
   
   "The morning swing was always a race. The waddies always rode the best
   hosses in their string and it was a contest for the lead [?] not be in
   the rear. All waddies took pride in their mounts and each tried to
   ride the best mount on the range.
   
   "The waddies would saddle their mounts while waiting for their chuck,
   and soon as the meal was eaten they would mount and wait for the range
   boss to give word to be off. While waiting for the signal, some of the
   hosses would be pitching with their riders cussing, some would be
   prancing and some standing quietly. When the, perhaps 20 or more,
   waddies were all mounted, the boss would yell,' let 'em go,' and away
   the mounted crew would dash. They would spur their hosses and the
   animals would dig their hoofs into the ground to attain the best
   speed, traveling over varied terrain. They travel over hard ground,
   then sand and next it may be a rough rocky way, but to be 001111a
   worthy cow hoss, the animal had to have ability and travel over any
   kind of ground.
   
   "The rider who was left behind was the object of all kinds of jibs,
   such as, 'you should change that cotton wood stick-hoss for a piece of
   oak or why don't you do the running and carry your weak brother.' The
   swings were always enjoyed, especially by the participants.
   
   "The time when the swing would return with a herd of cattle, depended
   on the distance they had to go, nature of the country and had badly
   the cattle were scattered. Frequently the swing would return in the
   fore part of the evening. The herd would be turned over to the holding
   crew and the swing boys then would relax until the next morning. After
   resting for a little while, then more or less of the swing crew would
   engage in various kinds of sport. Hoss racing, shooting, roping or
   some other past time would be engaged in.
   
   "My career on the range was during the period when there was a great
   deal of conflict among the ranches of the Goliad range territory.
   
   "I happened to secure a job with an outfit which was not only called
   rustlers, but where classed as one of the leaders of the rustlers.
   However, they maintained that they were defending the rights of the
   small ranches against the impositions of the large ranchers. Bud
   Brookings ranch was another place classed as a haven for rustlers by
   the large ranchers. On the other side were what people refered to as
   the "[ures?]" and almost all were large ranch owners, such as Buck
   Pittes, Faint and the Ragglings. 001212"I never learned of any
   stealing done by the Hughes outfit, but their cowhands branded
   unbranded cattle wherever any were located.
   
   "During the Civil War and for a period after the War ceased, branding
   was neglected by many cattleman. Also, very few cattle were sent to
   market, because the market was cut off from Texas. The lack of sales
   resulted in a large increase of cattle. Therefore, the two conditions
   produced thousands of cattle which were unbranded.
   
   "A few years after the War ceased, railroads extended W. into Kans.,
   and markets were established within driving distance of Texas. Then
   the prices went up which resulted in a scramble to brand those cattle
   without a brand. Naturally, ranchers maintained they had a superior
   claim to the unbranded cattle within the section which they called
   their home range, and any unbranded cattle grazing with the cattle
   carrying their brand. This claim was generally accepted as proper, but
   there were some folks who did not confine their branding strickly
   within their territory.
   
   "Branding cattle in territory claimed by some other rancher, led to
   trouble and many killings. The conflict developed two contending
   parties.
   
   "The small fellows claimed that the "Pures" were claiming too much
   territory, for the purpose of excluding the small ranchers, and to
   take undue advantage with the unbranded cattle. The small ranches, and
   some people who never had a herd, ignored the "Pures'" claims to
   territory and branded cattle where found. "Some of the "Rures" paid a
   bonus to their cowhands for each unbranded animal they branded, and
   that method created too much 001313branding activity to develop in
   some of the waddies. These conditions started arguments, which
   progressed into quarrels and ended in many shootings and killings.
   
   "The "Pure" organized vigilante committees, which operated secretly
   and set out to clean out the rustlers. In the section were some
   thieves, but when the vigilantes began to operate they classed many
   cattle branders as rustlers and many men were run out of the country
   who were not real thieves.
   
   "John Baker, who has lived in Fort Worth during the last few years,
   was served notice to leave Goliad co., because he worked for the
   Brookings outfit, also, several others who worked for the outfit. Some
   of the waddies working for the Hughes outfit received notice to leave.
   
   "The system of giving notices was to place a notice on the lental post
   or send it through the mail, telling the party to be W. of the San
   Antonio River by a specified time or take the consequences.
   
