Document text
Range -Lore
Nellie B. Cox
San Angelo, Texas
RANGE -LORE
Page one
A. pioneer girl of the West carried a revolver, rode
bad horses, roped cattle and herded sheep. There activities
were not carried on in a spirit of bravado or daring but as
part of the every day work. Miss Gula B. Foote, who came
to Ben Ficklin in 1876, has done all of these things and
has kept a diary of the things she thought of as ordinary
happenings in a busy life.
Miss Foote*s father,C.D. Foote's._ civil engineer, came
to the western part of Texas in 1875. The next year he
sent to Michigan for his family which consisted of his wife
t‘,
who was a teacher of piano in a large school; a daughter
Gula, aged nine and a small son, Harry. Miss Foote tells
in her diary: *We had an uneventful train trip to Round
Rock, Texas. There we were met by my father. We then
Page two
traveled in a fearful (to mother and me) manners that isi
a brown topped hack drawn by horses. We were afraid of
every thing- principally the horses- but we imagined
worse things; Indians, rattlesnakes and skunks. My
father did all the cooking on the trip as my mother was
never good in the culinary arts even in the best equipped
kitchen. However, through it all I was thrilled to be
going to our new home".
The diary relates that at an early age she overcame
her fear of horses. She delighted to meet the stage at
Ben Ficklin; for the driver, W. Z. Ellis, after discharging
the passengers, would permit Gula to drive the four horses
hitched to the big stagecoach down to the corrals.
Miss Foote tells of riding bronchos at fairs in com-
petition with men riders, and of winning. She always rode
sideways -never astride. "White Bess", an Arabian mare
owned by Mr. Foote, would permit no one except Gala to
ride her.
After her father became disabled, Miss Foote took
over the entire management of their ranch, which they named,
"Mora Ranch". Here she bred, raised and broke to saddle
and harness the fine horses which were the best in show
ring or in actual use. She gave them such names as "Lady
Bird", "Chaquita","Chico". Miss Foote had nothing but
ridicule for "scrub stock".
On the ranch Miss Foote did all kinds of work even
milking the cows which is always a distasteful Job to any
ranchman or ranchwoman. She tells that one Sunday a some-
Page three
what shiftless widower in the neighborhoodmilaykil around
the ranch all day. When milking time came and she start-
ed out with the milk buckets, the man sidled up to her
and said soulfully, "Miss Oulu, don't you ever feel the
need of a man about the place?" "Yea", replied Miss Foote,
"but when I do, I hire one".
The many mementoes tell of her part in the social
life of the "gay 90's and earlier. Lanes cards filled
with the names of popular gentlemen; engraved card4;pressed
flowers; photographs and newspaper clippings attest to the
fact that Miss Foote was a much sought- after young lady
in the society circles of Ben Ficklialand later of San
Angelo.
After leasing out the ranch, Miss Foote sold her
horses and moved to her home in San Angelo. She owned
and learned to drive a car but always insisted that she
would much prefer driving her favorite team of ranch horses.