Document text
Pange-lore
Annie rcAulay
Tlaveriok, Texas
RANGIDDLOR
SEP -8 1938
Irvin Cumbie MOS born at Front., Coke County, Texas,
in 1893.
r. Cumble says: “As my father ranched same and al-
ways had plenty of saddle horses, I learned to ride and
as grew older I got to be a pretty fair roper. I roped
et the first rodeo ever held in this part of the county
when •t was fifteen years old, I got my hand pretty badly
torn up once, roping a wild cow. I was Lelping to round
up a bunch to ship. I had begun to think I was some roper
by then and when this old cow made a drive to get away I
threw the lariat over her head. 6omahow I got tangled in
the rope and it got wound around my hand. The cow didn't
get away, but I almost lost a hand then and there. Some
of the boys helped me off fa horse and took me to the
hospital where I remained for several weeks. I almost
lost my arm.
"I got my first real punching Job away tram hams,
on the Few ranch. I worked for Roland Hudson and Sam
Neff, brother to Pet Mo Neff. They owned a big reach
on the line of Oaks and Runnels *aunties, fifteen or
twenty miles south of Brente. I learned more about
ropin' end Tian' end about cattle, too.
"I believe Tom Privett„ "Booger Bed" was the best
rider or at least the best bronc buster I ever knee.
He was the originator of rodeo shows in this part of the
west. Viok Hazelton was a mood horsebreeker, always
rode on ranches, though.
"14 father performed the wedding ceremony for Booger
Bed right out an the street in ronte. Old Booger was a
good seout, too, if he was tough. And how he laved
horses. My father said he'd fool with them by the day.
Viok Heselton was the same way, oouldn't stand to see
horseflesh mistreated, but he sure did like to conquer
Ism, though.
"When I was in WI twenties I decided to raise a few
cattle and horses for myself, I loosed a little place
over here in the hills, end I've been dabbling in the
business ever sines, only lately it hes been sheep inm
stead of *attic. I have my groeery business, but I've
always liked stook and I don't think I Gould get slang
without theme"
BEFLII=E:-, Irvin Ow bie, Brants, Texas. Interviewed
AUEuet 14, 1936.
C. Ms. Annie
Maverick, Texs
Runnels Count -7
Ci7 LORE
e 1.
IRVIN CUITTE was born -t Tronte, Coke Count:-, Texas, in l3.Q.
C e-TITtr411.448,44-..1;i44"Cae—Or°
7
91 e„ terzL
Cumtie sa-s, "As my f-ther ranched some and ,lways had plenty
of saddle horses, I 14arned to rid -q11R hmsha0400.
/As I:rem older I -ot to be a pretty fair roper. I roped at the
rodeo ever held in this 1 -art pf the county when I was fifteen
)1d. I got my hand pretty badly torn up once, rp,.in: a wild
first
years
cow. I as helpim to round up a bunch to ship. I had begun to think
r- a,er IarTr
**---1-4444.-e I was some roper by then and when this old cow
made a dive to ;et clway I thre- the lariat °Ire- her head. Somehow I
got tan:led in t' -le rope and it -at wound around my hand. The cow didn't
get a-Talr, but I almost lost a hand then and there.7.)
me of the bo7s helpee! 7e off ry liore-and took me to the hos-
pital where I remained for several weeks. I almost lost My arm.
"I got my first real punching job away from home, on the Paso
ranch. I worked for Roland Hudson and Sam Neff, brother to Pat I. Neff.
They owned a big ranch on the line of Coke qn0 Runnels/doun ffteen
or twenty miles south of Bronte. I lernee rpre about ropini and
ridin' and about cattle, too.
"I telfelre Tom Privett, hooger Red) was the best rider or at
least the best bronc buster'
1
,ever knew. He ,';as the ori:inator of rodeo
111,
4L'411"
Page 2.
shown in this pa-rt of the wet. Vick Hazelton was a good horsebreaker,,
always. rode on ranches tho 7_. ae4p,n-i#71
"My father
B,er Red riz-ht out on the street in Bronte.
Old Boozer was a good scout, too, if he was tough. And how he/ loved
horses. My f-ther saic he'd fool with them by the a:r. rick Hazelton
was the same wav /eouldn't stand to see horseflesh mistreated, but he
4'did likE to conquer 'em, though.
"I worked awhile for old Bob Hewitt. That wns about twetr6y five
ye-rs ago. I w -s ca.ttle inspector for a few year- after that.
"When I was in my twenties I decided to raise a few cattle and
horses for myself. I /eased a little place over here in the hills,
and I've been dabbling 'in the business ever since, only lately it
has been sheep instead of cattle; I have my grocery business, but I've
9.1-Prvs liked stock and I don't think I could 7et along without them."
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