De Long, W E 1973-07-11
In the first two tapes, San Angelo rancher W. E. De Long relates stories from family oral tradition, primarily concerning his grandfather’s experiences in the San Angelo-Christoval area. He discusses his family history, recalls his own varied occupations and relates stories of outlaws and the Depression. In the third tape, interviewer Paul Patterson reads the genealogy and short biographies of the De Long family.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: W. E. De Long
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: July 11, 1973
Location: San Angelo, Texas
Interviewer: Paul Patterson
Length: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Family history reviewed,
Early Christoval irrigation cited,
Discussion of Johnson grass,
Description of early house,
Grandfather's experience with Indians related,
Prairie fires recalled,
Sheep raising reviewed,
Behavior of buffalo examined,
Wild Spanish cattle and other livestock remembered,
Techniques of capturing mustangs examined,
Recollections of early San Angelo
Tape 1, Side 2:
Early lakes recalled,
Killing of antelope, deer related,
Discussion of growth and use of mesquite trees,
Cattle drives to Oklahoma cited,
Grandfather's financial failure discussed,
Yellow House Canyon as an Indian shelter examined,
Dove Creek battle reviewed,
Evidence of battle on trees recalled,
Concho River systems described,
Origin of name Christoval cited,
Changing land ownership reviewed,
Lease terms examined
Tape 2, Side 1:
Stories of land rush cited,
Ranch groups as clans explained,
Ketcham Brothers, outlaws recalled,
Theft of candy cited,
Discussion of outlaws (continued),
Grandmother's attitude toward Indians expressed,
Family history traced to Kentucky,
Phenomenon of cobwebs in the sky described,
Sheep raising problems remembered
Tape 2, Side 2:
Bounty on wolves recalled,
Discussion of baseball career,
Events of personal history recounted,
Depression experiences on road work examined,
Depression cattle, sheep killing program described,
Poor ranching techniques recognized,
Home demonstration agent recalled,
Flood in San Angelo in 1936 cited,
Anecdote on sheep behavior during a flood,
Trucking business in East Texas and Civil Service jobs reviewed,
Other occupations traced,
Changes in family land holdings explained
Tape 3, Side 1:
Formal genealogy of Da Long family read,
Short biographies of various family members read,
Kentucky background explored,
Moved to Texas in 1865,
Trouble with Black soldiers at San Angelo cited,
Early irrigation examined,
Description of frontier housing,
Anecdotes on Indians, travel, execution of a soldier,
Recollections of Paul Patterson's family
Tape 3, Side 2:
Blank
Range Dates: 1865-1973
Bulk Dates: 1865-1973
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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