Document text
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4uthierieldon F.
Rangelore. FC 240
Tarrant co.,Dist.,b7
John M.Herdeman,71,livil,g at 618 Court St,
Fort 4orth, Texasvwas born Aug.,2,1867, in
obertson co.,Texast on a ranch. His father,
John Haardeman, engaged in the cattle business
for a livelihood. The family moved to .Williamson
co., in 1876 and located near Round heck. Sohn
n. Harde_an established a cattle ranch located
between Round Mock and Tgylorville(now Taylor)
He bouglA a tract of land for the sum of $2.
per acre. The first of the hardeman family
ca; Texas, in 1835. They were John H.
Hardeman and Tom jaaily Hardeman. John H.
located in Washington co./ and J.Daily settled
in :Atagorde co. Tom J. Bally Herdsman was one
of re signers of the Maas declaration of
Independence, and Las a member of Pres. Dave
-1Arnet's cabinet.. The county of Hardeman, Texas,
vas named in his honor. John 11.1i,-.rdeman bez.zan his
range career on his father's range and has continned
in the eatile business to some extent every since.
He now operates a stock ranch located near Justin,
Texas.
stor;; of range life f flows:
"I was born in Hosertson co.,Texas, in 1867, at ad father's
farm and ranch 41 father was John H.Hardeman, and a brother
3f Tom JsliaLL, :.-{ardeman. They came to Texas, in 1E35. 14 fat er
settled i. Washington cot, -and Tom' J.i3aily Hardeman settled in
7atagorde co. To was one of the signers of the Texas Declara-
tion of Indepe,dence. Each of these Len f-ueLfor the independence
of Vexas. Tom J.Baily nardeman was a member of Burnet's cabimte.
Therefore, I any state that I am a trueson of the Loose iatare state.
"I an thinkin.c: of y boyhbod days and mu !And wanders back to
Taylorville(no Taylor) Alliamson co., Texas. It was 61 years
ago the 2, of last Aug., when I, with my father and the mat of
our family rolled into --illiamson co., frov. hobeitson co., and
there located. e settled near pound ttock, at which place he
clutbier.5heldon r* Page I/2
Rangelore. Ft; 240
Tarr-nt co.,mist.07
bought a tract Of land fr the sum of $2. per acer. On this
tract, he built a log house and put into cultivation a small
patch of Ind to raise crois for our home use. Catt1( raising
was father 's maiu business.
"The country was a *1st prairie with no fences, no farms and
not many buildings, except along the creeks. Settlers located
aiorjj the creeks where they could obtain poles for rails with
which to build fence around their, patch of cultivated land* Also,
so they could have water supply. Aila for fencing tarpose had not
yet been invented, and it was necessary to locate near tier if
_one desired to cuAtivate any land, because cattle rsnged where
t.e grass was sufficient and a sunly of vAter was at hand.
"The country was an open range with cow camps located at many
points, with thousands of 1d horns feeding on the tall grass
which grew profusely on the, prairie, and in the creek bAtoms.
Jim and rrank Stiles had a camp where the Stiles' h tie is
now located. Jay Oliw* had' a cow camp located on Longbranch a
feu uilles of Stiles' camp.
"The morning we arrived ih Williamson co., we saw a tremduous
scpke arising South of the I.(k G.N. Railroad. We inquired about
the cause of this smoke, vmd were laormed it was caused by the
buriing of Jay Olive's cow camp, a: d that Jay Olive had been
killed* lie aa killed in a fight preceeding the burnik, of the
camp. This fight was the endi4g of a feud between the Olive boys
an the Smiths. Each side hvd a large following. ihe anitil boys
were Tom,Meg, and Billsee Olive boys were iirintlIrapob and Jay.
Gauthier. Sheldon Ft
tangelors.
Tarrant co. ,Dist.
l'age a
FC 240
There vs, also, a Tom Smith, who married the Olive's sister. He
went by Ale anus of olive wom Smith, and the other .tom went by
nape of Tom Curly Smith. Curly Tom' Smith was the leader of
Vie Smith ,crowd.. He had a magnificent pOyseque. One can't exAict
to ilee a illore erfect one. He was about six feet tall and weighed
:but 1PO no,Ands. He had curly auburn hair, blond imatache and
blue eyes. He was an excellent rider and roper, a near petTect
shot with a six-gun and a gracefUlAancer. his fellow was a
typical lender of men. I think Jay Olive was the leader of the
Olive crowd and a genuine leader too. The feud ended in a draw
as near asI could reckon the out come. The feud was revonsible
for the death of reveral me: and about an equal nuMber on each
side.
