Jones, Robert E 1983-06-22
Robert E. Jones discusses his family background and agriculture in Lubbock County from 1920 to 1983.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Robert E. Jones
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 22, 1983
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Born: Carleton, Texas (1899),
Family,
Parents,
Grandparents,
Flu epidemic (1918),
To Childress, Texas,
Reasons for move,
Farming, Childress area,
Breaking the land,
Advantages of mules over horses,
Crops grown,
Neighbors,
Mother,
Personality,
Father,
Left family for four years,
Medical care,
Anecdote: mother stitching cut,
Anecdote: castration and beating out tusks of boar,
Water supply,
Family moved to Dickens County (1910),
Reason for move,
Drought (1917),
Anecdote: moving rig for wildcatter (1919),
Moving pipe from Carlton to Waco, Texas,
Unloading pipes from freight cars,
Paying family debts,
Oil activity in East Central Texas,
Desdemona, Texas,
Hauling boiler through mud seep,
Weather (1919).
Tape 1, Side 2: Cotton grown,
Rowden,
Threshing,
Crew,
Thresher,
Operation,
Graineries,
Anecdote: setting fire to grainery,
Family to Lubbock, Texas,
Moving in immigrant cars,
Anecdote: brother bringing wagon and team,
Jones’ first impression of Plains,
Looking for land with grandfather,
Location of land in Lubbock County,
Leatherhat Brown,
Characteristics,
Anecdote: mule purchased from Brown,
Land owned,
Death,
Escape, return, and trial of murderers,
Covington family,
Reason for nickname,
Land (again),
Kokernot Ranch,
George M. Bowles,
Characteristics,
S. I. Johnson,
Attic of house,
Buffalo Springs,
Foreclosure,
Springs,
Location,
Size,
Andy Long,
Water on Jones farm.
Tape 2, Side 1: Road across Ransom Canyon,
Logistics of building road,
Availability of work for Jones,
First cotton sled in Lubbock County,
Subsequent sleds,
Tractors in Lubbock County (1920s),
Cotton harvest,
Picking vs. pulling,
Seed,
Storm proof cotton,
Mechanization in Lubbock area,
Improved team equipment,
One-row,
Two-row,
Case two-row planter,
Purchased first tractor (1937),
General acceptance of tractor,
Mule buyers,
Anecdote: mule unloading pipes from rail car,
Tractor buyers,
Feed land diverted,
Feed crops (1950s),
Irrigation wells in Lubbock County,
St. Augustine Ranch,
Jones’ first well,
Financing of wells,
Arrival and unloading in Lubbock,
Anecdote: chasing down mules,
Vegetable raising (1930s),
Cotton varieties (1980s).
Tape 2, Side 2: Irrigation,
Amount of water used,
Water sources and quality,
Post war agriculture,
Chemical usage,
Significant developments in Lubbock County,
Boundary dispute,
Hauling water,
Breaking team animals, Carlton, Texas,
Purchase of farm on credit,
Anecdote: boys peddling stolen beef,
Anecdote: Dan Foherty’s family,
Stealing chickens.
Range Dates: 1899-1983
Bulk Dates: 1920-1950
Access Information
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Transcript:
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