McWhorter, Ralph 1978, 1979
Ralph McWhorter discusses his past, with emphasis on his life and experiences as a cattle rancher over the years. He also gives a brief history of Stanton, gives a tour of his former holdings near Andrews, and discusses cattle markets, along with the qualities needed to manage a large cattle operation.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Ralph McWhorter
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: March 14, 1978; November 29 and December 5, 1979
Location: Andrews, Texas
Interviewer: Bobby Weaver, David Murrah and Ann Burkholder
Length: 5 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: J. M. Brown, Grandfather,
Father arrived (1883),
Ward County Clerk,
Moving,
Andrews, Texas (1923),
Cattle drives,
Water supply,
Cattle business,
Prices,
Depression,
Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation,
Loan appraisal,
Bill Scarborough,
Breeds,
Spence Jowell, Herefords in Midland area (c. 1910).
Tape 1, Side 2: B. N. Aycock, Hereford cattle,
C Ranch, Black Angus,
Drought (1917-1918),
Transportation,
"Going to town",
Wagon teams,
Early automobiles,
Early settlements,
Andrews, Texas,
Shafter Lake, Texas,
Seagraves, Texas,
Oil wells,
Drilling,
Leasing land.
Tape 2, Side 1: Stanton, Texas,
Catholic convent,
Origin,
German settlers.
Tape 2, Side 2: Blank
Tape 3, Side 1: Andrews County resident,
John M. Brown, maternal grandfather,
Cattle drive,
Samuel D. McWhorter, father,
Santa Fe Railroad employee,
Childhood,
Carpentry,
Halff (?) Ranch,
Barn Tullis, ranch manager,
Pecos City band,
Land acquisition,
Waco, Texas,
Outlaws,
Anecdote,
To West Texas,
Route,
Family background,
World War I,
Camp Shelby,
Stanton, Texas (1907).
Tape 3, Side 2: Stanton, Texas (continued),
Slaughter Ranch,
Liquidation,
Land leasing,
Ira P. DeLoache,
Bob Slaughter,
Cattle to El Paso,
Stock pens,
Watering,
Drought (1918),
Cy Fish, ranch manager,
Army service,
Stanton, Texas,
Rancher/farmer controversy,
Draughon’s Business College,
Andrews County, Texas,
Ranching,
Land purchase (1923),
C. W. Langston, neighbor,
Land,
J. T. Robertson, land commissioner.
Tape 4, Side 1: Great Depression,
Cattle sales,
Bank closings,
Loans,
Regional Agriculture Credit Corporation,
Cattle shoot,
Calf raising,
Kansas City Commission,
W. D. Johnson.
Tape 4, Side 2: Blank
Tape 5, Side 1: Weed growth,
Cattle feed,
Grass,
Grain cube,
Supplements,
Calves,
Sale,
Gaines and Andrews counties,
Cattle production,
Water,
Average rainfall,
Land use,
Grazing,
Deterioration,
Cattle diseases,
Ranch Headquarters,
Windmills,
Watering places,
Calving,
Bulls.
Tape 5, Side 2: Watering places,
Names,
Seismographers,
Water discovery,
Alkaline lakes,
Cemetery,
Tombstones,
Cattle brands,
Commercial,
Registered,
Tombstone (1888),
Mary Midland Doughtery,
Bill Blackman,
Oil business,
Bulls,
Wind energy,
Prices,
Inflation,
Oil pipeline,
Pastures,
Ranch boundaries.
Tape 6, Side 1: (Tape garbled),
Ranch terrain,
Tom Ross, rancher,
Gaines County,
Fires,
Cattle trail,
Wildlife,
Neighborhood gatherings,
Branding,
Shipping,
Dances,
Fiddle players,
Gates,
Ranch hands,
Meals,
Weather predictions,
Churches,
Circuit riders,
Doctors,
Veterinarians,
Henry Moore.
Tape 6, Side 2: Cattle diseases,
Newspapers,
Mail delivery,
Frankel City, Texas,
Location,
Communication,
Land,
Mineral rights,
Ranch management,
Land,
Sale,
Inheritance taxes,
Great Depression,
Banking,
Investments,
Ranch life,
Isolation,
Schooling,
Travel,
Windmills,
Fences,
Ranching,
Rewards.
Tape 7, Side 1: Cattle prices,
Market slumps,
Grasslands,
Herds,
Acquisition,
Size,
Weather,
Snowstorm (January 1918),
Colorado,
Anecdote,
Cattle business,
McWhorter Ranch,
Fences.
Tape 7, Side 2: Calves,
Market,
De-horning,
Wintering,
Bargaining.
Range Dates: 1883-1978
Bulk Dates: 1910-1978
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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