TX BIOS Bob Keys, Coke Co. TX 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 #15 Range-lore Annie McAulay Maverick, Texas SEP 30 1938 Folk stuff - Range lore RANGE-LORE Bob Keys was born in the state of Tennessee in 1887. He came to Texas in 1906. He marked around on ranches for a few years and in 1917 went into business as a livestock buyer and trader. Mr. Keys says: "When I began working on ranches I was as green a guy as they ever get to be. I didn't know anything about West Texas ways and people, and I knew less about cattle or stock of any kind. "The first time I rode out on a horse to help do a job, I was so scared and embarrassed I nearly fell off as he trotted along. NOTE: [???] 00022One of the boys had seen to it that I had a gentle old nag to ride, and tried kindly to tell me what I was supposed to do. "We started out to round up a small bunch of steers. I did the best I could to follow suit and try to keep up, but I know I cut a funny figure for one or two of them would laugh now and then. I finally got the hang of it and learned to ride and rope fairly well, I guess. "I began working with Lum Hudson on his ranch in 1912 and worked for several years. He bought and raised lots of horses. He was a good rider and stockman, for he had ridden and worked with them all his life. We shipped lots of cattle and horses, too. We shipped horses to people in Arkansas who had never used anything but oxen. Some of them jumped from an ox wagon to a Model T Ford. "I rode a few broncs for Vick Hazelton, a noted bronc buster in these parts. I also helped Bob Singleton to break a good many horses. Bob still follows the trade, and what I mean, he knows his 'hosses'. He is one of the cleanest riders I ever saw. He can sure handle 'em, and he don't need no help to do it. I come pretty near makin' him plumb mad once when I offered to help him saddle and hold a mean critter he was fixin' to ride, but he said, 'I'll do my own ridin' or quit, Bob', and I let him alone. Well, he rode him that time and every other time I know of. "I've never had much experience in driving cattle up the 00033trail. We truck most of our stuff that we sell, to Ft. Worth and other markets. We bring in most of what we buy or trade for the same way. It is the quickest and easiest way to move stock, as you can back up to a bar pit or ditch anywhere and load 'em on." ********* REFERENCE:- Bob Keys, Bronte, Texas. Interviewed August 31, 1938. 00041Beliefs and customs - Occupational lore Mrs. Annie McAulay Maverick, Texas Runnels County Page 1. Typed [dup?] COWBOY LORE BOB KEYS was born in the state of Tennessee in 1887. He came to Texas in 1906 [DEL: and went to work on Bill McAulay's ranch :DEL] . He worked around on ranches for a few years and in 1917 [DEL: after his marriage to Miss Mattie Williams, he :DEL] went into business as a livestock buyer and trader. [DEL: He has continued in that business up to the present time. :DEL] Mr. Keys says: "When I [DEL: went to work for Mr. McAulay :DEL] began working on ranches I was as green a guy as they ever git to be. I didn't know anything about West Texas ways and people, and I knew less about cattle or stock of any kind. "The first time I rode out on a horse to help do a job, I was so scared and embarrassed I nearly fell off as he trotted along. One of the [DEL: McAulay :DEL] boys had seen to it that I had a gentle old nag to ride, and tried kindly to tell me what I was suppose to do. "We started out to round up a small bunch of steers. I did the best I could to follow suit and try to keep up, but I know I cut a funny figure for one or two of them would laugh now and then. I finally got the hang of it and learned to ride and rope fairly well, I guess. "I began working with Lum Hudson on his ranch in 1912 and worked for several years. We bought and raised lots of horses. He was a good rider and stockman, for he had ridden and worked with them all his life. We shipped lots of cattle and horses, too. We shipped horses to people in Arkansas who had never used anything but oxen. Some of them jumped from an ox wagon to a Model T Ford. NOTE: C12 - Texas 00052"I rode a few broncs for Vick Hazelton, a noted bronc buster in these parts. I also helped Bob Singleton to break a good many horses. Bob still follows the trade, and what I mean, he knows his 'hosses'. He is one of the cleanest riders I ever saw. He can [DEL: shore :DEL] sure handle 'em, and he don't need no help [DEL: [?] :DEL] to do it. "I come [DEL: pert nigh :DEL] pretty near makin' him plumb mad once when I offered to help him saddle and hold a mean critter he was fixin ' to ride, but he said, "I'll do my own ridin' or quit, Bob , " and I let him [DEL: be :DEL] alone. Well, he rode him that time and every other time I know of. "I've never had [DEL: [??] :DEL] much experience in driving cattle [DEL: places :DEL] up the trail. We truck most of our stuff that we sell , to Ft. Worth and other markets. We bring in most of what we buy or trade the same way. It is the [DEL: quickiest :DEL] quickest and easiest way to move stock, as you can back up to a bar pit or ditch anywhere and load 'em on." 0006Bibliography Bob Keys, Bronte Texas. Prominent Stockman and Trader of Coke County Interviewed Aug 31, 1938. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ Thanks to the Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/txcat.html ***********************************************************************