"The feud started over a question of cattle and rnge rights.
Basin: my conclus,ons on the statements made by membes of (met,
side of the controversy, I must state each side were equally *song.
"During the succeeding years after my arrival in Williamson co.,
I learned to knew the ::-iths and Olives* I became very fond of
Lhese fitople. I learned they were stroight folks and a. true ,friedd.
If they were your fiend, you could de end on them reoeining with
you throurll thick end thin* We lived as neighbors and I never have
had better nei lbors or friends*
John"Puffalo" Olive as drownde(: 6n Opark's range trying to
drive cattle out of Brushy creek* John"Alligator"Olive was our
sheriff at one ti. He was waylaid and died from the gun wounds,
but killed several of his ossult=nts single handed. Yob olive,
Caut??Ier.:3helclon 1.
Rangelore.
warrant co. AJist.,k7
kegs A
PC 240
Alligator's brotLer, is still living near Beaukise.
"here was not Duch to Taylorville, when we first settled in
the territory. It was just a small community of settlers I shall
try and tell about the first people Vere and their activities.
"I don't remember whether it was dtrayborn or 'Alt Tucker
that was sheriff in. 176, but the sheriffs,wer in the order I shall
name them. 'hey were Sipson Connell, 13111 Zr okshire, John T.Olive,
Henry Purl and a titan named Edwards. Of course, I refer to the
early period of 4:1.1ieLson co.
"The first hotel o,ened was the .a,gz;oner Hotel. A.little later
Square rapier put in a hotel, followed by a hotel established by
Camp and Kroshosky, and others. J.B. Simmons was the first tost-
aster. Amtgronery and Jones opened the first lumberyard. Aley
and Post opened the first Geheral.store, then followed the stores
of J..Yance,Ceorge ilton and others. A in named ,arson put
in first blacks ith shop. The first school was taught by
ilsher, and the scl!ool was held in her residence. John PcMurr
opened a schol later, and it was this school I attended. 4 -class
mates were Dave and A.11 Sloan, Osi L,asley, one of the Aacox boys,
Dave Vccarty and De -ye Taylor. Of all my school 07-tes UcCarty and.,
Taylor are the only ten still living tn Taylorville(flrw Taylor).
The first saddler vrlis J.CCannon. NO ve,-,s fillowed Ly iete Gobel.
04r first boot maker was A.Diaang and later jack anie establish-
ed a boot shop. Taylorville 'a first doctors were Drs
ttJaill and frown. Our first lawyers rerc John W.Parker Manton
and Briggs* judge Scott was the first ,justie of the Peace. Jim
*.age ttz
Rangeloret FC 240
:arrat co.1.0ist.,77
ledge o, en tL Aro seloon, then Joe Bennett, Mark and "enry
1Tadford opened
Ale tellinc eliout the i'irst people who settled in layiorviile,
ant t' mention stine of the prominent settlers. Thoe Llong the
hiver were Zia ..ialberts, early, W.cians,
Logan, Eubanks, ;;terns, Ucladden and the most
noted man vvis Verion(Aacat) Williams* The name was well applied.
(Le Jirusby ‘reek were !LcCatchen, Avery, Bryant, Criss, Patterson,
Flynt Darlingtdin and the 6laughter family. Ihses first settlers
were hoes and tow men and later came sheep men.
"I don't want to for&et to uention the firot musical organisation,
and arlorv: the first of such organization in the cou.:itry during the
early'808 prior thereto. Th±.6 ori.7LnizaLiori tee the talyorville,
string Band the meelbers were dionn and Jim 'g'ink, John Lurk,
ni .ill
Peed. This ilusichi or„;anization furnished zest* for all the
imvor!,aLt events, tlid .:ere in greet demand to furnish mueic for all
the big dances held in ti-ie territory for man ilea away.
sliow, that 1 have nentioned solTe of the first settlers in
tmn and country, I nvil tell ho e earned our livelihood and
conduced ourselves.
