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.
   
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   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
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   0001
   
   ELLIOTT: [?]
   
   John Zack [Means?], Pioneer of Davis County
   
   Biography
   
   District #20 El Paso, Texas
   
   JAN 17 1938
   
   January 10, 1938 600 words Pioneer history JOHN Z. [MEANS?], PIONEER
   OF DAVIS COUNTY
   
   Consultant:
   
   Joe M. Evans
   
   Hotel Paso Del [Marta?]
   
   El Paso, Texas
   
     NOTE: C 12 - Tex.
     
   00021
   
   ELLIOTT: [?]
   
   John Zack [Means?], Pioneer of Davis County
   
   Biography
   
   District #20 El Paso, Texas
   
   January 10, 1938 600 words JOHN Z. [MEANS?]
   
   "Uncle John" as he was universally known, was said to be the first
   white child born at Fort [?] Gavitt, Texas. Bor in 1854, he married
   Eva Gay in 1877. In 1884, one of the heavy ox-drawn wagons in use in
   those days carried an earnest young man, his family and all their
   worldly goods from a home in [Lampassas?] County out to the frontier.
   
   John Z. [Means?] had heard of the range country from old hunters and
   determined to start for this virgin land where wild game was plentiful
   and a man could blaze a trail for himself if he possessed courage to
   do so. Just "comin west" they had no particular destination. Traveling
   slowly, they reached [?], then known as Antelope station on the
   railroad which was being completed into Sierra [Blanes?]. Here they
   stopped to rest, and found the country they had sought.
   
   They saw black-tailed deer piled high in wagons, and learned that the
   land near the little frontier station could be settled up, so John
   told his wife "I've found the place where I want to go." Thirty miles
   beyond [Kent?], they turned their little herd of cattle loose on a
   stream and prepared to stay. What a prodigal welcome [?] [canyon?],
   the heart of the Davis Mountains, offered [this?] tired group of
   pioneers. Its remote beauty, restful climate, [limpid?] waters, and
   abundant game was more than they had ever expected on the long and
   [arduous?] trip.
   
   Two other families, traveling in the same manner had made the journey
   with John Means, and they too knew that this was the promised land.
   00032In later years the name of Means, Evans and Bean, were to make
   history in this part of the Big Bend of Texas, for it developed that
   they established a section which was to become one of the most famous
   and colorful cow countries in the world. A section where thirty or
   forty thousand head of fat cattle, bearing the brand of these people
   ranged over the mountains, whose peaks were named by Uncle John.
   
   His wife Eva Gay Means found happiness in the new home, but she was
   "Camp meetin raised folks", and one thing was lacking. Here in the new
   country the family felt the need of clone association with other
   people in spiritual gatherings, and out of this need grew the Cowboys
   camp meeting, a unique spiritual get-together which has no duplicate.
   From thirty at the first meeting held in a brush arbor which served as
   a church, the meetings have grown to an attendance of thousands. Once
   a year, sometime in the month of August, Cattlemen of Texas and their
   friends meet in [Paisano?] Pass at the Bloys camp meeting grounds for
   a week of prayer and song service. Always the services of the best
   preachers available are secured.
   
   Uncle John Means deeded the land in [Paisano?] Pass to the Bloys Camp
   Meeting Association, drilled water wells at his own expense and spent
   his life promoting the friendship and good will fostered in these
   meetings. It is said that for years the grand jury met in Davis county
   without returning a single [indictment?] in the county.
   
   Uncle John Means died November 28, 1937. His wish to be interred in
   his beloved hills was granted. On a hill facing the huge tabernacle in
   the Bloys Camp Meeting grounds two graves were dug, and the body of
   Eva Gay Means who died twelve years previous, was removed from
   Valentine Texas and placed beside the body of her husband. Rev. George
   Truett of 00043Dallas came to conduct the funeral service.
   
   In all the glory of a fall day when the hills were covered with
   flaming color and birds sang a [r?] quiet, [hosts?] of friends
   gathered at [Paisiano?] Pass in the Bloys camp meeting grounds to pay
   tribute to Uncle John and his wife. Cattle men from all over the
   country, some traveling 200 miles, came to be there for a few minutes.
   The truckloads of flowers were [?] on the hill beside the [Means?]
   cabin. Dr. Truett in speaking said "We are not gathered he in defeat,
   but to celebrate a victorious life."