Document text
Gauthier•Sheldon F.
,Ranaelore.
Tarrant coe,Dist.,a7
Page 41
FC 240
Tom Simmons, 779 living at the aestbrook
hotel, tort Worth,Texas, wee both Aag.,491SA10
in the State of aississippi, where he received
cduCation and studied law. After he wee
graduated, he came to Texas, which was in
14, to establish a la% praetice. BO settled
in the Town of Decatur, Wise co., where he
practicea is prcaession until the Ft.W.41 D.C.
railroad built through the town. Shortly thereafter,
he oved to Fort aorth, Text', where he lived and
made his home since. He nog living a retired live.
Then Tom Simmons arrived at Decatur, the town las
a ttriving frcntier tusinese center. Cattleeen
and settlers living in the territory exteading
for or than 10C miles W. and N. of town came
there to trade. He saw freight wagons nuabering
into the hundreds coming and leaving the town
each day. he has seen hundreds of cattle herds
widen were driven through the town on their way
to the Nortberu ranee and markets. He lies seen
and observed the ifficulties the ranchers and
enrly eettlers had to eet.
His story of range days follows:
"a, birth place .is ias. and the event took place 2:14g. 4,
1861. There is where I was reared and received ay education.
I choose law as ay profeseion. After I was graduated I craaa to
Texas, to establish :y• practice.
"I located in Decatur, aise co., in 1884 and pu, up a sign.
Clients began to enaage me within a few days after I open ay
orfice, it was not long uatil I had an excellent practice.
I ,resperea at my law practice in Decaaure till the daas I left
there, which was in 189a.
"hen I settled Le liecatur there was no ra,ilroad ruaaiaa
throaah the tiywn. Fort ,:cirth, vas the nearest railroad town.
Before tie railroad entere. Decatur° it eaa a thrleinz frontier
Qauthisr•Sheldon F. Page 112
Mangelore. rc
Tarrant co.,DIst.07
were
town. Thece/22 attorneys practicing there then and' now there
are about seven. The same comparation Can be mad* for other
professions and the various other lines of Wiliness.
"Decatur. ws the trade center for a.territory extending
for more than 100 miles N. and W. of the town. There were ox
and mule hauled freight wagons arriving and departing in lags*
nunbers steadly each day. Often one would see a 100 or more
freight wagons at one time in the wagon yard. some brought
.comodities and some 6ire loading with goods for W. and N.
Sections.
"Almost each hbur.of the day, one could 1,;ok to the N. or S.
and see a cloud of dust arising into the air, wbich was caused
by herds of cattle approaching or leaving the town. Some of
these cattle were being transfered to the ranges N. of us and
some were being driven to the markets.
"These herds were driven by such drovers as •T-'rnes Pettus,
James Hpky, Ellison and Demers, Millet and Groins Delworth m61
Littlefield and others. .Some of these herds *Rad drift on past
the town witilont stopping, while °than bedded for the night near
the Trinity ktiverili. of Daaaturs
"The town was never without, more or less cowboys, who were
a ending a few hours in relaxation there.
"Deeature, at the time, provided th necessary places to give
a verity of amusement for the vie of it was a little.
GauthieraheLion F. Page 3
#angelore* IC 240
Tarrant co*,mist*,047.
rough, but c=sidering the motel* crowd that visited 140cutur, we
Tanaged to get along without any seri,us trouble during my stay
there*
"During th voriod of my arrival in Decatur, Indian and
other troubles were quite we.,1 in hand* As I recall, about the
last Indian raid happened a year or so before my arrival*
"The Babbs family were the victims of this last raid. Their
home leis destroyed and two small children were carried away*
"A man named rickell, we called him Old Pickell, got the
Bebbets children back about the time I settlaitimsblicatur, its
traded goods for the children and be told me how the transaction
was conducted* He stated that Ilivosis not allowed to see the
children until the bnrgan was completed* After Old 'taken had
delivered the amount and the kind of goods *greed upon, as the
purchase price, the parties to the transaction seated themselves
in a circle and a pipe of peace was smoked* with this oor000py
ccmpleted, the children were brought from their hiding place and
delivered to him4
"These tleo children were stolen when they were three and four
years old* 4#_iring the two yeam or so they lived with the Indians,
they wero 'taught to a-.1„0:1 did become wary of the white people*
Piekelllrelated the chUdernis action, saying they hidtehind
the squaws and had to be forced to go with PickellA
"At the time I settled in wise co*, there were a large number
of turkeys raised in the surrounding settlements, and Fort Worth,
was the merket for the turbeys* I have seen lacks numbering
into the hundreds' being driven by men on foot with fort worth,
Giuthier•Sheldoi F. Pegs #4
Magill/ore PC 240
Tarrant co.,mists,#7
as their destination. The Effie Pa king Co., woe the Luyier. Levy
Prentic was their agent and he went through the country buying
tie turkeys Pe had the fowls de&verecI to Decatur, and from
there they vere driv(n to fort Worth. The drive would take about
thrce days.
"During those da s the country around Decatur contLined a
large number of settlements, but cattle ranches still existed.
