Document text
'aouti,ier.arteidon S.
.e.tore.
Tarnalt co.,Dist*,47
eage
FC 240
Dave '1offaan,38, living at 341b Ave. ,J,
Fort ;$arth,lexast was born at Avon ,July
1,1900. !Is father, Jessie eoefman, was a
breeder and racer of race horses. The
Hoffman Penily.moved from MO. Ito the Indian
';errItory(now Okla.) during the year of 1905,
and settled in Vinita, Craig co.,jessie Hoff.
rik,n died during the year of 1906. Dave secured
employment od Aft Leeforce tattle Ranch during
the year of 191111, at which place he worked for
about one year. He then went to MO., and secured
work on the Rankin Cattle Ranch, the headquarters
or which was at Larkio. The ranchnwas a fenced
range enclosing approximately 100,000 acres.
Dave continued his employment for the 1,tankin'
aanch over a period of two years. His next engag—
ed in catchirk, wildmnustangs which roamed the
Black ills region of S.Dak. These animals were
sold for meat food. This work be continued for
ataalt ora year, after which time he enlested in
the U.S. Arc, in hdoh he served during the
perioa of the World War. After the conclusion
Of the ,ar, he engaged ia proseectini:: in the
S.W.zrtates. Later he served on the Police
Ocaar. vet of Los Angles. Duripg the past 10
years he has bten a resident of the City of
Port orth, &axes, and has engaged in the
oil 1:irld lease bmokerage business.
is stor, of range life follows:
"My birth lace was No., in the town of Avon, -A. a rece horse
.breeding and stock farm* The event took place July1,1900. My
father, whose name was Oessie ,offman, engaged in breeding and
racinE horses. He tooved his family to Craig co., of the Inaian
Territory (now Okla.) in 1906* Father died the following year, and
his death caused me to seek my own livelihood as soon as I was,
large enough to work.
"1 Vg...3 reareC, around the stoak business ai.,1 could ride a horse
wen a young lad. I could ride real well aa tee age of 10 years,,
and secured riy first regu.Lar employment during my 13th year.
Geuthier.Jheldo,,
elore.
Tarrant co.Oist. 07
Page 02
FC 40
"Craig co., and the surrounding country, was than a cattle
ra2ve country ethen we moved there, in 19061 it was still
:Loire or less a: open rT.nge country.
"About the or viork I knew anyt in( about doing was handling
horses, %nd naturally, I aeeked seeked emfloyment in the business
about which I had some knowledge.
The Leeforee ranch was among th larger ranches of the Craig
co., section, and I succeedec in securing a regular job A.th the
ranch when I was 13 -,oars old. The reach headquarters .::ere located
near Vintia.
"Damon Turner was the raLchea fore an and from five to ten
hands were empioyed. During the summer season the outfit worked
about 10 cowhands and cut the number down to five during the
winter season. In addition, durinc, the hay harvest season, tie
ranch employed about 10 extra hams cuttinL hay, which was used
for deeding durixv, the winter when the grass beca-e scares.
"The ranch r_ng,ed, on vn average, of around 6000 head of
c-ttle. nt the time 2 begvn working for the outfit, the range
was p,rt/y fenced tin,1 the whole Leeforce range was enclosed
completly during the year I began working there. I do not recall
the number of acres c,nstituted the mnge, but it v.:s near 10,000
acres. About 1000 acres was used or hay productio0.
"'he condition of the range country wee dif erent in the
earl, 19000 than durine the prior years of the open range. During
tle early days of re ching in the S.W., a r-ncher could waft
is herd fro one sedtin 0 another as the graziLg condition
(74utilier. .3.t14):1(7.cez F
Rengeloree
Tarie,nt cceledet.te7
lege 43
FC e40
became bad, but when I began my range career, tee ranchers were
coepelied to,kee teeir cattle more or less in one locality.
Therefore, rovisions for winter feed was necessary in order to
keep the herd in eood flesh.
eork
"The/we were required to do in atuending to tee herd, was
from fence ridiei; te feeding the stock. Before the fence
.e,“etod, a nee;ee riders worked holding the herd„witeie the
part1:: fenced area. The fence enclosed three eidee, so we roe*
on the r. ich was ItiU. open h.lteine the herd erom
drifting out. After leee fence was coepleted, one rider rode .the
eeece line coestantl,y, looking for breaks. he small breaks he
v:otdd repair an0 the large breaks were fixed by the repair crew.
