Martin, Harry 2005-02-01
Bob Martin talks about the history of Red Mud community in Dickens County and the Spur Ranch. He talks about the various jobs he held and current wildlife at Spur.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Harry "Bob" Martin
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: February 01, 2005
Location: Spur, Texas
Interviewer: David Marshall
Length:
Abstract
Background; Born at Roswell, New Mexico; Father’s occupation; Education at Texas A&M University; Childhood memories; Artifacts he discovered; Wagon wreck; Information about his maternal great-grandfather—Garrett; His occupation at spur ranch; First constable of Dickens County; Stories told by Mr. Garrett; Incident with Indians; Lost Lead Mine; Information about the house built by Mr. Garrett; His personality; Red Mud community history; Paternal great-grandparent’s history; Spur ranch established in 1870’s; Ranch area; Occupation; Animosity between Red Mud community and Spur Ranch; Issues; Efforts to acquire land; Freighting from Colorado City, Texas; Stopover at Jayton, Texas; White Camp Ranch; Main supply place; Other recollections; Land purchased by paternal grandfather; Parents schooling; Improvement of the roads; Highway school description; Annual Red Mud cemetery workday; Day it is celebrated; Family’s involvement; Purpose of the event; Recollections of the events; Tap Town; Establishments; Location; Book about it; About John Newton Jones; Relation to him; Born in 1835; Journal written by him; Part of Texas Rangers; John Newton Johns (continued); Served in the Confederate infantry in Arkansas; Joined the Union army; About his family; About William Clinton Garrett; Journey to Palo Pinto; About Dickens County; Description of his school; Cotton Farming at Spur; Details of father’s first tractor; Move from Spur to Dickens County; Classroom allocations for different grades; Issues with cotton farming at Spur; Education at Texas A&M; Reasons for choosing the university; Tuition and fees; Student jobs on campus; Degree in agricultural economics; Grading policies; Marriage; Life after completing his education; Wife’s job; Different places where he lived; Different jobs he held; Experience working at Palo Duro Canyon; Transfer to Quanah, Texas; Enrolled in enforcement school; About Copper Breaks State Park; Other jobs; Job at Spring County; Health problems; Talks about state benefits and retirement; About Caprock Canyons State Park; Different locations suggested for state park; People’s attitude towards the park; Archeological sites and artifacts; Changes in wildlife at Spur; Declining quail population; Turkey and deer population; Horned lizard and rattlesnake population; Effects of mesquite brush on the water levels of wells.
Access Information
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Transcript: No transcript available
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