"In some ways life was bard. A six-gun was a prominent part of
a man's dress. flveryone wore his gun and the tine were used many
ties. If a man did not want to swap shots, he had better throw
is gun away and stay out of arguments. ';Ane the other hand friends
',ere true stood with each other till the very Jest in any
fifficulty.
Gauthier.0114d(Lu-'. aj,e i6
Rangelore. FC 240
Tarrant cs.,Dist.,d7
uSberkffs run vor office on their repuation for bin: a
,.ter Qc;.silh. In fact, such meu were required in the
office.
'The first ,t:rsor, killed in Taylorville, after we moved to
Alliamson co., was a constable named :eionnell. The shooting took
lace ih George Milton's store. George was away at the time
tending court at CaiErori, and his ther, Ion', was attel.dJw
to the business in George's absence. tic Jona). had t. reputation
for being tough. Tills reputation caused people to elect hi- to
office. One nigA L4cDonnell rode up to Liltmalt store and ordered
him to close, because, as he said,it was closing time. tom refused,
staring it was too early. cDonnell at rted to ride his zont
into the store for the p-rpose of inforeing Lis order. tom ordered
LcDonne'il to stay out, but he continued to drive his hose in. Tom
pulled his gull, so did the officer. :itiots were swapped and 11CDollueLl
4ELLI shot first. L.e fell aff of his hoes dead.
"The next ki.J.ir vAs co mitteu ty Jack Napier. Ile was a
cattle driver and while passing a.settler's home with a herd of
cattle, he stopped to get a drink of buttermilk. the an of the
settler and ;ack becarAe involved in an argument over some trifling
queetiOn. They settled the ar:umentotne was arguments wee frequently
settled those days, by using guns. Jack was the quickest with the
draw and the young /ad lost the argument.
Thinking of the gur4 fi6htH those dLys, brings to :Dian an
exciting time in Taylorville, and give E true i-,ictare o.
conditions the law enforcement officials were coacelled to deal
3authier.3heldon I.
clam.
Tarrant Co. ,Dist. ?a
1.'8gue
with. Woraat
"DR2 Moody, father of ex— sovernor 7.1oody, weithe tiir t shall
cation. Ioai Jr4th vas city marshal. sem was never knowt to
ck pv,Tc; fr m a Lb wa elected to the office by the &mod
people of Taylorville, Id case he had earned this reputation by
7,ctual ddeds in the4th-Olive feud, as well aS in other fights.
JDhn Uilve was sheriff, and the conatable was a man named Barwise.
he deputy co stable a man named orris.
"Ed Rolsoux ad opened a saloon in the town and he too had a
reputationfor runniE his busineso_as he reckoned it should be
operated. he was well educated and Adahed Lnd had an imposing
ersonality.
"One of the priniciplea hosoux talowed in running Li3 saJAn,
was to not a: low any AM intoxicated person to be taken out of
his place of business. ne insisted on taking care to them whom
became drul while in his saloon.
,n44yor Moody had issued a t6arrant for the arrest of a man
04 some laisdereanor co;ijaint. ...he warrant was laced in the
hapds of depot eohatel!la L4orris execute. ...orris eritered the
sa.00n and lead hi 11.s26411r outside before Rosous noticed
what as taking place. iosoux realized what Ird happened about.
the time the two men were in the street and he went into action.
He step& outside and demanded that the deputy turn the prisoner
100.41 dnd allo7; the fellow to return to the barroom. Morris
refused to cogay w th the demand. Wothout any further words,
Rosoux.acted quickly. _Ile hit the deut:, on the poin of the jaw
3huthier.:.ihelcion f.
:.,Langelore40
Tarrant co.,10isto,4
}age N 8
FC 240
knock4g he L.to he ditch where the deputy tamained
unconscious for a fevmoments. Rosoux then took the prisoner
bach into the saloon.
Rosoux's action .as report“I to the laayor he issued a
warrant prwptl, fox' i-iosoux's ar7:est. Tom Smithserve the
warL-ant or.Auusoux but let go at liberty or. Aosouxlswown
recognizance. The trial was called xi -ayor' Moody's court and
ii080UX was :ifesent.
it attor.i-A4 presented "LAI city's evidence end then the
:ayor called ±o te defw.dant to present iie evidence ant.', defense.
