Pierce, C A Charlie 1965-06-00
C. A. Pierce, retired land speculator, rancher and longtime Lubbock resident at 86, discusses his life in general and his family. Note: This tape is difficult to understand in places.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: C.A. Charlie Pierce
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 1965
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Ruby Osborn
Length: 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Born in Ellis County, Texas (November 26, 1879),
Waxahachie, Texas,
Finished school in 1896,
To Lubbock, Texas area,
Managed ranch owned by father,
Bought four adjoining sections (1900),
Married Myrtle Tubbs (1900),
Parents from Cochran County, Texas (1889),
Built home on land,
First daughter born (December 10, 1901),
Dr. M. C. Overton,
Father sold ranch (c. 1903),
Mr. Pierce sold land and moved to Lubbock (c. 1906),
First son born (June 7, 1902),
Second son born (June 14, 1904),
Third son born (1911),
Second daughter born (August 11, 1915),
Wife died (August 13, 1915),
Names of children,
Elma May, Henry Argyle (Guy), George Edward, Myrtie,
Mr. Pierce remarried,
Daughters Jackie and Bobbie Lee,
Children all graduated from high school,
Charlie Pierce worked for C. C. Slaughter heirs (1930),
Managed cattle and land,
Son, George,
Surveyor for U. S. government,
Drowned in White Horse, Canada (Yukon Territory),
Mr. Pierce’s family is discussed,
Granddaughter discussed,
Ellis County, Texas—cotton industry,
J. W. Peeler, first Lubbock area cotton farmer,
Charlie Pierce bought Peeler’s cotton,
Made into hand towels, clothes,
Father paid for first schoolhouse in Lubbock area,
Bill Carter, cook on Pierce’s ranch,
Grandparents were slaves,
Anecdote,
Unusual weather years,
Granddaughter married an artist,
Drawing of prairie dogs,
Moved into hotel (1938),
Went into oil business (c. 1938).
Tape 1, Side 2: Gave his money to his children,
Oldest daughter (Elma May),
Family,
Other family members,
Guy Pierce, son, was surveyor for Texas,
Mr. Pierce wrote to Governor of Alaska,
Offered to survey land ,
Oil business,
Bought oil leases in South Dakota,
Difficulties with land titles,
Need for education.
Range Dates: 1879-1965
Bulk Dates: 1900-1950
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.
