Campbell, Hugh 1968-12-26

In Tape 1, Hugh Campbell, an early rancher in the Kermit area, reviews highlights of his career, talks about the origin of Kermit and discusses the terms of state lease agreements. In Tape 2, he relates stories of outlaws and conflict, discusses cattle breeds, trail drives and Indians, and notes events in his personal history. In Tape 3, he continues with stories of ranching personalities and business deals before describing the ranch terrain and living conditions in a half-dugout.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Hugh Campbell

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: December 26, 1968

Location: Ballinger, Texas

Interviewer: Elmer Kelton

Length: 2 hours, 40 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Anecdote on being thrown from a horse, Personal history: born 1878, Playing professional baseball, 1895, Purchase of mules recalled, Story of breaking horses on a ranch in the Midland area, Horses purchased in Alamogordo, New Mexico, Robinson family, Winfield Scott mentioned, Recollections of ranch management and personal conflict, Ranching near Kermit on four sections in 1906

Tape 1, Side 2: Origin of the name Kermit and townsite related, Townsite of Duvall recalled, Other land promotion projects mentioned, Terms of land sales agreement with state of Texas reviewed, Business practices examined, Anecdote concerning "buying out" 2 sections of neighbor's land, State lease and sales terms (continued), Terrain, vegetation, wildlife of Kermit described, Claims of "over-grazing" made, Wife's dislike of Texas plains noted

Tape 2, Side 1: Cattle stampede recalled, Speculation on future of ranching, Comments on present livestock, Acquaintance with John Wayne, historical work of John Wayne cited, Recollections of outlaw Jim Miller, Story of Jim Miller's conflict with neighbors, Millers killing of Sheriff Frazier cited, Story concerning ranchers' conflict

Tape 2, Side 2: Move to Ballinger recalled, Land speculation activities reviewed, Ballinger in 1890s contrasted to Ballinger in 1915, Attitude toward Pancho Villa, Attitude toward farming expressed, Registered, commercial cattle discussed, Origin of interest in registered cattle, Anecdotes on mule, cattle trading, Present cattle operation, cattle breeding discussed, Cancer-eyed genetic traits cited, Deer hunting recalled, Social changes examined, Dissatisfaction with present-day business ethics, cowboys, Cattle drive from Midland to South Dakota in 1898 noted, Ranchers' conflicts with Indians discussed

Tape 3, Side 1: Story of murder of John Underwood, Outlaw Jim Miller discussed, Recollections of conflicts in business dealings, Description of ranch land in Midland area, Effects of prairie fires mentioned, Tom Ross recalled, New Mexico "scab" quarantine cited

Tape 3, Side 2: Birchfield preemption of land for underground water recalled, Violence in regard to business deal related, Memories of living in half-dugouts, Folklore on control of rattlesnakes given

Range Dates: 1878-1915

Bulk Dates: 1878-1915

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.