Weber, Ben 1972-06-09
Ben Weber discusses his experiences as a rancher in the Nixon are for the past 60 years, including his work with his father and brother and the cattle shoot of the 1930s.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Ben Weber
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 09, 1972
Location: Nixon, Texas
Interviewer: David Murrah
Length: 1 hour 10 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Birth and family background,
Grandfather fought in Civil War,
Recalls father’s life and career,
Early jobs he had described,
Horse selling career,
Cattle drives he participated in,
Cattle drive Ben Weber went on with his father,
Army service during World War I,
Incident in which he broke his arm cranking a car,
Ranching career discussed,
Trip to Hominy, Oklahoma, to sell cattle,
Describes size of brother Seidel’s ranching operation,
Driving hogs compared to driving cattle,
Effect of stock market crash on his cattle operation (1929),
Expresses dislike for cattle shoot on his land.
Tape 1, Side 2: Ben Weber’s education mentioned,
Describes homes he and his wife have had,
Cattle shoot of the 1930s (again),
Reasons given for institution of the program,
Lists examples of low prices,
Cattle shot on the Weber ranch,
Some of the meat given away,
Explains fluctuations in the cattle market (1921-1937),
Father’s division of his land among his children,
Work performed for brother Seidel,
Process of fattening cattle for future sale,
Various methods of buying cattle,
Cattle auctions,
Mentions order buyer named Julius Caesar,
Venture in watermelon buying,
Story of bribing a railroad engineer with watermelons,
Selling cordwood in San Antonio with brother Paul,
Work as a cowboy on the Houston Ranch,
Brother Seidel Weber’s ranching operation discussed,
Names type of work performed and equipment used,
Amount of land owned and leased,
Reads newspaper account of a dinner given by Mr. Weber’s father,
Guests were old longtime residents of the area.
Tape 2, Side 1: Reads and discusses letter written by Mr. Weber’s,
grandfather during the Civil War,
Describes cattle drive from Karnes City with father,
Story of calves breaking out on drive to Cuero.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Range Dates: 1890-1972
Bulk Dates: 1912-1972
Access Information
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Transcript:
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