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Gauthier. Sheldon F.
Rangelore.
Tarrant co.,Dist.,07
Page
Fe 240
living at Copoville,
Texas, rburg,XI.,May 14,1857,
on a farm operated by his father, J.H.Childers
Jame8 was reared in a log cabin. The family
Ati
depended on their cultivated land, and nat
bounty abounding in the forest for their li i-
hood. When James was 8 ye(_rs old his father
dep,rted from his native state and traveled to
Ark. Later, at the age of 18, James went to the
Indian Territory(now Okla.) He secured work
on a cattle ranch located in, what was then,
Yo -Man's -Land. After he terminated his range
career, he engaged in farming for a livelihood.
His story of range life follows;
"UV native state is I. I was born at a place called Chaipers-
burg, located on the Ohio Aiver. The event happened on May 14,1857.
of the
“my father,J.H.Childers, was one/early settlers of the section.
During my childhood, tHe country was sparsely settled. rarming and
logging was the means of making a livelihood.
"I shell describe the condition under which my fmily lived,
and it will be a fair illustration of the community as a whole.
"Our home was a two room log cabin. The average home was
two rooms, some were one room structures end a few wereVSSeeroome.
The homes consisted of a hallway with rooms on either side. One
or two of the rooms contained a fireplace. The fire places supplied
heat when required, and the me ns of cooking food. Also, the fire
place furnished most of the light for the room during the dark
hours, except during the Summer season and then cadles were used.
If company was making a call, we would light the coal oil lamp.
"During my childhood days I did iiot know what custom made
Geuthier•Sheldon F. Page #3
angelore. PC 240
Tarrant co.,Dist.,47
"Almost any home one may enter those days would be found a
jug of hard cider, brandy and whiskey. The iu.stoa for the proper
welcome of a visitor was to offer a helping of liquor.
"There was always an abundant sup ly of food. Our smoke -Mahe
always contained a plentiful supply of siaoked hams and bacon, and
these articles of food were smoked with hickory wood. During the
winter months, the climate of Ky., is such that neat will keep,
without any processing, but in the summer it was necessary to salt
and smoke meat. However, during the summer we never went hungry
for fresh meat. The forest contained many different kinds of
edible Animals and fowles, and the game was easily hunted.
"So tr as food and clothes for the family were concerned,
father never was worried about an adequate supply. une never
needed to worry about hunger. Even a stranger in the community was
a welSome guest, and the people went out of their way to give a
stran, er a start. However, if anyone became obnoxous, the people
had their own way of dealing with such matters. If the stamp of',
disapproVal was placed on a man, the party was compelled to leave
the commo ity, and in sever cases if they failed to leave in a
hurry, they were returned to their creator.
"There was a feud existing between some of the people More or
less all the time, and generally one or more decisive fights would
tAce place during the alumsl reglious campmeeting.
"There was no regular preacher in our community, but a traveling
reacher hyld services once a months in a one room log building, and
once each year we had a revival which lasted a week. Almost everybody
authier.Sheldon r* Page 04
Rangelore FC 240
warrant co.,Dist.,07
attended the revival: meetings. Those that lived at a distance,
and attended, would .44,ing a supply of rood and camp at the meeting
place for the week*
“During the monthly visits of the preacher and during the revivals
,the preacher would bOy himself attempting to adjust diferences
between parties. ii4e preacher always succeeded in getting many of
desputants to shake hands and rededicate themselves to Alt
e11but a few would ,refuse to beccme dedicated until satisfaction was
obtained in fighting it out eitit,mostly with guns.
"The attitiv4e/Of some of these Xy., folks is well illustrated
by au incident toldte;me by my father, which happened in our communi-
ty. I shall relate the story as told to me by my father.
"0 A feud exieted between artman named Holder and Jakeson.
Helder became very 411 and it was feared he would die* When the
preacher came for his AtiOnthly meeting he called on Holder to preforms
the usual duties before death. When he w s told of the feud, he
prevailed on 'Holder to forgive Jamison. Also, Jamison agreed to
forget and iforgive. 41Ltter the two men had shaken hands, and agreed
to be friend' so that Holder could leave this world without maliCe
in his heartp Holder said.' I want it understood ttr,t if I don't
die, this farce of an agreement don't stand."
