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Redfield, Georgia
311.-CNIM IAIEL
Jew Nixie° Cowboy Nootaater
AUG 151938
muse
Beeeher Lank. New Nexieo ocreboy bootaaker was born at 14
Payette, Indiana on kisq 11, 1851. No has been meaning boots sixty.
nine of the eiehty.seven years of his life.
Ne was seventeen years of age when he first 7041gan making his
way in the Mold by selling newspapers. Ns remembers sellimg over
two Modred end fifty papers an the day. key 19. 1848, that Gen.
oral Grant was unanimously nominate& f er the presideney.
In 1869w when he vas eighteen1 he began making boots in Naas.
sae City, Missouri, and while working sontinuontri7 at Wpotnaking he
gradually made his way met. No made eowboy boots for many years
in ?oxen and for a while in Arise= before aiming to Roswell. New
Maxie. in 1914. Me has male eoebey boots eontinnaaely for over
twenly.four years. at Amonett's the oldest saddle and boot shop
in Foswell and Asutheest New Kerte°.
For mare than an average life time kr. Lank has bent over as.
shines patientl., working out 4exatiful designs in deooretive stiteh.
tag, and oarefUll: shapimg and building sturdy arches for as fin*
boots as can be madie any where in the United :states.
When he first began making *boots in Kemal City Ulysses
Grant wa .,resident fre the United Staten. There was no -swell in
New Aexiso and the Chino's were blaming the trails or the first
herds of cattle that were brought :nue texas to the keoos T4a1ley,
and Jean Aliens had not yet established the famous Jingle.Nob Lanak
at the he of oath 4ring Ivor, six miles southeast of What is
now Itoowell. Mr Lara oannot give even an approximato number of
the thousands of boots he tarned out taring the yeare when a cow-
man was :edget by the toots he wore.
*things are different now, he said, "eines the cattle business
is not the most important industry in this part of the evantry. but
I am still making lets of fine boots for the oli cattle men who lama
the real (lowboy boots they eon be proud of, ant that can be worn
in oomr)rt.0
I dan't work as fast a I used to but I will show you I can
still do a good Job."
The boots, he proudly brought out for inspeetion, proved in.
deed, that he not only could. "do a good job" on their oonstraotion
but that be was a mantsr of the trade of whieh he has maie an art,
anyone might be ploud of =storing.
"I eon wake all kinds of boots said Mr. Lank, "tansy ones
like the.* or plain ones, and I make shoes too. I do.,n't work ms
fact though as I used to when I was 7otgtr .or I an getting old
and slowing up. I like to make them like to think about who will
wear than when they are finished, and try to imagine what kings of
plasm: they will be worn in, but I an getting tired. I yogi& like
to retA for the years I have left to live if I didn't have to pay
for pert of my keep. I get little old age pension but its Just
enough to pay my landlady. I board 4th Mrs. Long at 205 2. 7th
:Areet."
When asked if he didn't hay' any relatives he replied: "I
don't know. I was married and had daughter, Pearl. I don't
know whore she is now, or if she's still living or not. I married
a girl named Jennie Moore but the died a long time tgo I don' t rem.
member when."
*NW He replied when asked if he Gould tell any stories of
interest that have happened in his life.
"I don't remember things very well anymore. I saw grant ea&
heard his speak in Kansas City in 188.0. I saw MeiCinley there too,
and Teddy i.00sevelt."
Ma* alba it he liked Roswell he said. "Yee. sea I like t40
work for Ur. Amonett. 134 is always good to se, and all the ether
workers make it as easy for me as they eon. livery body I know is
good to ae."
His patient kind eyes lighted up in appreciation as he talked
of kindness Shown him. Be 113A gentle and pleasant end mailed all
the time he talked during or interview Showing a mounth full of
trona white teeth all his owns Whidh is remarkahle.for amen of
his ages He doesn't wear glasses either except fir roadlng and oleos
up work.
"Oh yes,* he said, I forgot I Lit have something interesting
happen iL my life, Just a month or two aeo I got a letter from
Governor Clyde Tingley a birthday letter. Here it ie, he said,
"read it."
took it from his and read the few kind words that cheered
and made hapi,ier thc old. man who has been alone for many of these
last birthdays of hi:, life that shilad have been made happier.
"Now wasn't that a fine thing for our Governor to remember
an old man like me on big birthday?"
"It was inds#41" was my replro and I truly thought it was The
letter dr.ted May 11 1138 is given belowt
4
Dear Mr Lank:
Congratulations on your eighty-sevenrk
birthdayl
Air e. Tingley and i sincerely hope that
you may enjoy many more happy birthdays.
Cordially Yours
kaydil Tingley
The kind birthday withes of vovernor and Tincley find
an echo in the hearts of the many i,oswell friends of Mr. Lank.
6ouroe of Information
from a personal interview with Aire Lank himself No t.