Taylor, Janie Mobley 1958-06-07
Mrs. Taylor recalls her family’s arrival on the South Plains in 1889, life and early businesses in Lubbock during the 1890s, and the veiled rivalry between cattlemen and "nesters."
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Janie Mobley Taylor
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 07, 1958
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Jean A. Paul
Length: 2 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Mobley family belonged to planter class in South Carolina,
Family silver hidden when news arrived of Gen. Sherman’s march,
Civil War and freeing of slaves leads grandparents to leave South Carolina and move to Texas,
Located on a small farm near Dallas,
Family lived in a square-hewn log house,
Horse races and race tracks characterized post-war,
East Texas town near the Mobley home,
Family leaves East Texas for South Plains (1889),
Comes to Lubbock through IOA pasture south of where the town was founded,
Courthouse under construction,
Three stores in Lubbock: Caldwell’s, Singer’s and Norwood’s,
Men came to area first to find a location,
Families and household goods followed in wagons,
Wagon route taken from Colorado City to Lubbock,
First impression of level Plains not a good one.
Tape 1, Side 2: Mrs. Taylor’s first home in Lubbock,
Living with George W. Singer family,
Nicolett Hotel and its furnishings,
Courthouse a civic center and social gathering place,
Mr. Mobley was a fiddler at dances held there,
Organ on second floor of courthouse,
Lou Caraway (Stubbs) leads Literary society.
Tape 2, Side 1: Miss Friedrich (?), a local dressmaker,
Trading with Lubbock merchants,
J. D. Caldwell’s store,
Interior of store,
Early crimes in area,
Jug Reynolds and Poker Tom shoot it out in "saloon",
Jim Boles (?) shot in Shallowater over fence dispute,
Murder of Mr. Jarott.
Tape 2, Side 2: Cattlemen and cattle interests "ran the country",
Cattle driven to Hereford,
Broadway a cattle trail,
Cattle prices in 1900,
Rivalry between towns for A & M College of South Plains,
Automobiles in Lubbock County,
Auto races held on local track,
Meat markets in Lubbock,
Milk cows and family gardens on Broadway,
Ice wagons make regular deliveries to Lubbock homes.
Tape 3, Side 1: Churches in Lubbock,
Claim that "West Texas was a law unto itself, and the gun was the law",
South Plains musicians,
Cowboys’ legendary respect for womanhood,
Problem of fuel on the Plains,
Lubbock Opera House,
Little celebration or hysteria greets new railroad in Lubbock (1909),
Old literature (eg. Scott’s works) found in Lubbock homes.
Tape 3, Side 2: Party dresses worn at dances,
Mail order catalogues a blessing to Plains women,
Silks sold in local dry goods stores,
Dressmakers.
Range Dates: 1889-1910
Bulk Dates: 1889-1910
Access Information
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