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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 Interview Abstract NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED: Williams, Jack V. Date of interview: January 15, 1970 Location of interview: San Angelo, Texas Length of interview: 2 tapes (2 hours) Brief synopsis of interview: Jack V. Williams talks about his family and ranching operation in Concho County, other ranches and their early-day operations in South Texas, his father Robert Wright Williams’ ranch in Mexico, and ranching during the Depression. Topics: Family life and background—L. P. Williams, grandfather Education—Texas A & M, animal husbandry Cattle—trail drives and Hereford breeding Carrizo Springs, Texas—Javelin newspaper and publishing company Concho County, Texas—Williams’ ranching interests Great Depression—government cattle shoot; Indio Ranch on Rio Grande border Helicopters—use on ranches Mexico—Robert Wright Williams’ ranch, once robbed by Villistas South Texas—Atotonilcho (?) Ranch; rock fence built by monks Judge F. Wandervoort (grandfather) Joe Williams (uncle)—sheriff at Eagle Pass for 35 years World War II—civilian flier training Oral History Collection MAIN ENTRY: Williams, Jack V. DATE OF INTERVIEW: January 15, 1970 LOCATION OF INTERVIEW: San Angelo, Texas INTERVIEWER: Fred Carpenter LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: 2 hours SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Jack V. Williams talks about his family, his ranch in Concho County and other ranches in South Texas such as the Indio and Atotonilcho (?) ranches and their earlyday operations, along with the Robert Wright Williams Ranch in Mexico and ranching during the Depression. TAPE ONE, SIDE ONE: Family background L. P. Williams, grandfather Tells of his trailing Indians who stole horses Judge Vandervoort, grandfather Discusses cattle drives and an account book kept on the drives Contrasts "Brush Country" and "Plains" cowboys TAPE ONE, SIDE TWO Effects of the Depression on cattle ranchers in South Texas Government cattle killing program Cattle in South Texas Working on a ranch in the brush country History and use of leased ranch lands Robert Wright Williams’ (father) early experiences on his father’s ranch Story about his selling cattle when he was 13 years old Williams’ ranch in Mexico Roping contests at rodeos Stories about being held and robbed by Pancho Villa’s men His mother’s family An account of misdeeds by Baptists for which they were punished by the church TAPE TWO, SIDE ONE: Poem about Williams’ love for Hereford cattle Williams family at Carrizo Springs Ranch home Riding horseback to school Working on Indio Ranch on the Rio Grande during the Depression Story of how going to the dentist convinced him to go to college Attending A & M College in animal husbandry Williams ranching interests in Concho County Cattle herds Ranch terrain Ranch under Wade’s management Williams’ wife and children Williams’ experiences in World War II Civilian flier training Contrast of early and present day ranching operations Number of men and horses required Transportation over the ranch Joe Williams (uncle), sheriff at Eagle Pass for 35 years Gun used by the sheriff to capture desperadoes F. Vandervoort (grandfather) Forming of Carrizo Springs Javelin newspaper and publishing company The Vandervoort family in Pennsylvania Story about an automobile trip TAPE TWO, SIDE TWO: Describes the chuck wagons used on South Texas ranches Atotonilcho (?) Ranch in South Texas Raising cattle in Mexico and selling in Texas Pastures and stock pens on the ranch Rock fence on ranch built by monks Protection "army" used by the neighboring ranch Bookkeeping system Use of helicopters on ranches RANGE DATES: c.1900-c.1950 BULK DATES: 1910s-1940s Source: http://www.swco.ttu.edu/abstracts/2772.htm