"Besides farming, logging was a means of earning a livelihood
for many people throughout our district. The timber was cut and
the loge were hauled tO the Ohio River. From the river the were
rafted to various points where sawmills were located.
Gauthier.bheldon
_angelore,
Tarrant co.,Pist.07
Page #6
FC 240
"At the time the Civil War terminated my father moved his
family to Ark. e traveled in two covered wagons pulled by oxen
We crossed the Mississippi Aivcr at Memphis, Tenn, and went on to
Pine BUM Father located on a tract of land near Pine bluff
and there I spent my young manhood days. WO farmed under about the
same cohditions as existed in Ky.
"When I was 18 years old I left Ark., for the Indian territory
(now Okla.) I vjits looking for a job with a cow outfit and finally
located a job in what was then called NO-Aants -Land. The section
was about 300 miles between its E. and W. border, and 50 miles
wide from N. to the S. border. At the time the territory W48 not
attached to any state 6inse my time there it has become a jart
of ukla. It is that strip of land extending W. from the main
ales of Okla., bordering on the N. of the Iexas PAabandle.
"No -Man's -Land vu,s used entirely for ranging cattle. There
were some mighty large cowcamps located in the territory. Ranchmen
were rulers of the territory.
There was no state laws or offica4e to goveren the section.
Only the Federal dovernment had any authority there, and the
Government did not maintAm any courts or perminent officals to
keep order. 'iherefore, the rancher mainteined such law and order
that existed. Therefinhishcode Or rules wA,ch the ftnchees &afore-
ed and had a jail they placed men Who violated the law of the
section. The jail was a log hut and a maa was kept on guard
night and day, when anyone was in the jail.
Gauthier•Sheldon F.
Rangelore.
larrant
Pgge 6
F 240
“The rules ehforced related to he cattle business, such
as range rules, branding regulations, punishment for rustling
and matters of Such nature. So far as the relations between men,
there were not an' rules to speak of. 240 man more or less took
care of himself, except in the matter of stealing and killing lac
without cause. *ever, it did not require much cause to justify
shooting a mans or instance, if two men became engaged in a
quarrel, it was allowable f,.r them to shoot it out and the best
shot would be declared to be on the right side. If the shooting
resulted fatal to a man, it was considered the result of his own
doing nd no one should be biamado Hut, if a man was caught stealing
a yearling, he was the subject of sever punishment, even to being
hanged or shot.
"Beeause of the condition existing in No-Uan's Land, there were
many men who came therelto keep out of the law's hands of some
state.
"There.; as an understanding among the people living in NO-
Manis.land, that one should not ask questions about a stranger,
relating to his name, where he was from or what his former business
was. Whig understanding was closely observed. It was left to the
the stranger to volunteer such information as he desired to
furnish about himself.
"When a stranger arrived he was accepted as a square an and
treated as web \so long as his conduct merited the treatment.
Atk this c,nditidn exisiliag, one might think the territory was
sort of a den for the scum of the' United 6%ates, but as a whole
G.iuthier Sheldon F.
Rangelore.
Tarrant co.,Dist.07
Page 7
FU 240
the cowhands and the rachers were about as dependable and
square in their dealings as one could trust to meet. Perhaps
this was so, because there nediessitydOid not pad nor pride tempt
man to violate the laws of men. However, the fact is, I never
heard of a cowboy being robbed of any article O What money we
cowhands had was carried on our pereon or in our saddle bags.
Alen the saddles were Idot in usc, they would be laid around the
camp or chuck wagon We never feared that anyone would molest
our money.
"The citizens of/No-Nnn's-Land behaved better than them of
other places, so far as obeying their laws, which was indicated
by the kangaroo court records. Almost all the violations were
committed by transients.
"The ranchers had a kangroo court before which violators of
the code were tried, and the court was seldom called into seillion•
"y firet job on a cow outfit was with the 1ZH' outfit, owned
by an eastern O DO= called the Muscatine tattle Company.
"The 'ZIP outfit Was one of the large companies ranging
cattle in the No-Nan's-Land territory. The outfit's brand was
carried by 60,000 or more cattle.
