Barron, E E 1975-01-22

In a telephone interview, Mr. Barron, a pioneer Dawson County farmer, recalls early farm implements, his role in their development, and discusses weather and water.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: E. E. Barron

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: January 22, 1975

Location: Lamesa, Texas

Interviewer:David Murrah

Length: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Gives brief autobiographical notes on farming in Dawson County, Dates sled-type stripper, Made own implement except for teeth installed by blacksmiths, Discusses Frank E. Patterson, Lamesa, Texas, recalls sandfighters in 1917-18, Claims helping to build first one, Describes the first plow for use after rains, Dates rotary sandfighters about 1925, Talks about upright planters, on which he got patent, Names brother, Spencer Barron, fellow inventor, Says that a cousin, Tom Barron, also developed a sandfighter, Credits trial and error for innovation, Trail-type tripper described, J. D. Garner and H. H. Barron cited as developers of knife sleds, Describes how they were made and sharpened, Portrays 1910 killing of prairie dogs by suffocating with sand, Recalls 1917, 1918 years of nearly complete failure, Lists 1926, 1933-32, 1946, 1951-53 as years of bad weather, and poor crops, Discuss irrigation and water in Dawson County area, Explains why the soil in area is better for dry-land farming

Tape 1, Side 2: Blank

Tape 2, Side 1: Early planter and present planter contrasted, Developed planter in 1930s, Drive mechanism was important innovation, Altering speed of planter, Selling planter, First reaction to rubber-tired tractors, Reason for changing from steel lugs to rubber tires, To prevent soil from blowing used dual-wheeled tractors, Transition from teams to tractors, Reasons for opposition to tractors, Plants burned by blowing sand, Kept team after acquisition of tractor, Other activities

Tape 2, Side 2: Father's farming operation, Discussion of Trail of Years by M. C. Lindsey, Sandfighters discussed, Col. C. C. Slaughter remembered, Cattle occasionally disturbed farmer's crops

Range Dates: 1917-1953

Bulk Dates: 1917-1953

Access Information

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