Henderson, Joe B 1981-01-21

Joe B. Henderson discusses the dairy business in Dublin, Texas, from its beginnings in the 1930s until 1981.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Joe B. Henderson

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: January 21, 1981

Location: Dublin, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 1 hour

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Joe B. Henderson, Born in Lingleville Texas (April 7 1908), Parents, Brother, Education, High school, Work experience, Dry goods store, Wage rate, Tarleton Texas, Wage rate, Work, Dublin Texas (1928), Worked oil field Peyote Texas, Worked Dublin Flour Mill, Wage rate, Depression of the 1930s, Changes in agriculture, Prices during Depression, Incidents occurring during Depression, Prices and general conditions, Mills, Small mills went out of business, Cotton gins, Boll weevils (c. 1910), Farmers turned to other crops, Dairy industry developed (1930s), Small farms originally, Butter and ice cream plants, Dairies sold milk (1940s), Delivered to door, Early dairy companies, Henderson went into feed business (1946), Anecdote: going to Houston, Texas, Marv Buckingham, Former county agent in Dublin, Developed dairy industry in Hopkins County, Early encouragement of dairy industry, Chamber of Commerce involvement, Dublin Free Fall Fair, Holstein introduction, Early dairy industry, Begun as small independent farmers (1920), Larger farms needed (1930), More cows needed, Acreage needed to support cows, Dry lot dairies, Less acreage needed, Feed for dairy cattle, Hay (types), No dairy related industries in Erath County, Milk transported to other cities for processing, American Milk Production Association, Reasons why no industries developed.

Tape 1, Side 2: Economic reasons, Transportation, Technology not able to move perishable products, Dairy industry opposition to World War II, Due to improved transportation technology, Financing plans help dairy industry to start, Cost of operating a dairy, Investment required, Dairy breeds, Different types, Dublin breeds and raises own cattle, Feed business (industry), Changes, Gone to bulk, Some farmers mix own feed, Immigrant labor, Came as dairy industry developed, Feed mills in Dublin, Areas get grain from, Purchase of grain, Contracts for purchase of grain, Marketing of finished grain, Cotton gins, Last gin out of business in late 1960s, Closest gin at Hamilton Texas, Cotton likely to come back, Experiences in Peyote Texas, Peyote oil boom town, Lumber yards, Population, Reasons for going to Peyote, Offer of job, Rough town, Crime, Other boom towns, First oil well in Desdemona Texas (1910), Well caught on fire, Dublin and Stephenville center for activity there, Population increase, Prior to and after oil boom, Population other towns, Dublin, Stephenville, Changes due to oil boom, Thurber Texas, Changes, Father sold produce there, Anecdotes about selling produce, Crops raised by father, Mostly cotton and corn, De Leon Texas, Black eyed pea market developed (1930s), Prices, Pecan shelling industry in Comanche Texas.

Range Dates: 1908-1981

Bulk Dates: 1930-1945

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