Koonce, Robert 1981-12-10
Robert Koonce speaks on his experience as a cowboy on several ranches including the Pitfork Ranch.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Robert Koonce
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: December 10, 1981
Location: Jayton, Texas
Interviewer: David Murrah
Length: 00:54:51 (54 minutes)
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
BACKGROUND: Grew up in Scurry and Kent county, born close to Ft. Worth in Collin County, father was a farmer, loved to ride horses from when he was three/four years old, always wanted to be a cowboy for as long as he could remember
WORKING ON RANCHES: started working for someone other than his father at age fifteen, worked for Red Simms, then worked for W.W. Barron from Rotan year round, then worked for OXO Ranch southwest of Clairemont, moved to Snyder for three years, moved to Buckle L Ranch, went to Pitchfork Ranch around 1940-1
PITCHFORK RANCH: Rudolf Swenson hired him when there was an opening, went to the North Camp to work, didn't have to work the wagon, there were no furnished pickups- only horses to ride, Pitfork wasn't all that different from other ranches, Rudolf was killed while Koonce was there, Mr. Burns came in, roughest part in Pitchfork's history was when Harve Adams was the wagon boss, didn't know how to handle wagon, Floyd Adams was also at ranch, Floyd was good man and good cowboy, in the end Harve became close to the Williams and tolk stories about Koonce and made him leave, but before he did Harve would run off more than the cattle could eat, so Koonce took over it awhile and when he did they weighed 100 lbs. over what they did when Harve had them,
Tape 1, Side 2:
Range Dates: 1907-1981
Bulk Dates: 1907-1960
Access Information
Original Recording Format: cassette
Recording Format Notes:digitized, available on audio CD
Transcript: no
Links
http://texastechuniversity.worldcat.org/oclc/70161737
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