"ficusoux arose to Li.s feet and r.jde a snort speech to the court
w ic1., was as fo loJ, '.:Ao fur as tilis amn kangaroo cexAst is
concerned, it canngo to he1191 He then welke, out of the court_
and back to his se_om.
"Rosouz's ection toward the court us heaped oil on the fire.
A battle was certai_4to follow if any f,rVer action would be
tstkeli tic:Boaz the off icnis cryald not let the matter
drop without each of o. resii;nini; thclx office. there ws,s a
oitatim issued for loseurto instnnter nc anaver to a
charEe ef contempt of court. Of course, he war foun: guilty an
tr.. charge of ussuit and baktery an interfering with an officer,
when he walked out ol the court. Therefore, folks looked for
plenty of act on. Tore omith was givel' the paper to serve and
brinz Lhe prisoner to jail.
Gauthier. Sheldon Y.
Rangelore.
larrant
Peg* #9
PC 240
Rost= had the reputation of being one of the best shots in
the State, and there was no doubt about his courage. Tom Smith
had an equal rtvutation. wherefore, the people waited in tuxticUatKo
Lion of seeing a high class gun fight.
"Tom Smith went to Pommes place of business and when he
antered Hosoux waa playingg a ga..e of vol. fle walked over to
the ool table and tad Hosoux he desire to talk to him. 1 I
have no objection to you talking. 4tort your story, Hosoux
told Smiths Smith told Hosoux, in substance, that he had zotten
matters badly messed up and suggested that Soso= (tome along and
see if the situation could not be adjusted.
"I am not going with you or anyone to satisfy that bunch of
Woo° court jokes,' was Rosoues
"0 I advise you to do so,' Smith pleaded. "Because, its things
like tLis that loads Lo gun ploy.
"'When I get ready to )op aw gun you shall know it, and if you
don't stop molesting me it will not be long till you will hear
from me"
'Ili am re 4 nowle :Iimith answered, rind drew his gun. smith
fired a short .quickly w ich some what surprised Rosoult. The
bullet entered Aosouit's side, but he leaped over the bar quick
as a flash and drew his gun. He dropped.to the floor before he
could fire a shot, and died a short time afterward*.
"The friends of Rosoux, and he had many, disapproved of the
way Smith shot him. They resorted there was no need to kill the
Gauthiersaheldon Pa" #10
Rangoon, FC 240
Tarrant co.,Oist.,d7
man, that amith hu- itosoux covered and could have compelled him
to go along to isaiA4 Mc feeling vhich existed among the prople
resulted in Smith's ,uefeat at the next election. The defeat
rankled in Smith's mind* and he would slur Johnsen the new marihal,
when ever an opportulLity waSteame his way. Smith drank liquor
occasionally, and when he had a few drinks he would precis the
street taunting the marshal by rehiring to him as the 'yellow
mprshal0
"There came a dny when amith must have drank more liquor than
usual, because he became obuoxious. Smith, on this day, praded the
street cat Xing for Johnson, and saying that Johnson was
yellow and afraid to arrest him Tie was yelling so leud that
he was heard from ono to the other of the street.. This conduction
on the party of amith L' reed 4.11e ,O'ohnoun to take some -,c1.ion.
Be called on Mayor loloouy for a warrant charging anith with disturb..
lag the peace.
"The Mayor did not issue a warrant, because he wanted t.
prevent a gun battle. He was certain there would be a gun tight
if Johnson ~mid the warrant, and it would put the yellow mark
on Johnson to have stmts. other officer serve it.
t9t large nu,;:ber of people had gathered at the town's aquavit
waiting for the arrest and the anticipated battle to take place.
Mayor Moody disappointed the =Wilk, appearing himself and announom
ing that he had refused to issue a warrant. HO state& his pur 0841
in refusing the warrantemas to allow SmIth full rein to show the
folksip the town .what a damn fool he could make of himself.
lege #11
Fc 2-0
'larrant co.pist.$117
This move on the part of Moody, caused ::=11.th to realize what a
rel hc hiself. Ae wet holeand thereafter
retained quite about Allis Johnson.