Other men watched for sick animals ane in tee Winter mo the, when
the grass becaee ocereet we fed hay. There were hay racks built
in nuMbrous plac.e over the range. Bay as hauled and placed in
tte reeee wtict. up,plemented the grass feed.
The Leeforce o.. fit participated in euet one general roundup
after I etarte to work there. Teis wee the Fall roundup of
1U3. The fence was ceeuleted shortly after the roundup and, reeeved
elle necessity cf taking part in a-geeeral roundee. ee had our
reech roundw in tee .pring and Fail. uriee our roundup we used
the chuck waeon ane live with it. ee eid our sieepine on eee
ground rolled up in a elanket 3iyine on the eround. Thie sort of
'life I seem herd to a pereon who has not exueA.enced such living,
t,t it qae not eoesidered such by the old rawhides. In fact, Lc, ohe
use to livid teis eort of an out door litetit was not hard, but
nsuthicr.Jheldon re
Aange3ore.
Tarrant co.liiist.07
Page 4
FC 240
on the contery, it was perfered by them to living in doors. At
the headquarters we had a comfortable bunk house and beds. liowever,
several of the old timers would sleep out doors roiled in their
blnkets and lrint on t -fie ground in preference to using the bed.
The out door ,1100 was eondielve to vigorous apetit* and health. I
often recall two old rawhides who worked on the Leoforce ranch
when I were ezployed there. These two fellows were not a day under
00 years of ago and ,had engaged in range work all of their active
life. They were tough as steel and spry as most men at the age
of 4.11)r 0 years. They did their turn in the saddle each day
une coAd '10 as afieh work as any us other hands. They never
slept in their, beds, except when the weather was inclement, but
used tire ground to sleep on. Another thing they did, which imp
pressed me, wne thn ray they could eat. Am.,11g. the victuals fed
us 'hands were eggs. These ?Jere brought from town by the supply-
wagon and always served for breakfast. '4e11,. these two old men
,for their breakfast, would eat three or four fried eggs, a. piece
of beef steak about six inches ever*, Pnd the usual aArount of
grtvy, eyrup trial end coffee. The rest of us were not far behind
the:, two lads, if but we were yourb:, and still growing. One
would awnke iL the nornivg rv-dy to elk;oy breakfast and did not
need any apetitizer to start off with.
were fed plcnty of good wholesome food. A verity of
canned vegetables we served and some hind of dessert with each
me -1. There was always a dish of some kim of dried fruit one
the table'
Muthier.Shelfion Page e
Renvelore. PC 240
Tarrant oo.sDist.07
"The cattle raise on the Leeforce'ranch was a mixed breed ee
the Texas Longhorn and Herford. Leeforce used. the Hem:0rd
breed of bulls and tbe Longhorn cows to produce his stA2k.
4h0ae cattle were fn .1171y tame d handled rathr easily. ;Ak
did not have much trouble with etanoodes. Of courses after the
fence was cor0Ateds staivedes did not Yworry us Lindh.; AJuring a
storms ridoes were ueed to watch the fence ride the line an
the lee side of the storm. If the herd started drift ahead of
or during a'storm,-.there wet danger of crowdin6 into the fe.ce
eo hard that it would brenks and in such anent there would result
a scattered Lerd. Trer,.fores we riders would ride the fence line
holding the cattle lx.ek.•
"Our rc,kuidui; was the hardest of all work we had to dos but the
most intereitings et least it was to Lost or as because we than
had roping -and bA.-dozLing to do.
."Loseforce ha a large corrals wach enclosed about ,0 across
into this pen we drove the cattle. The corral save us from doing
riding to hold the gathered cattle hi the herd was being worked.
4e woule ga%ber about 300 or CLundred :need at a time ana drive
the animals into the pen. After these were 40, outs branded and
counted, the aniaals wore driven out and held separate free the
rest of tne heed uLtil thc entire heed was gone over.
"All Airing calves i5ere branded in the *rigs roundup, In the
PUll all later Lorn calves were branded and such as may have been
missed during the 'previous roundup.
reithier.3haldon I.
Rarige.Lore.
