Difference between revisions of "Smith, Neuman 1982-09-29"

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Right here will be a general overview of the oral history interview. It will be roughly 3-5 sentences for new interviews, shorter for older interviews.  
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Neuman Smith discusses the history of the Ballinger area, with emphasis on agriculture.  
  
 
==General Interview Information==
 
==General Interview Information==
  
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'''Interviewee Name:'''
+
'''Interviewee Name:''' Neuman Smith
  
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'''Additional Parties Recorded:'''
+
'''Additional Parties Recorded:''' None
  
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'''Date:'''  
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'''Date:''' September 29, 1982
  
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'''Location:'''
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'''Location:''' Ballinger, Texas
  
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'''Interviewer:'''
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'''Interviewer:''' Richard Mason
  
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'''Length:'''
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'''Length:''' 3 hours
  
  
 
==Abstract==
 
==Abstract==
  
−
'''Tape 1, Side 1:'''
+
'''Tape 1, Side 1:''' Born: Novmeber 23, 1916,
 +
Youngest of six children,
 +
Family,
 +
Farmers,
 +
Moved to "home place" in 1922,
 +
Education,
 +
Springhill School,
 +
Two-teacher school,
 +
Built 1904,
 +
Fetching water for school,
 +
Attended through seventh grade,
 +
High school,
 +
Depression,
 +
Parents,
 +
Father,
 +
Born: September 18, 1874,
 +
Cowboy on ranches,
 +
Mother, Maggie Stapleton,
 +
Born: January 7, 1879, San Jacinto County, Texas,
 +
Family moved to Burnet County (c. 1894),
 +
Married (August 28, 1895),
 +
Moved to Lockhart, in Caldwell County, Texas,
 +
Wagon train to West Texas,
 +
To Valley River, Ballinger,
 +
History of area,
 +
Open range,
 +
Large ranches,
 +
R. K. Wiley Ranch,
 +
J. H. Palmore Ranch,
 +
R. A. Smith Ranch,
 +
Nichols Land and Cattle Company,
 +
C. A. and William Dosey,
 +
Runnells City,
 +
Boot shop,
 +
Abstract office,
 +
Recognized potential for farming,
 +
Approached ranchers about sale of lands,
 +
Divided into 160-acre farms,
 +
Price,
 +
Terms of sale,
 +
Ranchers’ refusal,
 +
Organized colonization of Runnells County,
 +
Other land agents,
 +
Investors,
 +
Lands rented to tenant farmers,
 +
Smith’s parents came to Ballinger (1903),
 +
First crop (1904),
 +
Elijah Hatchel,
 +
Recognized potential for Post Office and store,
 +
Freighting from Ballinger to Winters, Texas,
 +
First store with Post Office,
 +
Railroad through in 1909,
 +
Store moved down nearer railroad,
 +
Population of county,
 +
Types of land,
 +
Drainage to Colorado River,
 +
Creeks listed,
 +
Livestock raised,
 +
Crops raised,
 +
Orchards,
 +
Cotton,
 +
Production (1900, 1904-05, 1908),
 +
Gins,
 +
Runnells City,
 +
First county seat,
 +
Santa Fe Railroad,
 +
Town lot sale,
 +
City became Ballinger,
 +
Ballinger,
 +
Grocery store (1887),
 +
Courthouse (1888),
 +
Cost,
 +
Remodeling,
 +
Noyes Monument,
 +
Pompeo Coppini—Italian sculptor,
 +
Noyes’ gear,
 +
Noyes’ saddle craze,
 +
Neuman Smith’s life,
 +
Grew up on family farm,
 +
Father,
 +
Horseman,
 +
Livestock and crops raised,
 +
Began breaking horses at age 12,
 +
Stan Cameron,
 +
Old time cowboys,
 +
Cattle pens on railways,
 +
Drive to railhead,
 +
Headquarters for Wiley Ranch,
 +
Description,
 +
Horse-breaking (again),
 +
Old time process,
 +
Hackamore and Donkey,
 +
Training horses for ranch work.
 +
<br>
 +
 