"Durnp, the late 17Ce and early Ws, a bunch of tougn ellowe
4culd frequently rice into the smeJ1 towns and force the business
-kuses to close. Tilk- did this for the sort they received out of
their pct. A tourL ban g rode into Taylorville one night in 179$
and had closed ell the Aisiness lut Tom Bishop's store.
To!71 met the gen17; at his door and ehootir starteG immediately.
To killed three of t e -ut wrs killed himself.
"Thece
have related arc eo;,& of the many o: like
tneldents whic! tooK place, and were thini we had to expect at
any .Ame.
n:)w$ let Ae tell how ee worked. hair mentioned the r-ct
coerAry was an open ranLe d,t_ed with cow eamps. he
cuttle were ateLde. tc by a sort of coo,,erated system. that is
to say, whe: a neve rider found a critter needin6 at,enLion$ he six
would attend to it regsrdiese of its bred. hilt a herd would
Froze more or less in tie vicinity wiierc their water uld salt
lics were, Vere wan alwaye more or less strays finUng, their
1 to a strelce herd. 'X 'is, whet streys .:ere found in our
hel-d we live to snie et-Amtion as ye reered our own. Ihe other
rar.,cherc did the stele thing for our strays.
"Ordinarily, •e, Cid herdinr, to hold the cattle in a certain
Ineption. HoweVer, during threathenint; wentLer or whilc a storm
was in proEreas$ ther ere riders kept on trAld and ready la the
3authier.3held3n F.
aangelore.
Tare,nt co.iwist.sd7
Page 012
FC 240
event the herd would start to. drift.
"Our territory was a prairie 0ount,n, without sheltering places.
Therefore, the cattle would start' drifting before or durirf- a
sorm hnntinE; for nholter. A herd of longhorns was an excellent
barometer. Moen a ',lever c's;rom was brewing, we could tell it was
on the way by the cmttlels F,ction. The herd' would become fretful
and reetiess ark finally start drifting. If the herd wai not held
in checks the aniL:ials would drift to the river -bottoms. With such
event taking places we would be compelled to do several uays riding
to separate the. various brands and drive the asimal4 back to their
home grounds. During a sever storm tier was danger iDat some
of the herd would drift '.71any miles cey. therefore, we alweys
attempted to hold the Oattles but then- were times we could not
accomplisL our.:)urnoses and a !tamped* would take placer
"Of courses when the general roundups were held almost all the
strays would be found.
"The.general roualup was a•coonerative move to gather all
the cattle and separate the animals. A crew made up of members
from all the camps worked under a roundup boss. In additions the
ranchers woad sent a representative to the distant roundups. This
wAdtss Job was to watch for their strays that might have urifted
tere. By this cooperative method the ranchers would get all
their ealmals.back on the home range twice each year.
"The cattle business had its problems 1,24 does every other
business. To illustrate some of our tao.,blemel I shall relate sole
incidents, of trouble.
Gadthier.Sheldon P. sage #13
Rangelore. PC 240
warrant co.,mist.,W7
"The ranchers in the Williamson co., territory had to meet
a greet loss in 1283, due to weather conditions. Awing the month
of :et., a anew, sleet and rain etorm revelled for about 10 days.
hell the weather returned to normal, thg.; range Wag covered with a
coat of show ice, sl'eout four inches thick. This. storm was very
'unsual &DANT co,rse, no one was abl(J to meet the conditions
produced by it. 4, the time the range cleared so the cattle °mad
get at the grass,'many cattle had died fron exposure and starvation.
It was estimated -Le loss suffered n:Tiounted to 611 percent of the
!lords.
When the weather became mild, bad metLers was made worse 1.):;' a
heel..fly plague, which took another 10 ,,erent oft more of the cattle.
"&he heel -fly atLacks cattle in the heel and when one of the
insects hits a critter in the hell. the animal becomes crated with
fright and pain. The at-acked animal will let out a bawl, throw
its tail in 'the air, and start runnin for a water hole or a bog.
There the cattle will ro-letin. The fly iv so wearliz to the c..1,ttle
that the animals will'rcfrain fro fedIng, bt,c,Ne -f,etkenee. nd
nn wIll die.
