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MeGuire, Dense
Dec. 9, 1936
Briscoe County
District 17
Bibliography
(interview with R. F. Stevenson, Jr.)
'Interview'
Page 1
The life of R. F. Stevenson, Jr., has been very interesting
since he cams to the county some 34 years age. For several yens
after foming to Briscoe county he lived with hit father on a place
four miles northeast of Silverten. Mr. Stevenson's father, R. F.
Stevenson, Sr., died at Silverton several years ago, but is well
remembered by all of the old-timers since he was a very prominent
citizen.
After he had been in the county for some time in stevenson
moved to a place on the fiouth of Dinner Creek in the Canyons north-
east of Alverton. Mr. Stevenson engaged in ranching ad worked
for nbout four years with the J. A. Rano!), one of the most famous
rnnehee of the Pnnhandle section. In later years he acquired n farm in
the Rock Creek community west of town. After moving to town he served
as sheriff ant tax collector, for three terms, and has lived in town
since that time.
81hile he was working on the J. A. Road% he said the wolves
were so bad that they wouldidMairAtaTth-tugatitatatbey couldatind,
and men were kept on the ranch to do nothing but trap wolves.
Babe Robbins was one of the well known J. 4. trappers, as was
Jaminvatiol-14ns, both being employed on the ranch as tranpers for
several yenrs.
Ran dh life in those days WRO what was required to test the
nerve ,aid endurance of a man, and if a an could stand up to the real
ranch life he wns 7-- rer,1 man. Men at that time !ctually could do
more renl work than taloa can today, beeause they were give- a
cert-in 'mount of work to do nnd they knew that they had it to do
McGuire, Delis* Briscoe County °Interview"
Dec. 9, 1936 District 17 Page 2
or else lose hie Job. "And they were all Jobs in those claye,.
there were no "Postitions".
He said that the men of those days were toughened up to
where they could stand lots of work and abuse. The work in which
they were engnged was dangeours, now and then someone would by
be hurt by a horse throwing hiney or by his horse steppieg into
a prairie dog bole. When a man was throvn and got up 'Cussing' the
ether men men gave him no attention, but when hew as hurt badly enough
that he could not "Cuss" then they knew be was in a critieal
condition.
lar. Stevenson takes a great delight in hunting, and tells
of miny thrilling hunting trips. Perhaps the most interesting 040
in a bear bunt Umatawhich took place in the Tule Canyon. The
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arty was composed of T. J. Braidfoot, R..Y. atevenson, Sr., red
Biffle, rry Braidfoot, ?rank Galloway and Bob Stevenson. Four
be -re were killed, dr. teveiscin says that his father acd Ur•
Braldfoot killed three of them and that be was lucky enough to
kill the fourth. For sometime aft -r that they had all of the
bear meat they wanted,
kt that tine according to Mr. Stevenson there were many deer
In the canyon, and he tells a very interesting story about the
°cession on which he killed the first deerq. A party composed of
Henry :Se -1„ G. Smith, f;ph Stevenson at himself had gone on
a deer hunt, he had a "326 ainchemtar and the others told him he c
could not kill a deer with it, but he killed the first deer that
was killed on the trip*, it was also the first deer he had ever
killed, "And I an very proud of the accomplishment:
McGuire, Delis*
Jec. 9, 1936
Briscoe County "Interview*
District 17 Page 3
Ur. -.Aevelson said that he also got his share of aetelope and
other wild game, as veil as rRttlesnakes. Be dried lots of antelope
meat ad kept it for later use. It would keep indefinitely, ant,
according to him, was the best meat he ever ate.
In those days all the supplies cane fres Amarillo or
Childress, and the trip required several days. Mir. Stevenson
raised lots of little *hits beans Which he hauled to these points
91d trAed for potatoes and other thirge he needed, receiving a credit
of threi cents per pound on the beans and giving $1.28 rer hundred
pounds for potatoes and 31.75 per hundred for *flour.
The young reople of those days did not go as much as young
folks of tothty, but they always had 'Fourth of July picnics, and he
believes th,A the peorle at that time had more pleasure and enjoyment
thin they do today.
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