 +
'''Tape 1, Side 2:''' First pony at age 12,
 +
Saddle and tack,
 +
Saddle makers,
 +
Agriculture,
 +
Cotton (again),
 +
Changes,
 +
Typical "old time" farm,
 +
Plowing,
 +
Harvest,
 +
Thrashing,
 +
Life on a thrashing crew,
 +
Thrashers,
 +
Depression,
 +
Thrashers (again),
 +
Tractors,
 +
Fordsons,
 +
Internationals,
 +
Price,
 +
Depression (again),
 +
Changes brought by tractor,
 +
Feed Mills (1930s),
 +
Self-sufficiency,
 +
War veterans,
 +
Irrigation,
 +
Water pollution,
 +
Flumes,
 +
Steam engine.
 +
<br>
 +
 
 +
'''Tape 2, Side 1:''' Irrigation (continued),
 +
R. K. Wiley (again),
 +
Boll weevils,
 +
Uniform planning,
 +
Rolling Plains Cotton Growers,
 +
Terracing,
 +
Level rows,
 +
Terracing with Fresnos,
 +
D. F. Eaton, County Agent,
 +
John Barton, County Agent (1930s),
 +
Conservation minded,
 +
Running terrace,
 +
Soil Conservation Service (1940s),
 +
Services,
 +
Agriculture today,
 +
Cotton crop (1981),
 +
Neuman Smith as Runnells County "booster",
 +
Co-op Service boards,
 +
Extension service,
 +
Changes seen,
 +
Lifestyle of farmers,
 +
Community gathering,
 +
Consolidation of schools,
 +
Values taught,
 +
Quality of education,
 +
Philosophy of life,
 +
School reunions,
 +
Peak of settlement in Runnells County,
 +
Rapid growth (1900-1908),
 +
Dissipation of small communities,
 +
Effects of school consolidation,
 +
Tractors and 1933,
 +
Post-World War II Latin-American labor,
 +
Electricity,
 +
Three row to nine row tractors.
 +
<br>
  
 +
'''Tape 2, Side 2:''' Changes (again),
 +
Saturday in town,
 +
Jake Stubblefield’s trip to Fort Worth,
 +
Community leaders,
 +
School administration,
 +
Education of schoolteachers,
 +
Depression,
 +
Cotton prices,
 +
Cotton marketing,
 +
Land diversion,
 +
Loan program (allotments),
 +
Production limits,
 +
Allotments (again),
 +
Differing opinions relative to allotments,
 +
Farm politics,
 +
Farmers’ organizations,
 +
Farmers’ Union,
 +
Farm Bureau,
 +
Texas Cotton Growers Association,
 +
Plains Cotton Cooperative,
 +
Independents vs. co-ops.
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
−
'''Tape 1, Side 2:'''
+
'''Tape 3, Side 1:''' Labor situation,
 +
Late 19th century,
 +
Migrant labor,
 +
Relatives,
 +
Cultivation increased,
 +
Turned to black labor,
 +
Transport of blacks,
 +
Mexican cotton pickers predominant by 1920s,
 +
White cotton pickers,
 +
Pickers found at wagon yards,
 +
After the plow (1933),
 +
Larger crews needed,
 +
Families trucked in,
 +
World War II,
 +
Strippers,
 +
No braceros in Runnells County,
 +
Cotton growing,
 +
Planting,
 +
Thinning,
 +
Picking,
 +
Changes in recent years,
 +
Types of cotton,
 +
Crew leaders,
 +
Dependency of crew,
 +
Labor for cotton chopping,
 +
Fewer transients,
 +
Crew leaders (again),
 +
Living conditions,
 +
Cotton crop (1925),
 +
Benny Martinez, crew leader,
 +
Weighing,
 +
George Kemp Dairy,
 +
West Texas Utility installed lines,
 +
Raised cotton,
 +
Other dairies in area,
 +
Grade "D" dairies,
 +
Kemp Jersey farm (again),
 +
Operation,
 +
Cream stations,
 +
Butter,
 +
Changes in livestock over time,
 +
Hogs,
 +
Eggs,
 +
Hogs (again),
 +
Pork processing,
 +
Lard,
 +
Sausage.
 +
<br>
  