“The ir;eather conkition which prevailed prior to the heel...fly
Agul., produced ninny The cattle were already weakened (Am
to rzze conditionti. perefora, many rent 'own in thelbogs and
died there before we co id haul the criti,ors out.
wile conditions under which we raised cattle in those days, we
did not have mach invested in the herd, because our ohly cost
GautLitr..;.helCoh g.
riangelore.
Iarraht
Page 024
PC 240
vrs for hi7,e0 hip. Put, when a large precentage of the bead was
lost, our sales hEt to be curtailed witil the hard built back or
purchases were mad, to replace the loss.
"The price of caLtle in the early '80s rocced frAn $20 to $30
for trios threc9. Therefore, V.e loss of 5C0 to 100C herd of
cattle represented co,,u.i,LIkrable money. Thus, you mr4 estimate what
the '83 storm and heel -fly plague clot the ranchero.
"During the early 180e the first wire fencing of the range
apeartd in '4illia:feon coet, After considerable fighting, fence
putting and court trials over the -fencing, the system of fencing
the range becalm the rules _Many of the large ranchers then Moved
:W. Where the range .vta still open.
4e he considcata lc trouble with the first fence. in our.
Territory. the first fence was tuili by Taylor, tsqld he. put the
fer,ce up In his section line. Thus WWI absolutely within his
rights. Some of the prominent citizens considered the act as
detrimental to the welfare of the country. they preceived thi.
disappearence of the open range and with it the cattle industry.
Of course, those days the peoples livelihood can wholly from
the cattle. Therefore, some of the citizens decided to save the
country from Suinations These peo:le formed in, a mob and destrOyedr
the fence. Taylor replaced the fence and,again it was cut down.
"However, the depredati00 were caught in their second act of
fence destroying. The culprit* were arrested on a criminal eterive
anis also, had a civil action for damages filed against theft
"The cases were hard fought.. The law was Clearly against the
defendante4 but tb find a jury which would convict the. accused
Gauthier. Sheldon Vi age 646
Aangelore. PC 240
Tarrant co.t.Diat.14?
.was e problem the courts could not solve. Butt the. oiVil ;lotion
we more successful fl,d the wemesome'judgments rendered in fevor
of Taylor. Ihe result of the court action did, however, cause
a cessation of the depredations against 1:encea.
"What I have related ist. I think, the proMinent points of
my experience during the early days on the range.
"Many changes have taken plaeOsiince I were a boy., 2 use to ride
over the beautiful -drairie country on a hoss., the sage grass was
about three feet high in most places. There were lots of prairie
chickens and other geLo• Coyotes ao,id be heard, during the
night, anywhere one might be. .1 still have the mental sound of
their yelp and howl. I can still hear the cyotes mournful howl
end when I do it makes my fleph creep.
"there were Me houses on the prairie, unless there was a rood
sprik near tyt l!ke Crelry fkrihg We of Itylorvillet or
Flags spring E. of town. Flag's spring use to be the camp site
of Carle* cow estop. After ths-ca4-0 1.sesmoved w., John K ione
bought the trpct of land contaihing thc spring uud L.4ilt a
magnificent home there.
"We bad no automailest trucks, tractors or aeroplane. No
picture shows, telephones or radios. }People ct.. eked in the
fireplace or ovens built on the outside. feher were a few stoves,
for cooking and heating purposes, but these untensila were a
rarity.
"People fought for their rights. using the simm.gun instead of
Gauthier.oheldon Page It 16
Melore. IC 240
erit co. tal et. 1#7
their hands or the courts. Butt outside or the covarAive few
rustlers, a large precentege of the people were honest. ieople
paid their bills vitt cash. they carried their money on their mug
it
person or layedion the mantel in the home. When people went on
a business tripttheti neVer worried about putting tuv sum of foaney
in the saddle bag and travel through strange r known territory.
oPeoplot as a whole, trusted one another, and there was lots of
tro 416Soly love rr,•*xed wit!-, the shootings. As a whole pe2pIs had a
600g tim and tr ha.py.
"Iqsme to tort .orth durine the early °90st with wy
make it my home, but I am still in the cattle business. I operate
a tar ra at Junt.tn,Texest where I raise Serail:1rd* as cw principal
tr:. ming Satiety*