Tarrant co.,Dist.07
Page 6
pc 240
"I worked tor the Leaforas ranch 1;hout 13 months and then weat
to Mo., where I meeured work on the Rankin Cattle Hawks It was
lecatd- in Atkinson co., near Larkin. The ranch was divided into
12 u.-ltges, Paa consistgal of from i)000 to 10,000 acres. Ihe
entire tract wns fericed and the unites were enclosed by separate
fences. Etch wit ranged from 3000 .to bOCO, head of cattle, and
on each 21anted and raloed, on on average, of 2,000 avers of
'corn. There was a crew of .abont six cowhands working on each.
aectionOedidee the workers who looked after the corn crop. The
average pro&ctien of romper acre was about 76 bushels, thus,
one prigulate the amount of corn raime and fed on the Sankin
lenehs•
"The rancji had their own breed nf cattle which wee tve White
Face rfords, but Rankin bought r creat number of cattle from
Ws Texas.- The cattle csme in fraa Texts by the train loads.' -.these
Oatti were fatteec.7.. o. corn and then sent to the markets 'All the
ear old
cattle which came in from Vexes,. were steers of the tealassi
These were fottone and mold wton threes. The market where Rankin
sole Ar ntock 8t ,'eaeph rne 0maYe s
"The Texas cattle were a mixed breed, but no IlInghorss Rankin
had one experience with a train lond of 'Anchors steers,. which
were twos.- This bunch caused Rankin to refuse to buy ony more of
ouch cattle. These cattle were uLl,aded on the range nd within
an h ,ur the Lcorns Atnt on a siam ode. Toy didn't liko the
country,T guest,. Th animals ran into the nuoe anga ent through
it 46 if the wires were so much thread. So f.,46 as Rankias
GAuthier $hel1orF.
rian-;e1ore.
'(--rnt co).
rage 0 7
FC 24C
knowledv about the as Longhorns klina,44/14, locations they are *tell
Stunning yet, Of courses the hands veva not expecting the stampedes
and if they ";ere tere uds riot enough ri ere to holL the Longhorns.
"The 1*Jr. ork);ora. were the day cattle wi:ich gave us
stampede trouble, auu they lidn't dive ue any trouble a.. they Just
left. All other cuttle bout wsre orthe tame breeds c.i a large
procentage W:,25 the MerfcTda.
wjithin a day or twolafter the arrival. of a train load of
steers! 1./r.nd .the animals an vithih. a tvek the cattle
b onterde and eating corn. ALLost all the ccati ran‘e
cattle ;Owed fro. thf corn when it 'ties_ p.lace before tael., at
firsts tut 1:d viatc'.....1.1id to other an rnal. eatii the grailis the
itvould finziUy take 'a chance and &et a taut...) of it. Xfter
getting a taste of the drains they would be gluttens for a whiles
when the :rain vas,:auced in the r-Lks.
',The corn wz-.c placed in racks btilt in -on& rows aua fed twice
a day. I ju,..ge that about 200,000 bushels of corn was ,:ed duriag
the period of a er to the stock aa each uult the WiAnkin raLch.
When the cattle _aro scat 1,3 the waxket from the Rankin ra_chs the
animals were Ln pr -..14e condition and sold for top price.
"All equikt exit on, the ranch was tae latest ol that period and
the cattle were handled according to the latest approved methods
oven to our living quarters and food.
'AI waddles were provided with calfortable beds in a well kept
bunk house and our victuals coesisted of a verity of weal balanced
and best of food well cooked.
14 thier.Sheldon tip
mogelore.
Tarrant co.,Liirts phi
Page #9
PC 240
"The work was no different than on othec ranches, as a whole,
w:Ach consisted or re:)airing fences, watching for sick and injured
animals, feeding and roundups when gathering a herd a herd for
shippment. The shitpments amounted to a dozen car loads to a train
of fatiened stock. Cattle moved it and out from the ranch more or
leas constantly. A least once each month, a train load of cattle
would arrive and a like number woad move out.
"Leading. pens and shuts' were located at a spar riilway track
which run through the ranch 0 ,herefore, the loading and unloading
cattle was did on the ranch and no driving was necessary.
"I worked for tile Rinkin Ranch for two years and then ventito
the Eleck Mille,country of Salk. At the time there were many
wild herds of the mustang horses which ranged in the MOurseia
Iiiver brakes, and these animal cou/d be found from S.Dak., back
to Idaho and Nont.
"There was a narket for these horses at the time. Ihe anicals
were bein6 used to slaughter for meat foods At this period one
could buy horse meat in sericite and the meat was listed
on menus of many ristraunts in S.Dak4, Neb., /Mont., and other
places. At Plerie SsZek., existed one of the horse markets than
buyi4 horses for meat produces These wild horses sold for a
price ranging from $2 to $6, depending on the size and weights
"I joined joined a party of waddles and engaged in catching.
