Whatley, Rhoda 1983-09-22
Rhoda Whatley reminisces about her life on the South Plains.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Rhoda Whatley
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: September 22, 1983
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Genealogy,
Maternal grandparents,
Parents,
Meeting,
Occupations,
Ages,
Meeting (again),
Father’s siblings,
Parents’ move to Smithwick, Texas,
Farm,
Creek,
Baptisms,
Catfish,
Mrs. Whatley’s siblings,
Parents move to Marble Falls, Texas,
Anecdotes,
Sisters dating,
Riding the wagon to church,
First sighting of an automobile (1905),
Childhood memories,
Budder’s cabin,
Pie rack,
Girls’ chores,
Father cutting cedar posts,
Mother weaving,
Carpets,
Clothing,
Michelle’s ice cream parlor,
Grindstone,
Smoke house,
Hogs,
Mother,
Skills,
Stepfather,
Personality,
Father, Jacob McClish,
Personality and appearance,
Anecdotes,
Anecdote: scrubbing knives for Sunday dinner.
Tape 1, Side 2: Parents (again),
Anecdote: Father’s breakfast toddy,
Values imposed upon children,
Discipline of children,
Mother’s egg money,
Views on education,
Heating,
Chopping wood,
Water supply,
Entertainment,
Baseball,
Literary,
Description,
Square dances,
"Protracted Meetings",
Visiting German families,
German-American relations,
Riding sidesaddle,
Family’s move to Plains (1906),
Decision to move,
Sale of land,
Moving,
Farming in O’Donnell, Texas,
Move to New Mexico,
Filing on land,
Building houses,
Furniture,
O’Donnell farm (again),
Anecdote: Uncle Robert’s horse stables (1906),
Crops raised,
Living at Hester farm,
Anecdotes,
Aunt Delia’s clothes,
Eating fruit,
Walking on stilts,
First impressions of area,
Children,
Mother.
Tape 2, Side 1: Inaudible (1 minute),
New Mexico,
Accessibility of land,
Isolation of farm,
Farmers vs. ranchers,
Trip to New Mexico,
Breakfast on the trail,
Location of farm,
Building adobe house,
Temporary housing,
Burning cow chips,
Husband, Boyce Proctor,
Meeting,
Singing schools,
Description,
Occupation: cowboy,
Living on ranch,
Anecdotes: Goats in the house,
Feeding ranch hands,
Akers ranch,
Feeding ranch hands (again),
Proctor’s attempt at farming,
Move to Brownfield, Texas,
Working on Green Ranch,
Problems working for brother,
Ranch quarters,
Medical care,
Dipping vat,
Description,
Dipping process,
Anecdote: Dipping neighbor’s hogs,
Childhood memories,
Anecdote: Sticking pitchfork in cow,
Skating on frozen tank,
Tying cats together,
Securing horses from Indians,
Children,
Birthplaces,
Anecdote: sending for the doctor,
Weather,
Anecdote: freezing at singing convention.
Tape 2, Side 2: Weather (continued),
Blizzard (1918),
Cows freezing,
Drought (1917),
Irrigation, New Mexico,
Wells,
Picking cotton,
Heading grain,
Anecdote: wearing overalls,
Irrigation, New Mexico (again),
Ditches,
Watering process,
Anecdote: riding to Plainview for supplies,
Anecdote: kissing Bill Fritz,
Irrigation wells (again),
Source for parts,
Anecdote: canning apples and making jelly,
Irrigation (again),
First well in Lea County (c. 1916),
Irrigated crops,
Proliferation of irrigation,
Pump engines,
Noise,
Fuel,
Brother’s death,
Grandmother,
Attempt to find German ancestors.
Range Dates: 1900-1983
Bulk Dates: 1900-1925
Access Information
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Transcript:
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