"Everything about the camp was kept in excellent shape. There
.as no slipshod l methods about this work or operation of the ranch0
"The headqOarters had a well Oquipt ranch house, chuck w• gone
with the beat of cooks. the remade was stocked with the best of COM6
workedtrained horses that could be o,tainedo
Gauthier.Sheldon
aangelore.
arrant co.,,uist.07
Page 8
FC 240
"When I started to w rk for the tZ.80 outfit, was what they
in range language, called a greener* This term was applied to one
who had not learned the work of a cowboy. gy starting wages. was
$25. per month .This wage was what I received for the first Year.*
c
Thereafter, my wages were $26 and up to $40• per month.
"After the old rawhides had their fun with me as the butt of
their jokes, they took me in hand and did all they could to help
me learn the work.. So far as riding a horse was conterned, I could
do it fairly well, because during the days of my youth, the horse
wae the chief means of travel. The knack of riding was learned by
every country boy. Of course, riding the range and doing cow work
required somewhat different riding than the ordinary riding for
travelao learn this difference did not take me long. he part
of the work I had to learn completly Was hndling the lariat. This
I did readily, Lecaase I had excellent teachers.
"During the first couple monttis of my range career, I spent most
of my time parcticing throwing and handling the lariat. The lariat
is the key to a cowboy
success as a workman, and 1 determined
to m ster the art. I was successful an.. at the end of my first
year's work, I could place the loop where r desired quite accumatii.
ly. In fact, 2 was as oroffieient as the average wadf and when
I tart:dated my career, I could throw the rope with the best of
ropers.
"John gober40* a Texan, ws top -screw. This term was applied
to indicate the ranch boss. uoberts was a proficient boss and
a genuine man in every way. He started me off riding the line.
tlauthier.Sheldon F. Page 9
liangelore. PC 240
Tarrant co.,Dist.07
This job is holding the herd together in a bunch. Almost all of the
ttme, the outfit had more or less cattle cut, out and being held
for a drive to the market, and these cattle were held separated
from other cattle. This required several riders working night
and day.
"This job of line riding was not unplesant work during fair
weather, but during inclement weather and at times when the
cattle decided to run. During such times the cowhands had his
hanr.f..s full.
"All the cattle on the 'MP ranch were the wild longhorn
breed and ready to run at any moment. It seemed, at times, they
would run for tbe fun and ex us they received out of a stampede
This sectionnof the counrty was subject to sever electric *Lome,
nd Alen one of the -e storms struck us we were sure of a job with
a running herd. ,,t)st of the ti es we would be successful in hold-
ing the herd together and get the ani ale to milling. Occasionally,
we would fail to do so, and when the animals got away from us, it.
then required mirk and time to locate and bunch all the cattle,
any times we would fail to find all the animals. However, these
would be located during the general roundup.
"I do not suppose ther is an old cowhand who pannot, mentaly
and vividly, hear the snapping hoofs, clashing horns and the
drumming of the anamilis feet hitting the ground, which came to
their ears whi.:e a herd stampeded.
"During the darkness and a,storm raging, the noise had an
ominous sound. One could soodi the danger ahead# because at these
Gautbierlititeldon Z. Page 10
Rangelore. 70 240
Tarrant Co.,Dist.#07
times it was necessary to ride at the best speed a horse could
give, and do it over rough ground. A cowhand was playing with
Lndy Lackevery minute of the run. If the horse hit a hole or
stumbled over a rock) thereby going down, the rider could not see
what there was to avoid, and perhaps be thrown onto a rock or
under the feet of the crazed and runnint, animals*
"On two occasions an 'MA waddy were killed, caused by a
fall from a stu.bling horse. broken bones were a frequent occurrence*
"Next to ft stampede our most dreaded event 2ss the camiirc of
of a severe norther. the cattle would sence the approaching
weather and started drifting two or more days ahead of its arrival.
The cattle drifted to hunt for shelter. If we did not hold the
animals back, the cattle would scatter in the lee of the storm.
The severity of the storm determined the distance the animals v,oald
drift. If the was exceedingly severe, it was im ossible to keep
a herd unched. The aniRials would drift to the lee side of a hill
or t a cluster of trees, but in a little while they would move on
there
trusting to find better shelter. Therefore, e. was more or leas
a constant movehlent of the cattle.
"These northers were not a frequent occurrence, and Iuckly
for the ranchers it w -s not often. Because, after one of these
severe northers, it required several oaks work hunting strays, and
at that a _arge number of strays would not be fokLd till the
general roundup.