Mose wild mustangs to sell at the horse aarket.
'.11o,I.dnn Fa
A4.4„;elores
Tarrant coeuDint.W7
pze #10
PC 240
l'etle I was catelnr the,wild mustang, I leaned many
tiings a aut t1v =tars* chnracteristicsoend ahrewdneea of the
2%-rzt. To .1n,eh the enimsls one mugt gusess the. mustang.anl
..it e'll'. I stftell erre"t to exolain some
st#4
ah 41tI ten :13:4;tt our work catcting these critters.
The different !Ards 11;,T17,t, more or letn6 e home maga where they
will stay. rInot the horde, rumber from WO to a 10001 and are
se,Airatei into 1.1.chus at from 15 to 25'meres, the young colts,'
and one strai.!.0n4-
':hfle the hir i rstr, the stn.lion will always be statialp
ad off a short -(74.1stE,noes stncdIng thtN htghent point and main..
taining a tliteh eotit.V. It does not teke ft chance en Irnzing,
Lut L earc. nne beck end tur*ing his head from
one direction to arDt,ler, watelinL for ary mrpronching object and
reaiti to give the iipornia!ng noigher.
v'When a cmomy trpr.ers e71.oh ne e riounted rrtnt
the stallio ntigtct le warnnin -nd then his harwl r.tnrts t-0
rake
iT,TTe toniot
secioli uhc i. c- .Lnadi T. atallioa .1.3(mye n
pwalti= bahint. tLe htrd, and there, he is re' to ft10`. ofi!'ie
0Aribu.:,,r, 1.7i: i rci7. staXlion 1-.)1J1 attekit o or.tice
.the pursuer evAi foral thc herd b;y taking ar. ellaling course. L f the
horaczan foilowe 6tallion, the anial will lead the purscv in
a circle till he is traveling in the opposite dire ,ion. Mile GO
tLe stailion '4111 titIL. stay far ancuch ..he 1ec t keep
out of danger. After leading the horseman a sufficient distance to
7.-kUt:4sz Sheldon: F.'
A4vgelcre.
Tarrant co.,-ist.07
the hare
into bigh speed,
iretrniz.
.1•■•-•
174"
horcs=an doe not fr)llow the stallion aa 1,1a entf.cing
Tage 411
rc 240
m to rake its escape, then the stallion goen
and ow 'coundn't catch the animal with an
Te an:malla speed and stamina arc among the
b.es
at head of his herd.
ca.TextL, the =1=1 All remain behind,th,I herd, so as .to be in
a pi:sitioz to t.t u2 a fizhtond to his Ceath.if necesstry, thus
holding the pursursr nbile his raresare excaping. :idle running
tehial a hcrid,thc stall!an wIll bitet.on their rump, any lagging
aniwaIs forcin:; the= to inereeee their speed.
."It is praccallv igpossible ,to catch a mustang, unless a
er of-ri3e,?a, ridinc im-rclays% keep chasing the aniMal till it is
exhausted, unless it is run into Fit trap.
"I shall cr.plf'in the syptem we used to catch those mustangs.
'Always, when we ran upcn a herd,Ah,1 animals would leave their
range The harder the:: nre* pursued' the farther they will tra-...al,
LAI; even if the herd travels 75 or more miles, the AnimAte
viLL
*work cautiously, back to their home ',awe. Tr will return, in
2rovtlirrr.nothing rears dangerous. During the
Idere'aay, Ise mould build a corral from up -right
ar three
t.tr.4. the hroses
tram the corral we mould string two strens-of wire in
extending cut for about a mile. At the.outter'entrance of
the two vireo the dIstance would be about a $le wide. On the
wire we placed pieces of cloth attintervals of 15 to 20 feet. The
mustangs knvl nothillg about wire. If one Wilt a stroug trap
fence, of 'three or =retie
the horses w-ould fight the
Gauthier.ShPldon F. Page #12
itangellre. Ff7 440
I!n-rsnt
wire and cut themselves till they would be incapaciated. But, one
wire with cloth at intervals would keg' the animals away, from the
wire, beco.dse the cloth '7413 couricicus end strine to them. Thus,
the c:aatrr2E could be coven in te forrel vhen oven mterted
t.:Ivnrap it (1,:e boleen t'le two Urea of ytre.
