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Range -lore
zlizabeth Doyle
ban Angelo, Texas.
Ria4Gb-LORI
Pose one
Mother Hoover, as Mrs.
Laura Hoover is affectionately
known to her friendatis one of
Ctoekett County's most interest.
and lovable pioneers. She
helped to build, and lived in,
the first house in Crockett
County. Her present beautiful
and hospitable home is known
far end wide as a haven of welcome,
interest, and *harm.
"we Hoovers are really old timers here," smilingly
related Mrs. Laura Hoover of Ozone, Texas, "and we still
love our West Texas even more now than in the so-called
rrood old days, when we watched the construction or our one
room mud house with one eye Ind looked for Indiana with the
other.
"My husband, two children and I left Ximble County when
two
there were few roads even there and none in these parts.
We put our act supplies and meager house hold goods in a
covered wagon and started out on what was then a long and
perilous journey.
"Mr. Hoover and one cowboy drove 200 head of cattle
and napped out a road for me most of the way. When we
started he thought I could not manage the two babies, the
team and my rifle, so he hired a boy as teauster. I do be...
lieve that was the greenest boy I ever saw. He worried me
all day long and when we camped that first night and he
got up next morning putting the horses' collars on basks
wards I told my husband to send him back home before we
got further out on the road and we had him on cur heads
for all time. I could manage the team, the babies and
everything else better than I could him. As mid, there
were no roads after we got on out a ways and Mr. Hoover
led on ahead and I followed, holding my baby on my lap,
driving the team and snatching st Arthur every few minutes,
as we bounced and jostled over hills end valleys.
"We stretched a cowhide under the wagon as a cradle
for the tired calves when they mould give out. If one
fell out, it was small bother to stop and restore him to his
restful abode.
"Somehow we escaped the Indian attacks of which we were
in constant dread and after camping along Devils River for
three months looking for a suitable plea. to looste, we flail-
ly decided upon a place here in Crockett County. We built
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our house under a big bluff because we wanted the protee-.
tion from the weather and also the Indians. Across this
bluff just seven miles was s water well known es Howard's
well but we could not cross that way and were forced to
go entirely around, a distance of some twenty-five miles
to obtain our drinking water.
"No mansion was aver constructed with greeter fond...
ness of pride or its occupancy enjoyed more fully, than
was that first shelter from the bleak winds end blinding
dust storms of the wild and woolly west. We made our
foundation of cedar pickets end covered that with a mix-
ture of mud and grass. The one big room had one window and
one door.
"Many times I have known periods of seven to ten
months to elapse without my seeinc a woman of any kind but
dia not have to look around to find something to while a-
way the time; no lonely hours for me. My duties with the
household, the babies and helping my husband with the round -ups
end branding occupied my every moment much more fully then the
bridge hours of today.
"We hauled our supplies from Fort Stoekton and occasionally
when they were exhausted there we would have to go on to Fort
"We were 80 miles from a doctor and knew better than to
get sick, I made tea from gressewood plant and it served for
practically all ailments. Risings or any sign of blood poison-
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ing were treated with patella poultices.
"‘)11 one occasion yhefi my husband was away, (which
he was very often) i was at work in the back of the house,
when i looked up am:. say' a big rattler stretched across my
door. He was sunning himself contentedly and made no at-
tempt to get away as I moved tovard my rifle. I killed
him
DTI
watched for his mate to show up for several days
but I never ear another snake that large.
"I was helping my husband rith the rounding -up and
trvrding once end we were out on the range together look-
ir7 for a stra7 herd. Jai at once we rode ri7ht un on
very recently deserted camp fire. ;:helled corn was scstter-
ed ell about the camp and the remains of a deed calf lay
near It hcid beell killed and the ribs removed and roast
ea. A short distance aay lay a dead horse with a sc=uare
of skin cut from his hip. had heard that the Ketchum and
Upshaw outlaws were expected through as they had robbed a
train in another part of thc country and were making their
get -e -nay throwli (;rockett Qounty. Vie were convinced that
this vac Vteir camp and that the peck horse had been killed
end the bv-And cut away. Later it was reported that they
had tuned the moqey there also and d not longer need the
pack horse. AS we looked about I stlys, 'Now Pap, they are
bowid to have friends somewhere in these parts, else this
corm would not be here.' This was lor14, before there was
an Ozone but many years later in a idesonic Lodr-ce in Ozone
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a friend told my husband that my remark was over heard at
that time end he repeated to him the exact words I had
4sid. This convinced Pap and me that some one was there
in hiding as we explored the camp that day. They could
have been either looking for or guarding the money, we
never knew.
"1 have been a widow now for several years but still
try to have the home fires burning when the children or
mY zany good friends visit my home."
Range -lore
Elizabeth Doyle
Ban Angelo, Texas
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hrs. Laura Hoover, Ozone., Texas, interviewed
November 16, 1937,