"The general roundups were held each year. These were held
in he spring and fall. The aft* rs were called a general roundup
Gauthier.Sheldon F. Page 11
aangolore. Fc 240
1arrant co.,Jist.,07
balluse all the cowcamps of a rFnge territory would join into one
outfit, operating under one rbundup base. During this roundup,
the country would be tiviroughly c abed for cattle*. one section
a time. The cattle were driven into the roundup headquarters, and
there the cattle were cut out and separated according to their
brands, the yearlings branded and the males caSterated*
"Besides the crews of the prereeept:of the particular territory
in which the roundup was working, representatives of distant
cowcamps would be on hand to take charge of any animals of their
brand, that ty chance might be found. A elm animals would be
fund belonging to cowcamps a 100 miles or more away.
torhe roundup required about three month's time to accomplish
the work, and during this time we lived a chuck wagon life*
sleept out in the open rolled in our,blanke4s. Our food was cooked
over a camp fire, but was god and plentiful. The variety was
satisfactory, consist n, of mined vegetable, dried fruit Aad
some pastery. The meat 'as almost entirely beef, which as to be
expected, because it was, the cheapest meat supily. However, we had
some bacon. To vary the meat diet occasiol.ally some of us wo id
kill some game. Buffalos were still existing in rather large
numbers during Any stay in '-Man's- Land and we ate lot of
buffalo meat of the choice cuts.
"I have m,,ntioned our ,iread of stem odes and drifts, but I must
not fail to tell about the worst of all conditions which we were
in constant fear, and this was the preirie fire.
Gauthier.6heldon F.
trigelore.
Tarrant co.,Dist.07
Page 12
Fe 240
"Every wady was instructed to keep constant watch for fires,
and when smoke as seen to drop what one was doing, regardlss of
hw important it was, and ride to where the smoke was being produced.
we all followed this rule strictly, because it was necessary to
stop a fire before it had a chance to spread.
"If a fire started during a dry period, it did take long to
spread in dry grass, especially the tall buffalo grass when a fair
or high wind was blowing. A prairie fire of condiderable extent
is dot onlyydestructive to the grazing feed but to animal fire
also. There is absolutely no change to hold cattle from stamped..
ing in all directions when a fire is traveling behind the animals.
"I saw one of the most extensive prairie fires which took
lace in the No..an's-Land country. It swept over a front of 100
or more miles and traveled about 150 miles before it was put *rider
eontroll. All the cowhands for miles arourid fought this fire. Ihere
were At least 1000 .men fighting at a time.
"The method we employed t fight a prairie fire was using
part
green cow hides. We weighted the head and fore feet/to hold the
hide on the ground. A rope was tied to each of the hind feet
part of the hide, and then a mounted cowboy took hold of each and
dragged the hide over the fire. whus most of the fire would be
smothered. A crew followed the drag and whipped out the remaining
fire. Ihis method was successful fighting a fire in short grass,
but could not be used against tall buffalo grass. To fight a fire
Gauthier. Sheldon F.
Uan6elore.
pr! ant co
Page 12
Fe 240
in tAl grass, it was necessary to set back fires. This was done
by burning grass ahead of the tire, rici keeping the back fire under
contrell.
rAfterl worked two years on the IMP range, I decided to get
rried and I returned to Ark., where the lady I desired lived.
After I married I farmed for a livelihood. I returned to Okla.,
several years later and spent about six months working for a large
cattle outfit that were buying feeders and fattening the stock on
corn. The job I had was hauling corn to the many cribs scattered
over thE range. lhis outfit had a fence range and were feedi06
about 2000 head. Of course, the herd varied, hut animals were
moving out to tLe market anei others movin,:, in from ranges of the
S. W. Constantly.
"There is only one feature about the work of feeding cron
orth mentioning, and this is the action of the wild range cattle
u: on rrival. At first the animals would snort at the corn and
back fiay from it. When they saw other cattle eating the eorn
their couriosity would be nroused and they ould investigate, but
treat the corr with contempt for sev(fral days.. Finally the cattle
ould take a taste an then be gluttons for a while.
"After I quit the feeding job, I ended my range (-!reer and
put the remainder of my working life at farming.