"rle would V.vv the corrni and vIre errngeloert cempJeted by
V.e tiAl ths i'Ner41 returned back tootheir home range. After finish.,
inglRar we would ride nray so the nusterge would not see us.
vhea we calte,:: ti -x animas were sett-ed end satisfied no one
was around, five or ex riders would encircle sAlerem and hepd
the herd towards tYll outer, part of our strung wire. From this
point we would crowd the animals into the wvral. (41ce the snizals
ilerectbatta were b:i.tween the wires; the rept of the wrk was done
eaaily, because ter were shy of the cloth end would trsvel forward
in their attenpt to wvade or. Then the animals were inside of WI)
correll\ we then did our rOping and tying.
Generally we cor7,alled ‘qmt C6 0; at a time. Theoe we roped1
placed a hacksnore on thc4 and tynd five or six toretLer. Three or
four tl-ed bunches:Jere.attneW to e tro'7.en rniTel $-,nd twee or
four of these broLen horses would be lead by one mounted rmilLto
the market.
"A part of our crew did the trailing te the earket while- the
rest dfd the corralling. We corralled m.til we had all' the mustangs
of a region and then we would move to another sectiodi
'Mile working at cvtcting the wild horses we lired in camp etyle.
Gauthie.r.Sheldon Page 1:3
Ran7elore. m PC 240
Tarrant co.
The trailera packed chuck to us from tovvn end took turns at
cooking.
".i continued ti'm Alstang •catchin{: u L1,1 the later
part o: 1912. 2L.'%er t're U4a4 declarec, wur agnivet Germany, I enlist-
ed. izz, the ar.;y- =•.ici served witil tre ter=iiiation _Return
rem the Artai went to p.i.oc,...ee,.)inp, in the 60uthriestern
4tates.
tra7,11.4..±.-. from one place to anotaer tfrugh the southwest
I met many old rwehides, who• had worked on the aaxas ranges durivg
the period wheIi the whole State of Texas was about one open range.
"These oic ts z•efueed to live where the country was thick
settled and *estmard as their foriner locations
became settled. When they be.came" too old to work on the range,
they erg ged in prospecting, trapping or .some kindred occupation.
They Aid .D.ot need mueh cash to suppl;; thel.r needs. they lived
on natures produce. 11v3, edi,a,tle game was their.main food tiu)ply, and
this, iome of them, supplemented from .9 wail garden: keel,flour,--
tea,coffee,spices apd a' few clothes were ell the things they bought:
These old fellows were contended, healthy and lived to a vererold
age.
"I gaol :pod at a cabin to incitiire about the wep one evening: On
the steps oi old fellow was sitting,whiteling nonchantly. His hair
was long and white. His skin was tanned anderinckled,tvedencing it
bad been subjeCted to the weather of many sun:mere and winters.
**Friend, can •Ioui direct me on the way to Dure binpViwl inquired:
"'Never beak of hart stranger, but I'll ask peppy. Heyl peppy
7iutt-ler.Sheidon F. Pece4L4
Er.nr,e ore. FC 240
Tarre.:.t co. 'Dist. oi7
ccce heyah. A sZ.ran,-er wants some direction60" He called.
"In a few seconds an old rawhide tu,rjersred. He Seemed ha.e
and sprylbut more wrinkled and dried than his son. When informed
of my query, he said:
"Don't know hS 4 ever heard oi the 1)lace. I'll ask. aly
PaPP341"
"'Your pappyi" I exclaimed. Saylfe-low, don't.foiks ever aie
out here?"
"'Bet exactly, t.ey sort off get inactive and dry up. That'a the
way Ay grandpappy did. ,'je have him hnaging in the lean-to and we.
are using.h.Lm for a razor strop.'",
"FaCtt are that the dry atmosphere of the Soutnwest is coducive
to preVentag'decof4ositionm I saw evidence of this in'Arzonia. It
was demostrated during an, epidmic of pinkeye affecting the cattle.
The cattle would lose thter sense of sight and would stop feeding.
In this state of• co,xlition, it was not long till they died. ladle
roar:ectin, I 4i thousands of carcasses lying along drift ferxes,
t' no odor wo, rwticabls The flesh dUat dried and sor's. of ()Billed*
"I spent a ccupie years prost)ecting and then went to Los Anglea
where I worked on the police mOpartment for a few years. I -left
Calf., end came to Texas where I hSve since remained,