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Renge.lore
Ruby Mosley
Son Angelo, Texas.
RAN0Z-LORIs
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"I've been a cowboy ever since I was a kid," says
Xr: H. Martin of San Angelo, Texas:
"I was born near Austin 80 years ago, my father
died before I was born but I had a mighty fine step-
father who was a rancher,
"Only a few weeks ago I was working out on a
reneh; I ride and do most any thing the usual eowhand
does but had to be brought in sick, guess I'm gettin'
a little old for it now:
Naos I was 17 years old I worked for e company
in Kerr County that was formed by these renihmen: Howard
and Meek Henderson, Bute and Will Peril, Disk Ttarkmett,
Bill Novena and awn Knott. ,They paid as MOO per
month. I was to cut out everything that didn't hove
the trail brand. Tmaffomeaoleyowned a heap of trail
herds and was the most outstanding to pass our way.
*He and my step -brother would always miss some
of the calves in the fell round -up and didn't get to
brand them. Every one missed some on the range it was
so large and wooded. The first one out in the spring
could get the strays, round "em and brand 'es. $o this
step -brother and me went out early to roundi.up some
strays; we rode up on a hill to look around and saw a
bunoh of /men and horses, then we saw two Indians ride
off, leaving the other gang. We knew they were going
to out us off, so we loped off as feat as our corn fed
horses eould,g0 and left then behind. They didn't get
us nor did we get then.
'My brother was an overgrown boy fifteen years old
but 8 man's size. He was scalped, I wont say by Indians.
He was kinds hid out end the old Jay Hawkers were in
after him to make him go to war. I think these :ay Hawk-
ers scalped him. I never will think Indiana did it. When
my brother was ()aught and killed he had our dog with him.
A little later these seouters ease and spent the night at
Pogo three
our house and ono of them recognised our dog that snarl-
ed and bated them. So we always thought they were guilty.
"I wandered around a bit, got married end in 1880
went to work for W L. Getlin, who had about 15,000
steers and handled them from this country to the Indian
Territory. When they got reel fat they were taken to
Chicago or st, Louis. I never went on any of the trips.
I broke horses; they never got too wild for me. I had
as good a cutting horse as I ever rode. I named him
West Dick; old man Gatlin paid 4100.00 for him when an
ordihsry horse sold for 420.00 or ;,30.000
"I wont from here to Brownfiald- Singleton Ranch
(The sewer Box)* was the brand. MI horse bars was
Brown Dia an old turkey track borate. He was as good
as any on the plains. One of Singleton's boys ohelleng-
sol as on his cuttie horse to see whose was the best.
We rode out to a big herd and I let him pick the cow.
I went in with old Brown Dick end got him. I put that
cow out against two of the men. So he gave in that
Brown Dick ranked first in cuttire.
"In 1900 I leased TUseon Livestock Company in
Nolan County and ran it myself six years. While I was
there I took part in all livestock shows and Fairs. I
always attended the Fat Stock Shows in Fort Worth* One
time a brono buster from Kansas was a-ridin, a mighty
wild horse. He was thrown and killed, 014 Booger Red
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said, 'Lake up a purse end I'll ride him.' The men
made up ...35.00 and old Eooger Bed mounted the horse
with his face to the horse's tail. Be rode him; that
was SOER of the prettiest ridin' I ever say. Booger
Bed gave the 3b.00 to pay on the funeral expenses of
the Kansas Lan. Another time I saw a beautiful ride
when old Looger Bed rode the wildest brono that was
brought to Fort north. Ile rode as the oldest woman
rider from the Lien Angelo Country. Be was clad in e
women's clothes and held a United :Agates flag in each
hand and balanced himself with these flags as the
horse pawed the air. The crowd was going frantic es
this was the most wonderful ride that any of them had
over seen. As the -old woman" rot off the brow, the
rustles and bustles fell off. Then to every one's sur-
prise the beautiful olC lady was old Booger Ped, known
as the ugliest ar tounshezt man of the west."
Range —lore
Ruby ilosley
an Angelo, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPLY
14artin, ;•,,an Angelo, Texas, interviewed,
January 19, 1938.