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Rengealore
Annie McAuley
Ileveriok, Texas
RANG1pLOBE
9. M., Ratliff was born at Gideon, Lee County, Texas,
in 1880. He lived there until he was 9 years old, when
his parents moved to Coleman County. Pr. Baum moved
to Coke County in 1907, where he has made his home ever
Mame.
Be says: "Ly father was a ranoher in Coleman County
for many years, also in Reagan County for awhile, al-
ways helped on his ranch az lanc as I stayed at home. I
helped with marry round...ups end drives although I never
made any long ones. I heard my father tell about going up
the trail ones. e was driving north and had oampec one
night near the Yord (grossing on the Red River. L'ome
mdi-
ans kept prorlinc around end trying to tcal their horses.
oasis
horses were tied in a olump of buehes or small trees,
not far from where the cattle were bedded down.
"When the /wards dicoovered them they had one horse
loose. Uns of the men shot at them and must have hit one
on the f7)ot or leg. They trailed them awhile next day by
the bloody tracks they left.
"They didn't try to run off the herd, but ell'the ex-
citement caused them to stampe4e. They ran right back the
way they had oome for several miles before they got them
to milling, an theh they didn't have 'em all together.
They had to hunt the.stmeglers next Ciey.
"Ly mother taught sohool on the banks of Leon River
ih Uomehohe County, before her marAege, he knew ,liannah
Ilirker well, Leing present when .4,uahuah had a fWit sith a
neighbor at a Lt g blow-out at .lienrietta.
Nt4i. mother eait, she alscis orried tori3un to school
with her, she eome of her older pupils did, too. 'You
riever could tell stout the Indians,' she said.. She'd seen
them snooping around many times but they never tried to
bother her while she was teaching.
"I worked on a fourteen section ranch near Styles and
Sir ',eke. I learned to ride bronos while there I busted
lots of touph ones, too. They usually drove the mottle to
Midland and shipped to a northern market when they got
reedy to sell.
"They believed in putting things on in great style
out et Styles* Wheu they'd put up a new building they'd
always have about a three day celebration. They'd have
barbecue, racing and roping, and brono riding, and so on,
then we'd dance all night. They'd usually pull one about
once e month. Women were soaroe out there, aad the men
would bring their daughters end wives and put up at the
hotel. Most of the men would have to sloop in the vegan
yard. Oh, but them were the good old days. Lvan if us
cowpunchers was always broke we had a walloping good time.
"1 went to Bleokwell in 1907, They had started the
torn in 1906. There was Just a store or two, a hotel,
end a school there then, I worked on ranches for some
time, holping neighbors with roundups and driweyW. but
finall7 got into the oonfeetionery business there* I
still own a wife end oonfeotionery there end at Robert
Lee,"
*********0*
REFETTITEI- 0. M. Ratliff, Robert Lee, Texas* Intcrviered
August 2, 1938.
<Er's. Annie McAulay
7-Y 1:averick, Texas
:lunrels County
L011.1.]
Page 1.
0. E. aATLIFF was born it 7iir)n, LEE. Count-, Texas, in 1330.
lived there until he was 9 ye--- )1d, his parents moved to
Cole= County. "gis paaatr,y—w-
v-tF-t---1,r'rrrWi'2"14a*r==id:=Eftebodtafij.a.G.-44p.4,*azr--rTra,. Mr. Ratliff
rove -I, to Coke 9ounty in 1907, where he h -s made his home ever since.
"My father -s a rcher.4kee*44mZdAQemm4A
.:;433M6e'"1466°"4"
14-k-m=mmmoil. in Coleman County for many years, also in Rea:an County
for awhile. I always helped on his ranch as long as I stajed at home.
I helped with many round -ups and drives although I never made any
long ones. I heard my father tell about gins up the trail once
Tie wis driving notth and had camped one ni_2ht near the Ford crossing
on the Red River. Some Indians kept prowling around and trying to.
steal their horses. The q)rses were tied in a clump of bushes or small
trees, not far from where the cattle were bedded down.
"When the guards discovered them they had one horse loose. One
of the men shot at them and must have hit one on the foot or leg.
They trailed ;hem awhile next day by the bloody tracks they left.
'The, didn't try to run off the herd, but all the excitement caused
them to stampede. They ran right back the way therad come for sev-
eral miles before they got them to milling, and then they didn't have
'em all together. They had to hunt the strag;lers next day.
"My/other taught school on the banks of: Leon River in Comanche
Page 2.
4
County, before her marriaJe. She knew Quannah Parker wel7/..fr
Aim present -then quannah had a fight with a neighbor at -A114 big
blow-out at Henrietta.
4
"My mother said she always carried her gun to school with herl
4°44'
i A me of her older pupils did, too. 'You never could tell abut the
Indians,' she said. She'd seen them snooping around many times but
they never tried to bother her while she was teaching.
"I worked on a fpurtetn secti)n ranch near Stiles and Big Lake.
kk
I learned to ride broncs while there -I busted lots of tough ones, too.
They ustially drove the cattle to Midland and shipped to a northern
market when they got ready to sell.
"They believed in putting thin:s on in great style out 'rt, Styles.
When they'd put up a new building they'd always have about a three
day celebration. They'd have barbecue 3aleracing and roping, and
/1
bronc riding, and so on, and then we'd dance all night. They'd usually
pull one about once a month. Women were scarce out there, and the wen
would bring their daughters and wives and put up at the hotel. Most
of the men would have to sleep in the wagon yard. Ohl but them were
the good old days. Even if us cowpunchers was alwn-s broke we had
a walloping good time.
"I went to Blnckwell in 1907. Aly-brottrr-wrg-tmom,4e-Agent
Ulmer. They had started the town in 1906.
11b/Yld 4
There was just a store or two, a hotel, and a scbool thereeperrlf----
.1iMMA004ammt. I worked on ranches for some timeihelpinc: nei,!hboTs witn
-round-u:s and drives. But I finally got into the confectfontry bus-
iness there. I still awn a cafe and confection there and at
Robert Lee. 3)
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