Document text
4,
Mrs Annie McAulay
Maverick Texas
Runnels County
COWBOY LORE
Page One
GAMAND MCAULAY was torn at Maverick Runnels County Tpas,
April 26, 1327. His parents, Uncle Bill iliAulay and wife
moved to Runnels County in 1579. They settled first on a
ranch near Walthall, where tLey lived for several years.
In 1883 they moved to Coke County at what was known,then as
The Live Oak Community. In 1887 They moved to a ranch Two
miles west of Maverick. lefore this time Mr. MCAUlay had been
Stockman in Coleman and iDell Counties.
Mr. McAulay says, (Garland) "My father had many trying
as well as thrilling experiences as a cowman during the early
days in Texas. He used to tell us boys about some of his
scrapes and experiences with Indians and about some of tliK
trips he'd made with cattle. How Inv almost starved to death
for water, how men would have to drink from stABrant pools
not fit for cattle hardly. How tuey spent sleepless nights
on drives, watching for Indians or other thieves or to keep
the herd quiet.
I can remember him telling about chasing some Indians once
that were snooping around and trying to steal, so they thought,
My father had a horse that could really run, and when he'd
shoot between his ears he'd never flinch or stop his pace.
Me had trained him that way on purpose.
He lived in el1 County during his early days in Texas.
Page Two
He was familiar with the ways of the red man. He said the
early setlers suffered many h,rdships beside the fear of the
Indians. Most of the very early settlers were stockraisers.
There were dry spells when the cattlemen would have to move
his stock a hundred miles or more to find grass and water.
Then later, when farms were being cultivated they had sand-
storms and fbOods to contend with as well as droutbs. Nearly
all the e.,,rly farms were on or near the streams.
ty father lost his horse and saddle as well as.his clothes'
he had on once in attempting to swim the Concho rive4 on his
horse during high water.
My father and oldest brother made many drives to northern
markets during his day. He was range boss in his section of the
coUntry for many years. A man was as good as his word in
thdse days. A co -mans word was never doubted until he made it
so And that did'nt happen very often. I remember how my father
tried to instill into the minds of us boys the value of In-
tegrity. I can remember that he was very hospitable. My par-
ents like others never closed their doors on strangers. They
lost an oppurtunity to help a friend or neighbor who needed it.
I was brought up on a ranch two miles west of Maverick Where
I was born. I began riding a horse at a very early age.
I can remember the first ime I really helped with cattle work.
was about ten or eleven years old. They were having a round-
up a few miles south of our home. The men had rounded up a
few head in a draw. My father was directing the work. He told
me to stay there and hold those few until the riders returned
Page Three
with some more. The cattle grazed peacefully and I soon got
tired of staying still. I didn't see any harm in riding off
just a little ways. And so I did. But when I decided to turn
back to the cmttle I found I'd lost my way. I kept riding as
fast as I could the way I thought was right. Finnally I met
my Uncle and he ask me where I was going, I told to where they
were holding the cattle. He laughed and told me I was riding
in the opposite direction. So I rode back to camp which wassix
miles. I had wandered that far. I had enough cattle work for
awhile butit taught me a lesson And nearly scared the stuufins
outgo me. I was shore some lost chap.
I had another experience when a boy about fifteen years
old. I /,rs told to go out in the pasture and bring in a certain
bull. I did and when I fund the steer he didn't seem inclined
to move the way I wished him to. Sot I decided to throw a rope
over his horns and try to lead him in.
I roped him alright, right around the neck and then I
jumped clear of my horse. He was a young horse and I didn't
know what he might try to do. But that old son -of -a -gun tilt
harder the steer set back on the rope the harder he pulled
until they broke the rope. I got into trouble about thet too,
it was my brothers and right new. I didn't want to be laughed
at for failing so I rode back home got a horse I was used to
riding came back and finnally drove that bull home and carralled
him without anyone seeing me. I got the rope off two it I was
cornered about it later.
I never rode much for anyone except my father and brother.
Page sour.
never made any long drives or worked where there weren't
any fences.
I worked on The Canadian Ranch for awhi3e in 1917 and .'18.
The work was not different from what I was used to. We branded,
founded up and marketed in the usual way. And then we had quite
a bit of fence building and repairing to do. And some trapping.
We spent our eveningsplayingpoker or reading, and on payday
we usually celebrated by going to town for awhile.
My father was the best rider I can remember. could
never ride like him. But I did help to break many of his
horses during the later years. My father was an invalid for
twenty yeas. Dut he was a stockman and business man to the_
last. He made many trades and directed his work lying on
his bed.