 +
'''Tape 3, Side 2:''' Maize,
 +
Martin ("Combiner") maize,
 +
Quality,
 +
Plainsman maize,
 +
Milo,
 +
Hybrid maize,
 +
Bundle feed,
 +
Hegari,
 +
Quality,
 +
Grain,
 +
Oats,
 +
Milo (again),
 +
"Plummies",
 +
Harvest,
 +
Elevators,
 +
Chemical use,
 +
Leaf worms,
 +
Boll weevils,
 +
Herbicides (1960s),
 +
Ethnic populations,
 +
World War I,
 +
Rowena, Texas,
 +
Farm credit system,
 +
Farm Co-op Bank,
 +
Board of Directors,
 +
Evolution of system,
 +
Advisory boards,
 +
Loan process,
 +
Organization and operation,
 +
International marketing,
 +
Role of National Cotton Council,
 +
Operation of council,
 +
Steering committee,
 +
Commodity Growers Associations,
 +
Cooperative input,
 +
Cooperative band (again),
 +
National politics,
 +
Disaster plan (1982).
 
<br>
 
<br>
  
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'''Range Dates:'''
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'''Range Dates:''' 1887-1982
  
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'''Bulk Dates:'''
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'''Bulk Dates:''' 1920-1960
  
  
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{{UsageStatement}}
 
{{UsageStatement}}
  
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[[Category: Needs Review ]]
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[[Category: Needs Review ]] [[Category: SWC Interviews]] [[Category: 1980s]] [[Category: farming]] [[category: agriculture]] [[category: cotton]] [[category: World War I]] [[category: Migrant Labor]] [[category: Family Life and Background]]

Latest revision as of 22:01, 19 August 2019

Neuman Smith discusses the history of the Ballinger area, with emphasis on agriculture.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Neuman Smith

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: September 29, 1982

Location: Ballinger, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 3 hours


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Born: Novmeber 23, 1916, Youngest of six children, Family, Farmers, Moved to "home place" in 1922, Education, Springhill School, Two-teacher school, Built 1904, Fetching water for school, Attended through seventh grade, High school, Depression, Parents, Father, Born: September 18, 1874, Cowboy on ranches, Mother, Maggie Stapleton, Born: January 7, 1879, San Jacinto County, Texas, Family moved to Burnet County (c. 1894), Married (August 28, 1895), Moved to Lockhart, in Caldwell County, Texas, Wagon train to West Texas, To Valley River, Ballinger, History of area, Open range, Large ranches, R. K. Wiley Ranch, J. H. Palmore Ranch, R. A. Smith Ranch, Nichols Land and Cattle Company, C. A. and William Dosey, Runnells City, Boot shop, Abstract office, Recognized potential for farming, Approached ranchers about sale of lands, Divided into 160-acre farms, Price, Terms of sale, Ranchers’ refusal, Organized colonization of Runnells County, Other land agents, Investors, Lands rented to tenant farmers, Smith’s parents came to Ballinger (1903), First crop (1904), Elijah Hatchel, Recognized potential for Post Office and store, Freighting from Ballinger to Winters, Texas, First store with Post Office, Railroad through in 1909, Store moved down nearer railroad, Population of county, Types of land, Drainage to Colorado River, Creeks listed, Livestock raised, Crops raised, Orchards, Cotton, Production (1900, 1904-05, 1908), Gins, Runnells City, First county seat, Santa Fe Railroad, Town lot sale, City became Ballinger, Ballinger, Grocery store (1887), Courthouse (1888), Cost, Remodeling, Noyes Monument, Pompeo Coppini—Italian sculptor, Noyes’ gear, Noyes’ saddle craze, Neuman Smith’s life, Grew up on family farm, Father, Horseman, Livestock and crops raised, Began breaking horses at age 12, Stan Cameron, Old time cowboys, Cattle pens on railways, Drive to railhead, Headquarters for Wiley Ranch, Description, Horse-breaking (again), Old time process, Hackamore and Donkey, Training horses for ranch work.

