Stubbs, Herbert 1976, 1982

Herbert Stubbs reminisces over his past experiences and life in Lubbock County, including World War I, the acquisition of Texas Tech, the Depression of the 1930s, and his mother’s role in the family seed and grain business.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Herbert Stubbs

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: March 31, 1976; March 10 and September 14, 1982

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Joanna Shurbet, Georgellen K. Burnett, and Richard Mason

Length: 3 hours 20 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Born: Lubbock, Texas, Father, farmer and cattle raiser, Windmills, Father employed as a freighter, Sack candy, Mercantile store, Cow chips, Wood stove, Washing clothes, Homemade soap, Telephones, Education in Lubbock, Chores on the farm, Milk products, Wildlife, Employment at County Clerk’s office, Tyler Commercial College, World War I, Return to County Clerk’s office, Building abstract plant, Seed and grain business, Real estate development in Lubbock, Responsibilities of County Clerk, City government, Loan companies, School and park named after mother (Lou Stubbs).

Tape 1, Side 2: Lubbock, Texas, Changes, Rise in crime, Lack of liquor, Population, First automobile, Board sidewalks, Courthouse, Opera house, Radio, Courting, Acquisition of Texas Technological College, Senator William H. Bledsoe, 1930s Depression, Growth, Railroad, Changes in economic base, Changes in seed and grain business, First cotton, Irrigation wells, Changes in price and wages, Chuck wagons, Change in standard of living, Prairie fires, Lubbock tornado (May 11, 1970).

Tape 2, Side 1: Downtown Lubbock, Children and grandchildren, Medical School at Texas Tech University, Civic groups, Chamber of Commerce, Government programs, Red tape, Price support programs, Pensions, Robbery at seed store, Religious faith, Woodrow Wilson, Interest in politics, Local affairs, Golf and exercising, Lawyers, Doctors, Methodist Hospital.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Tape 3, Side 1: Parents, Mother, Lou Stubbs, Children, Birthdates, Marriage (1894), Father, Birthplace, Occupation, County Clerk (1902-1906), Farming (1906-1910), Seed and grain business, Lou Stubbs, Seed and grain business, Involvement, Responsibility, Business practices, Women’s suffrage, Reaction.

Tape 3, Side 2: Blank

Tape 4, Side 1: J. K. Carroway, maternal grandfather, Came to Lubbock County (c. 1890), Father, Filed on land, Herbert Stubbs born, 1895, J. K. Carroway (again), Homestead, Raised horses and mules, Originally from Weatherford, Texas, Father from Sterling, Kansas, Land prices, First homes built, Horse and buggy transportation, Father’s occupation, Fence building, Home raised meat, Windmill to pump water, Killing hogs, Preservation, Laundry, Ironing, Winter, Milking, School, Location, Anecdote about boy burning school down, Other school, Owen McWorter, Heating, Wood, Cow chips, Buying coal, Kerosene lamps, Buy kerosene, Vegetable garden, Smoke house, Hog killing, Neighbors participated, Farming, No irrigation, Plowing, Crops raised, Mostly raised for feed, First cotton planted (c. 1910), First train coming to Lubbock (c. 1910), First car seen by Stubbs, Children paid for ride, Buffalo Springs, Location, Camping and fishing, Indian heads, Buffalo horns, Coal yard buys cow bones, Indians, J. K. Carraway was part Indian, Entertainment, Picture shows, Roller skate rink, Travels, World War I, College, Invention discussed, Pump.

Tape 4, Side 2: Pump (continued), Inventors, Power source, World War I, France, Flu epidemic, Armistice celebration, French reception of Americans, Learning French, Nice, France, Rome, Returned to United States, June 1919, Parade, Storm on way back, Reports made, Positions held after World War I, County Clerk, Seed and grain business, Grain elevator, Mail-order business, Sudan Grass and Seed Association, Acme Seed, Parents’ business, Crossing of seeds, Martin maize, Development, Advantages, Competition, Competitors named, Attracting customers, Location of feed business, Beginning of grain business, Hybrid seeds used.

Tape 5, Side 1: Development of seed business, Profitable, Government storage, Begun around 1940s, Effects of mechanization on agriculture, Development of seed grains, Other crops raised, Soy beans, Cantelope, Grains, Seeds make money, Owen Gilbreath, Knows more about seed business, Reasons for growth of Lubbock, Texas Tech, Railroad, Chamber of Commerce and other clubs, Growth helped by grain and seed business, Early Lubbock, One store, Courthouse, Anecdote of climbing courthouse to get pigeons, Tang Martin, Lost use of both legs, Lived in County courthouse, Bootlegging, Types of alcohol, Location of stills, Father’s prohibition speech, Ku Klux Klan activities, Race as election issue, Ma Ferguson, Ku Klux Klan (again), Depression, Grain prices, Bank closing, Changes, Entertainment, Baseball, Football, Absence of crime, First blacks in area, First Hispanics in area, Mother helped others, Women’s clubs, Today compared to earlier years, No crime, Shallowater store, Shooting in store, Attempt to kill sheriff, Electricity, Brick streets, Building, Father, C. F. Stubbs, Mother, Lou Carroway Stubbs, Carroway family, Children’s nicknames, Time he was County Clerk, Saw more and more people come, Andy Wilson, Improved Buffalo Springs, Other areas developed.

Tape 5, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1895-1982

Bulk Dates: 1919-1940

Access Information

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