TX BIOS:  Irvin Cumbie
   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.
   
   0001
   
   Range-lore
   
   Annie McAuley
   
   Maverick, Texas #15
   
   Sep -8 1938
   
   RANGE-LORE
   
   Irvin Cumbie was born at Bronte, Coke County, Texas, in 1893.
   
   Mr. Cumbie says: "As my father ranched some and always had plenty of
   saddle horses, I learned to ride and as I grew older I got to be a
   pretty fair roper. I roped at the first rodeo ever held in this part
   of the county when I was fifteen years old. I got my hand pretty badly
   torn up once, roping a wild cow. I was helping to round up a bunch to
   ship. I had begun to think I was some roper by then and when this old
   cow made a drive to get away I threw the lariat over her head. Somehow
   I got tangled in the rope and it got wound around my hand. The cow
   didn't get away, but I almost lost a hand then and there. Some
   
     NOTE: [????]
     
   00022of the boys helped me off my horse and took me to the hospital
   where I remained for several weeks. I almost lost my arm.
   
   "I got my first real punching job away from home, on the Paso ranch. I
   worked for Roland Hudson and Sam Neff, brother to Pat M. Neff. They
   owned a big ranch on the line of Coke and Runnels counties, fifteen or
   twenty miles south of Bronte. I learned more about ropin' and ridin'
   and about cattle, too.
   
   "I believe Tom Privett, "Booger Red" was the best rider or at least
   the best bronc buster I ever knew. He was the originator of rodeo
   shows in this part of the west. Vick Hazelton was a good horsebreaker,
   always rode on ranches, though.
   
   "My father performed the wedding ceremony for Booger Red right out on
   the street in Bronte. Old Booger was a good scout, too, if he was
   tough. And how he loved horses. My father said he'd fool with them by
   the day. Vick Hazelton was the same way, couldn't stand to see
   horseflesh mistreated, but he sure did like to conquer 'em, though.
   
   "When I was in my twenties I decided to raise a few cattle and horses
   for myself. I leased a little place over here in the hills, and I've
   been dabbling in the 00033business ever since, only lately it has been
   sheep instead of cattle. I have my grocery business, but I've always
   liked stock and I don't think I could get along without them."
   
   **********
   
   REFERENCE: - Irvin Cumbie, Bronte, Texas. Interviewed August 19, 1938.
   00041c Beliefs and Customs - Occupational lore
   
   Mrs. Annie McAuley
   
   Maverick, Texas
   
   Runnels County
   
   Page 1. Typed [dup]
   
   COWBOY LORE
   
   IRVIN CUMBIE was born at Bronte, Coke County, Texas, in 1893. [DEL:
   His father, R. M. Cumbie, moved to Coke County in 1883. He was a
   rancher-later farmed some, too, and was also a missionary Baptist
   preacher. Irvin was married in 1916 to Miss Rebecca Maxwell of Bronte.
   :DEL]
   
   Mr. Cumbie says, "As my father ranched some and always had plenty of
   saddle horses [DEL: . :DEL] , I learned to ride [DEL: young. I learned
   to ride broncs, too. :DEL] and / As I grew older I got to be a pretty
   fair roper. I roped at the first rodeo ever held in this part of the
   country when I was fifteen years old. I got my hand pretty badly torn
   up once, roping a wild cow. I was helping to round up a bunch to ship.
   I had begun to think [DEL: I had began to think :DEL] I was some roper
   by then and when this old cow made a dive to get away I threw the
   lariat over her head. Somehow I got tangled in the rope and it got
   wound around my hand. The cow didn't get away, but I almost lost a
   hand then and there.
   
   Some of the boys helped me off my horse and took me to the hospital
   where I remained for several weeks. I almost lost my arm.
   
   "I got my first real punching job away from home, on the Paso ranch. I
   worked for Roland Hudson and Sam Neff; brother to Pat [F.?] Neff. They
   owned a big ranch on the line of Coke and Runnels / [DEL: County :DEL]
   Counties, [fifteen?] or twenty miles south of Bronte. I learned more
   about ropin' and ridin' and about cattle, too.
   
   I believe Tom Privett, (Booger Red) was the best rider or at least the
   best bronc buster I ever knew. He was the originator of rodeo
   
     NOTE: C12 - Texas
     
   00052Page 2.
   
   shows in this part of the west. Vick Hazelton was a good horsebreaker,
   always rode on ranches, though.
   
   "My father [DEL: married :DEL] performed the wedding ceremony for
   Booger Red right out on the street in Bronte. Old Booger was a good
   scout, too, if he was tough. And how [DEL: her :DEL] he loved horses.
   My father said he'd fool with them by the day. Vick Hazelton was the
   same way [DEL: . :DEL] , / Couldn't stand to see horseflesh
   mistreated, but he [DEL: shore :DEL] sure did like to conquer 'em,
   though.
   
   "I worked awhile for old Bob Hewitt. That was about twenty five [?]
   years ago. I was cattle inspector for a few years after that.
   
   "When I was in my twenties I decided to raise a few cattle and horses
   for myself. I leased a little place over here in the hills, and I've
   been dabbling in the business ever since, only lately it has been
   sheep instead of cattle. I have my grocery business, but I've always
   liked stock and I don't think I could get along without them."
   0006Bibliography Irvin Cumbie, Bronte, Texas. Native born citizen and
   stockman of Coke County, Interviewed Aug. 19, 1938.

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