View source for Byrd, Ira 1969-11-06

Ira Byrd recalls his father, his own life and career, a land rush near Lamesa, and the Sanco, Texas, area, including the drought of 1916-1918. 

==General Interview Information==

'''Interviewee Name:''' Ira Byrd

'''Additional Parties Recorded:'''

'''Date:''' November 6, 1969

'''Location:''' Sanco, Texas

'''Interviewer:''' Elmer Kelton

'''Length:''' 2 hours, 15 minutes


==Abstract==

'''Tape 1, Side 1:'''
Family moved to Sanco from Hamilton C., 1887,
Father - Texas Ranger during Civil War,
Buffalo herds recalled,
Settlement of Sanco area,
Farming,
Anecdote about shooting near Meridian,
Shooting in Sanco area,
Settlement of Sanco area, again,
Building of school house in Sanco,
Byrd's education,
Taught school for two years,
Anecdote about playing mublety-peg,
Grasshopper damage (around 1900),
C. C. Slaughter ranch near Lamesa,
Byrds had land near Lamesa
<br>

'''Tape 1, Side 2:'''
Land near Lamesa, continued,
Land lease law changed,
Land rush described,
Slaughter cowboys got most of land,
Byrd moved back to Coke Co.,
Settlement of Sanco area,
Population declined later,
Ranching and farming,
Byrd's cattle herd,
Buys first registered cattle,
Family moves to Sanco area, 1887,
Early ranchers,
Early ranching,
Change from farming to ranching
<br>

'''Tape 2, Side 1:'''
Change from farming to ranching (continued),
Government programs,
Early days - hardships,
Early farming methods,
Byrd's present life,
Anecdote about catching lobo wolf,
Lobo wolves discussed,
Relationship with Slaughter Ranch,
Mesquite trees and brush,
Livestock business,
Labor problem,
Sheriff Melvin Gill (?),
Byrd's present life,
Children and grandchildren,
Byrd's landholdings,
Anecdote about buying land
<br>

'''Tape 2, Side 2:'''
Anecdote about buying land (continued),
Drought of 1916-1918 recalled,
Byrd buys land,
Drought described,
Drought broken,
Good cotton crop, 1919,
Buying and selling land,
Other communities in the area,
Coke County seat changed,
Mail robbery mentioned,
Anecdotes about quarters of beef,
Dove Creek Indian fight,
Father in frontier battalion during Civil War,
Wife's father's Civil War experiences
<br>

'''Range Dates:''' 1887-1919

'''Bulk Dates:''' 1887-1919


==Access Information==

'''Original Recording Format:'''

'''Recording Format Notes:'''

'''Transcript:'''



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[[Category: Needs Review ]] [[Category: SWC Interviews]] [[Category: 1960s]]