TX BIOS:  Jim Howard
   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 RANGE LORE?]
   
   Range-lore
   
   FEC from
   
   Continuity of
   
   Nellie B. Cox
   
   Page one
   
   RANGELORE
   
   Having lived in the Concho Country in pioneer days, Jim Howard relates
   the following story:
   
   "The people who pioneered the West didn't have brick houses to live in
   as the younger generation has. Their houses were built out of logs.
   These logs had the bark peeled off and were cut flat on one side. A
   trench was dug and these were stood up close together. This made
   comfortable walls, and with a roof made of buffalo hides, made a fine
   house; later though, we had adobe houses.
   
   "There weren't any fences, but we had corrals built about ten-rails
   high. My greatest ambition was to have an opportunity to "go up the
   trail" but I never got to go.
   
     NOTE: C12 - 2/11/41 - Texas
     
   "There were lots of buffaloes here then. Traders made San Angelo their
   headquarters when they came to this part of the country to make deals
   for buffalo hides. I 00022remember in the year 1873, we used to go out
   anywhere around here anf kill buffaloes just for their tongues;
   sometimes we skinned them, but not always.
   
   "The early settlers had to deal with the Indians, too. I've seen lots
   of them, but never took a shot at one. Some of them were friendly and
   some were just the opposite. Old man Wiley Williams was always hunting
   Indians. One morning he walked out to his well and saw two Indians
   standing on a little hill near his house. Old Wiley crawled back to
   the house, got his gun, took roundance on the Indians and killed one.
   The other one ran like the devil; I saw him. We supposed they were
   slipping around trying to steal some of the horses." 00031Page one
   
   Range-lore
   
   Nellie B. Cox
   
   Continuity
   
   RANGE-LORE
   
   Jim Howard has lived in what he calls the San Saba Country for many
   years, but in about 1873, he lived in the country around Ben Ficklin
   and the Conchos. He says, "I remember when they used to go out
   anywhere around here and kill buffaloes just for their tongues;
   sometimes they were skinned, but not always. We didn't have to go far
   to find them.
   
   "I've seen lots of Indians but never shot at one. Old man Wiley
   Williams, he was always hunting Indians. One morning he walked out to
   his well and saw two Indians standing on a little hill near his house.
   Old Wiley crawled back to the house, got his gun, took roundance on
   the Indians and killed one. The other one ran like the devil; I saw
   him.
   
   "There weren't no fences, just corrals built about ten rails high. I'd
   rather work cattle than do any kind 00042of work. Old man John
   McDaniel had a ranch hand called "Craghead" (nickname), I don't know
   what for. He could ride anything or rope anything. He got to go up the
   trail on big drives, but I never went on none.
   
   "The houses was built out of logs with the bark peeled off and cut
   flat on one side. A trench was dug and these was stood up close
   together. This made comfortable walls and with a roof made of buffalo
   hides made a fine house; later though, we had adobe houses."
   
   Mr. Howard's keen eyes had a far away look while talking of early
   days. To him they were the best days that could ever have been. He has
   an old map of Texas showing all the water holes from the Conchos to
   New Mexico and giving their names and locations. On the map-1873-the
   names of Bismarck and Tower Hill are given in the part of the country
   that was later organized into Tom Green County. His favorite book is
   "Indian Depredations in Texas", which tells the adventures of "Big
   Foot" Wallace.

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