Swain, Emsy 1980-04-14

Concho County rancher and businessman Emsy Swain discusses his life, family history and the early history of the county.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Emsy Swain

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: April 14, 1980

Location: Eden, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 3 hours

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Genealogy, Father: born in North Carolina (1853), Mother: Carolyn Bryan, Bryan ancestry, American Revolution, Civil War, Father (again), To Bell County, Texas (1866), To Coleman County, Texas, Employment with Coggin and Parks Cattle, Company, Drought (1885), Cattle drive to water, Marriage (1895), Children and birth dates, Died: December 23, 1923, Mother, Died: January 30, 1966, Education, Public school, College, Swain’s background, Marriage (April 1917), Naval service (1918-1919), Early mercantile stores, Oil business (1920s), First wife: Izett Lorinne Gray (1920), Died: 1920, Texas politics, Mother: Martha Jane Pratt, Born: Limestone County, Texas, Cynthia Ann Parker, Ranching in West Texas, Cattle, Sheep, Concho County history, Election (1879), Last Indian raids in Texas (1878-1880), Painted rocks—Paint Rock, Texas, Concho County history (again), Oldest cemetery, John S. Chisum, Cattle business.

Tape 1, Side 2: John S. Chisum (continued), Description, Concho County history (again), Uncle Rich Coffee, Political office, Indian raid on cattle drive, Indian attack on military road, Stores at mouth of river, Politics, James E. House, Dan Malloy, Campaigning, Early settlers, County seat of Tom Green County, Anecdote: Concho River flood, John C. Pruitt, Neal Brothers, Grandfather, Texas Revolution, William Guinn, Texas Revolution (again), Edwin Gaines, Concho County history (again), Grasslands (1872), Anecdote: roping buffalo, Anecdote: killing two deer with one shot.

Tape 2, Side 1: Anecdote: killing two deer with one shot (continued), Father’s cowboy camp, Anecdote: harboring fugitive (1880s), Horses kept, Personality, Dennis Dail, Father (again), Description, Coffee family, Concho County, Anecdote: Bill Coffee breaks leather, Anecdote: Rich Coffee chased by Indians, Coffee home, Concho County line, Stacey reservoir, Soldiers from Eden, Texas, Ira C. Baker, Earl Rudder, Concho County history (again), Population decline, Causes, Depression, Prices, W. L. Black, Development of sheep and goat industry.

Tape 2, Side 2: Development of sheep and goat industry (continued), Fencing, Predators, Wolves, Eagles, Javalina hogs, Trappers, Wolves (again), Bill Loveless estate, Ranch records, Sheep and goat industry (again), Effect of synthetic fiber, Depression, Land loans, Sheep and goat industry (again), Underground water supply in Eden area, Mrs. Swain, Marriage, Swain law practice, Appointment to committee for 150 year anniversary of Lincoln’s birth (1959), Qualifications for membership.

Tape 3, Side 1: Mrs. Swain (repeat), Committee appointment (1959) (repeat), Qualifications for membership (continued), Meeting, Retirees in Eden area, Climate, Hospital, Establishment, Chiropractic clinic, Swain law practice, Tenure, Abstract company, Historical figures from Hill Country, Coke Stevenson, Characteristics, Andrew Jackson, Texas Revolution, Eden economy, Effect of hunting, Sheep, Anecdote: brother’s sheep operation, Daughter: Loraine Lange, Education, Stacey reservoir, Benefits.

Tape 3, Side 2: Stacey reservoir (continued), Hearings, Original idea for development (c. 1966), James M. Padgett, Walter Gann, Father’s employment as herd inspector, Employment history, Historical writing, Stacey reservoir (again), Lower Concho River Soil and Water Conservation, Committee, Membership, Dean Chenowith; San Angelo, Texas, Polo games’ Maitland Ranch, Book collection, Dr. Coughlin, Gwen Henry (1911), Paint Rock newspaper men, Wade and Krosher, Bandits in Concho County, Ben Kilpatrick, Sonora outlaw, Ben Kilpatrick (again).

Range Dates: 1853-1980

Bulk Dates: 1853-1959

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