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nnie 1,01i.10 6y
-avericE, Texas
ge one
RANCL:-LJE1-_
i'-aymond Richardson was born at Laverick, Runnels Count.
Texas, in the year 1888. is parents, who were eerly settlers
in the county were living in a dugout at the time of his birth.
Lr. Richardson tells his own story. -;:e says, "I was born
and reared in Runnels County and have lived here practically all
my life. the exception of a few months I have worked on
,eat Texas ranches ever since I was old enouph to fork a horse.
"I Ube born in the saddle, you ml ht say. I began
and helping my father and brother with the cattle some when I
wasn't more than eight or nine years old. Lly brother Lam, older
than me by several years, tauilit no to ride, and he tourtt no to
ride fast and hard. He was a real good rider, and had rare nerve
then some of as. In fact he was a bronc buster. e contracted
Lege two
for horses to break. liked riding tough ones. I've cure
seen him ride some mean ones. I've rode some mean ones ny-
self but I never could ret on to their tricks like he could.
I believe the meanest horse I ever had any dealings with was
eTenish rein. That type was penerally mean, but made pood
saddle horses, :ell, this particular horse was sure a pitcher.
he'd rear, luck, bite, pew, kick and then he'd pitch as high as
the sky ene full back. ;:'t was pretty eengcrous tp tackle
mean one like thet but my brother rode him.
"I believe the beet all-around rider and cattle pilecher
I ever knew was elarvin Grimes. e was a. pretty e,eod buster.
In time of a stampede or working in a round -up I don't believe he
could be beat. I've seen him do the work of two ordinary riders
when they'd get in a ti ht.
"I worked on the Derricke ranch in 1903 and 1904 as a horse
wrangler. That was really my first job except then working for
my father. Then I got the roamin' fever and went down to hurk-
burnett and eorked on the 6666 ranch for awhile. They worked.
cattle a little different there from what f had been used to.
f ort of the pastures were fenced, c:C they Ice t no chuck war -ens.
L verybody clept aed ate at ranch quarters.
"I calee bock from the 6660's ced v;orked for 2,ob Orli° on
his ranch a short time, then drifted out to eidlund, pot a job
in 1911 with the 1 bers outfit. I wonl-ed for thei S ceu-ic of
yeers.
made c erive to 'ecw eioo while I wcs with them.
There was twenty-five nee in the outfit, and we were delivering
3400 head of four -year -old steers to a men at unice, exico.
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We IvAl sone trouble. About the worst we had was a stampede.
we had camped for the night on the line of Texas and New
Mexico. Sometime during the fore part of the night a thunder
cloud made up over west of us. The lightning and the thunder
rumbled. The boss told us all to get up and saddle our horses,
and get ready to ride. All hands and the cook was out in no
time. The steers was very restless. We kept right around 'em,
ridin' and singing or talking to try to keep them quiet. All at
once a ooyote Let out a howl right close that would actually make
a feller feel nervous, let alone cattle. Right then same of the
leaders made a break, and away went the whole Shebang. They was
off and so was we. We rode with them the balance of the night
to try to keep them from scattering. :11.en daylight came I found
myself seven miles from camp with seventy heed of steers.
soon got 'em to:ether and went on our way. didn't have any
more trouble to speak of after that.
"I worked nine months on the hats runch in the -Panhandle.
The last ohuok wagon work I over did was with the Hutchison
Cattle Company at Amarillo on a 168 section ranch.
"Here is the way they conducted a round —up. They'd take a
designated section of the range or pasture. The range boss would
instruct the men to ride to certain points, until the part he
wished worked was surrounded. Then they'd ride the section until
all the oattle was rounded in to where other riders were stationed
to hold the cattle as they were driven in. Then they'd out and
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brand. If it was a large area to be worked, they'd continue
with a small section until all had been covered.
"I've never known any kind of work but ranch work, but
I have enjoyed it. My father was a stockman and he liked to
ride. I guess it's in the blood. Give me a saddle with a
good horse under me and plenty of riding. You couldn't suit
me better.-
Range -lore
Annie 1:eAulay
Maverick, Texas
Raymond Richardson, Laveriak, Texas, interviewed April 25, 1938.