Tape 1, Side 2: First pony at age 12, Saddle and tack, Saddle makers, Agriculture, Cotton (again), Changes, Typical "old time" farm, Plowing, Harvest, Thrashing, Life on a thrashing crew, Thrashers, Depression, Thrashers (again), Tractors, Fordsons, Internationals, Price, Depression (again), Changes brought by tractor, Feed Mills (1930s), Self-sufficiency, War veterans, Irrigation, Water pollution, Flumes, Steam engine.

Tape 2, Side 1: Irrigation (continued), R. K. Wiley (again), Boll weevils, Uniform planning, Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Terracing, Level rows, Terracing with Fresnos, D. F. Eaton, County Agent, John Barton, County Agent (1930s), Conservation minded, Running terrace, Soil Conservation Service (1940s), Services, Agriculture today, Cotton crop (1981), Neuman Smith as Runnells County "booster", Co-op Service boards, Extension service, Changes seen, Lifestyle of farmers, Community gathering, Consolidation of schools, Values taught, Quality of education, Philosophy of life, School reunions, Peak of settlement in Runnells County, Rapid growth (1900-1908), Dissipation of small communities, Effects of school consolidation, Tractors and 1933, Post-World War II Latin-American labor, Electricity, Three row to nine row tractors.

Tape 2, Side 2: Changes (again), Saturday in town, Jake Stubblefield’s trip to Fort Worth, Community leaders, School administration, Education of schoolteachers, Depression, Cotton prices, Cotton marketing, Land diversion, Loan program (allotments), Production limits, Allotments (again), Differing opinions relative to allotments, Farm politics, Farmers’ organizations, Farmers’ Union, Farm Bureau, Texas Cotton Growers Association, Plains Cotton Cooperative, Independents vs. co-ops.

Tape 3, Side 1: Labor situation, Late 19th century, Migrant labor, Relatives, Cultivation increased, Turned to black labor, Transport of blacks, Mexican cotton pickers predominant by 1920s, White cotton pickers, Pickers found at wagon yards, After the plow (1933), Larger crews needed, Families trucked in, World War II, Strippers, No braceros in Runnells County, Cotton growing, Planting, Thinning, Picking, Changes in recent years, Types of cotton, Crew leaders, Dependency of crew, Labor for cotton chopping, Fewer transients, Crew leaders (again), Living conditions, Cotton crop (1925), Benny Martinez, crew leader, Weighing, George Kemp Dairy, West Texas Utility installed lines, Raised cotton, Other dairies in area, Grade "D" dairies, Kemp Jersey farm (again), Operation, Cream stations, Butter, Changes in livestock over time, Hogs, Eggs, Hogs (again), Pork processing, Lard, Sausage.

Tape 3, Side 2: Maize, Martin ("Combiner") maize, Quality, Plainsman maize, Milo, Hybrid maize, Bundle feed, Hegari, Quality, Grain, Oats, Milo (again), "Plummies", Harvest, Elevators, Chemical use, Leaf worms, Boll weevils, Herbicides (1960s), Ethnic populations, World War I, Rowena, Texas, Farm credit system, Farm Co-op Bank, Board of Directors, Evolution of system, Advisory boards, Loan process, Organization and operation, International marketing, Role of National Cotton Council, Operation of council, Steering committee, Commodity Growers Associations, Cooperative input, Cooperative band (again), National politics, Disaster plan (1982).

Range Dates: 1887-1982

Bulk Dates: 1920-1960


Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:


Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.

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