The locations of the coweamps, for the most part, were N. and
W. of the town,
"The practical fencing wire was placed on the market during
the early 'mi. Therefore, ranchers began to fence the ranges.
A large nuuber of the cowcamps moved their herd* elsewhere.
Mostly, they move i to the W. and N. where open range conOlilons
still existed.
"Among the most prominent ranchers in the wise co., section
was the waggoners. Dan Waggoner built a magnificent home in
Decatur. It was one of the show places of the town In fct4
there were very few houses in this section of the countri which
equaled it those dem,
11
"Dan hired e !Tem York architect to plan and mipiirvisii\the
erection of the home, at a coat o about $40,00,0 It wee in this
some that W.T0aggo 6r, was reared, and where his sons, Pal 'end
Guy wore torn. grho home was maintnined for years after the
family moved away from &mature Than it passed into the hands
of other Owners, but later W.T.Waggoner bought it, an4 there
*Tom would go week ends, also, for several weeks durin4 east).
summer, for the sake of reelnimince.
Gauthier•Sheldon r•
Range lore
Tarrant co. 'Dist. trif
Pegs 116
FC 240
"when the Denver railroad built through Decatur and traversed
the the trade territory of Decatur, I proceiwed it would have an
adverse eff..,ct an the town's business, because the road would
eliminate the need Of the population I. and W. of Deeatur coming
till the town for their commodities. I decided to move.
"i w -s wt'o,posed to the co of the road. In fact, I made
a trip to Chicago, as ,a representative of 41464 Co., citizens, to
urge the location of the road through the town• In behalf of the
citizens, I offered the c miner free right..6e6.way through the
county*
"Some of my pereaual friends, among whom were the "aggoners,
argured against me leaving the town ill* a newlocation. However,
I followed my own idea about the matter, and moved to tort Worths
It was not.. long until many of my friends followed as, and among
whom were the waggoners, because of lack of business.
',The business that, came to lecatur, prior to receving the
railroad, went to the numerous towns which were 1,41lt ale the
railroads routs.
"I learned to known intimately, a great number of the ranchers
of the early days. Especially the Waggoners, -oecause I married a
Helsel, a niece of 4rs Tow eaggoner• Tem “aggoner was one of the
truly big man vaml have known: lie was a diamond in the rough* He
was sociable and charitable and never turned his back on a friend
in need*
I know of many incidents when. Torn was called au for donations
He often
t.o buy, build some thing or to assist some individual.
0authior.Shaldon F.
•Mangelore.
Tarrant co.,Mat.07
Page #6
FC 240
would inqu_re about the total cost of the proposition desired to
be accomplishod* When4 was informed of the cost, he r>uld write
a check for the total amount. Be aXways accompanisZ his donations
with a request that nis act be kept a secret.
*I know of a church organ in Fort' .orth, which he bought and
time committee asked only for a donation. L know of nu,srouo
incidents, when friends of a former acquaintance of ?MU 'called
on him to make a contribution towards making up a sum for ,he
purpose of sending the party to a health institution or for some'
other worthy cause. When Aom learned what the total c,st was he
wroto a check for the entire amount^
"Many people have the idea that Torn bet on horse races, bacuasa
he built the Arlington llowns racing plant, but the tact is he never
horses,
bet a dollar on a horse race. as was fond of thoroghbredias well
as other stock, and his greatest pleasure was obtaintabFr watching
a horse roc*.
Porker playink; was the universal sport of the range world*
but Tom was an except:on to the rule. He would not play cards for
money. In Act he woJld not engage ii. gamb_ing games. Alen he
engaged in a gaak, it vas for amassment and i.ot to make money.
AnotLer trait var:, pronounced with in AomVaggoner, was his
liberality with guest. If one accepted an invitttion to be 'Ames
guest at a convanion or or for a visit some where, Tom would
insist on paying all expenses, including all treats. Hs took
pleasure in entertaining his friends, and did a great amount of it.
GaJthier.9heldon F. Page 07
Rangelora, PC 240
Tarrant co.,Dist.,47
"I arrived in pecatur with only my diploma and good intentions,
and succeeded in mw- eadaavors. .xhose diva peopls accepted a oan's
word, and if a man uas true to his word, he could woke his way
easily. May settlers arrived with only a saw and hammer. Them,
tools they used to build a cabin. Les* people fazlie a Living nd
accumulatred la, :d and a LA's.
I bought land near the town of uscatur for the sum of 3. an
acre. 4ith land selling at this pricaond some lesso'it did not
require any greet aJLitatt of money to acquire a home. With a home,
.a man vas assured of 'a living for his family. Jr cultivating a
311E0.1 treat of land, tie neisagary vegetables and grain could be
raised to supply a family.. In the woods lived an abundance of
ediable game, also, beef which settler could have for the tr uble
of going 'after it. Very few, if any, ranchers cared about a
settiTr taking a yonrling for their home beef supply.
"There was.aluoys jobs for those looking for work. Some
rancher was in town, eacL day inquiring for a,cowhand, and freighters
wanting hands-. There're, we had* hungry folks.