   Hamp Davis, who worked for Hughes, receved a notice to leave. About
   time Jim Simpson and Adire Miller, who worked for Bud Brookings, also
   received their warning to leave. These men were just a few of the many
   to whom notices were sent. After receiving a notice, it was unsafe for
   one to go off of his home range, unless he was traveling to cross the
   river within the specified time. Many made the mistake of doing
   otherwise.
   
   "Hamp Davis made the mistake off of his range territory without
   sufficient company. As it happened, he was ready to get married and
   001413continued to carry out his wedding plans. Hamp married and was
   traveling in a buggy with his bride to visit some friend after the
   specified time he was given to be W. of the river. The vigilantes
   caught his at a lonely spot in the road. He was taken out of the
   buggy, from the side of his bride, hanged to a limb of a tree and shot
   full of holes. I know that Hamp didn't steal any cattle, but he did
   brand cattle with the brand of the Hughes outfit.
   
   "John Baker's uncle, Bob Baker, from some where N. of Goliad co., came
   after John to save him from the vigilantes. John later went to the
   Double [Mount?] in section of Stonewall co.
   
   "Jim Simpson left the country. Adire Miller refuse to leave and his
   body was found in the river with a stone tied around his neck.
   
   "During this period of [?] I remained close to the home range. If one
   desired to go some where, he had to go with a party of several
   persons, who were ready to [swap?] lead. A person was quite safe with
   a crowd, because the vigilantes did not attack except when they had
   the drop on their victim.
   
   "The matter was eventually settled by the Rangers and other officals
   taking a hand in the matter and the unbranded cattle finally
   disappeared, which removed the main cause of the strife.
   
   "After all the unbranded cattle disappeared from the open range the
   conflict among the ranchers ended, but there remained the rustlees and
   strife continued between rancher and [?]. 001514"Both cattle and
   hosses were the object of rustlers. The rustlers, as a rule, would
   cover up their depredation by changing the brand. Some of the rustlers
   did/ an artistic [job?] working a brand over. Usually the rustlers
   worked in company of two or more. Each would register brand which
   would be similar to a brand of a large rancher. To illustrate, we
   shall presume a OX brand esisted. The rustler could register his brand
   as XOX and then the OX brand could be easily changed to XOX by adding
   an X, or the rustler could register and then he could change the OX
   brand by adding a bar through the cross of the X.
   
   "The shrewdest rustler brand I have ever heard of was what was called
   the terrapin brand. It was made in the outline of a terrapin thus: .
   When this brand was placed on a critter it blotted out all other
   markes and left only the terrapin brand showing.
   
   "A part of our range work was watching for rustlers. The range rider
   rode from one [pint?] to the other using a spyglass constantly. When
   any strange [?] men were seen an investigation followed. The rancher
   who did not keep a constant vigil would find his cattle count short.
   
   "If a buyer bought such a herd, accepting book count, in a short time
   he would be singing one of the old range songs which was the
   following: "'Oh, he said that he had 'em, but damn him he lied.Damn
   him he lied, damn him he lied.[???????] my brand on
   
   001615
   
   "However, even range count didn't always keep a buyer from singing,
   'Oh, he said he had 'em, but damn him he lied.' A number of sales were
   made [?] which some of the cattle were counted twice or more. The most
   spectacular event of double counting was did at Buffalo [Gap?].
   
   "The Gap is a narrow passage way between two butts and between the two
   butts was where the counting took place. Waddies drove the cattle up
   to the [entrance?] and as the animals were counted, they were driven
   on through to the opposite side. At the opposite ride of the hills
   other cowhands were stationed and they drove the counted cattle back
   to [here?] the uncounted cattle were being held. Thus the counted
   critters joined the procession of a counted cattle and were recounted.
   
   "During the later part of the 11 year period I worked for the Hughes
   outfit the country began to change from an open [?] to a fence range.
   Settlers were developing farms and the result of this change was a
   westward movement of the cattle ranchers to the plains section where
   the open range was still existing.
   
   I forsaw the elimination of the open range in [?] co., region and
   calculated I would be working on a farm, unless I followed the
   westward movement of the ranches. This situation caused me to return
   to [Nacodoches?] co., and engage in farming, which I followed for a
   number of years. In my middle life I discontinued farming and entered
   the mercantile business, and I have [falloed?] the business up todate.

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