CHAPTER SIX

"UP ON THE PLAINS"

James Michner, in his book Texas, described the High Plains as "flat as earth could be, and twice as empty, and not even a tree visible in any direction." Los Llanos Estacados, the Staked Plains of Texas, was long considered a part of "the Great American Desert." The Census Reports of 1880 stated that "not more than 7,000,000 acres of the Llano Estacado within the state of Texas can be regarded as an absolute desert . . . ."⁽¹⁾

The expansion of the Texas cattle industry that began in the mid-1800s continued to move north and west, pushing Indian depredations farther west. The decade of the seventies would see a number of large ranches established in the Panhandle and South Plains areas of the Staked Plains as the Comanches were forced from these public lands to the reservations.⁽²⁾

Charles Goodnight was the first, moving one of his Colorado herds to the Palo Duro in November of 1876. Others were quick to follow. As the Indians left, so did the Comancheros and other New Mexican traders, who bought the stolen cattle and horses.

Where the South Plains vacillate between pampa and rolling sand dune country near the 103rd meridian, there arises one tributary of the Brazos, Las Casas Amarillas--The Yellow Houses. Near the head of this canyon, which gashes across the South Plains, was an alkaline lake of like designation, an important landmark of the Llanos during the time. Bordering the lake are some high bluffs of yellowish hue, which may be seen at a considerable distance and which from certain points of view have somewhat the appearance of wall of a great city, "especially when seen through a good mirage." This eerie appearance, coupled with some sheltering caves in the face of the cliff, suggested its name--the Yellow Houses.⁽³⁾

As the buffalo became scarce, a party of hunters pushed up the canyon to the Yellow Houses and pitched camp at a seep spring nearby. They had killed and skinned 7,500 buffalo along the Yellow House and the Running Water draws in the winter of 1877. Now, in 1879, they were chasing a mere remnant of the once great herds, and had stopped just long enough to build a little house of sun-dried brick--but permanent. That action represented an entire movement in plains life. It depicted the passing of the transient Indian and hunter; it prophesied the day of settlement. It marked the end of the extreme mobility of the range; it marked the beginning of the era of homes. About 30 years later, as noted below, the towns of Olton and Littlefield would rise on the respective Running Water and Yellow House Ranches.⁽⁴⁾

In 1882 the State of Texas awarded the choicest 3,000,000 of its 5,000,000 acres of Capitol Reservation Land as payment for the construction of a State Capitol building. Brothers Charles B. and John V. Farwell of Chicago, Illinois contracted to build the Capitol. Thus was born the largest, and perhaps most famous of Texas ranches, the Capitol Syndicate, or XIT. The irregular body of land took in portions of Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Parmer, Castro, Bailey, Lamb, Cochran, and Hockley counties, beginning at the northwest corner of the Panhandle and extending south adjacent to the New Mexico line for over two hundred miles. The bid of $1.5 million indicated a $.50 per acre land value. The actual construction cost of the Capitol increased the land cost to $1.07 per acre.⁽⁵⁾

Colonization of the Plains

The XIT owners had visualized colonization of the prairie from the start. But it came slow. Though occasional settlers moved in, and more occasional settlements grew up, systematic colonization did not begin on a large scale until about the middle of the initial decade of the twentieth century, when the first of the "prospector specials"--trains carrying prospective land buyers--rolled southward into the Panhandle.⁽⁶⁾

On January 1, 1888 the Southern Kansas Railway (the Santa Fe) pulled into Panhandle City as it continued to advance southwest toward the Pecos Valley (via Pampa, Amarillo, Canyon). On March 14 of the same year the Fort Worth and Denver joined its two lines to span the Panhandle from southeast to northwest (Amarillo, Channing, Dalhart, Texline). Amarillo had made an unpretentious beginning in July, 1887 to be the competitor of Tascosa. Work was begun in 1898 to complete the Pecos Valley Branch of the Santa Fe (Amarillo, Canyon, Hereford, Texico) which connected Kansas to the West Coast.⁽⁷⁾

In 1901 large tracts of XIT land were sold to cover the redemption of bonds and for development of the remaining lands. In July Major George W. Littlefield bought 235,858.5 acres of the Yellow Houses for $2.00 per acre. Later in the year, W. E. Halsell bought 184,155 acres of the Yellow Houses and Spring Lake lands. The Matador interests expanded their operations along the Canadian, west of Amarillo, with the purchase of 198,732 acres in June of 1902, at the price of $2.40 an acre.⁽⁸⁾

Lamb County is Organized in 1908

Land and townsite companies sprang into existence. In six of the South Plains counties, these operations spawned no less than nineteen towns: Crosbyton, Cedric, Ralls, and Lorenzo in Crosby County; Old Hurley, Hurley, Progress, Janes, Virginia City and Muleshoe in Bailey County; Abernathy, Bartonsite, Norfleet, and Petersburg in Hale County; Olton and Littlefield in Lamb County; Idalou and Shallowater in Lubbock County; and Hockley City in Hockley County, during the six years from 1907 through 1913.⁽⁹⁾

In the midst of this colonization movement lay Lamb County. Having remained privately-owned ranch land through the turn of the century, it was opened to settlers in 1908, when William P. Soash brought in the first prospective land buyers to see his Running Water Ranch in the northeast corner of the county. Soash had bought this ranch from C. C. Slaughter of Dallas. Later that year the county was organized with Olton, which Soash laid out, being made the county seat. After a year's work, the ranch was sold out, and colonization ceased in Lamb County. In 1910 the population of Olton had grown to 150 people, proving that colonization could succeed.⁽¹⁰⁾

Major Littlefield considered colonizing part of his Yellow House Ranch, but true to form, was watching the results of other early efforts. He knew the difficulty of developing a large tract distant from rail transportation. The railroad nearest the ranch in 1908 was a line sixty miles away that ran from Amarillo to Plainview, and that came only twenty miles closer when it was extended into Lubbock in 1909. Then, in 1911 the Santa Fe completed track into Lubbock from the southeast. At this time, the Santa Fe route across the Panhandle went southwest from Kansas through Pampa, Amarillo, and Texico, N.M., and northwest from Colorado City through Post City and Lubbock to Amarillo. On June 7, 1912, Major Littlefield agreed to pay the railroad $100,000 to build the "Texico Cutoff" between Lubbock and Texico, and right through Littlefield's Yellow House Ranch. The Texico Cutoff (Pecos and Northern Texas Railway of the Santa Fe) would shorten the Santa Fe's route from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific coast by about 90 miles. Previous to the line connection in Lubbock, the Santa Fe run from Galveston to the Pacific was through Kansas--650 miles farther.⁽¹¹⁾

The Major created the Littlefield Lands Company in August of 1912 and began the surveying of 79,040 acres (to be sold first) into labors. The 1912 survey map of the seventeen leagues (there was some acreage overage) showed them to be in the northeast corner of the Littlefield ranch, with Ellwood's pasture on the east, Halsell's pasture on the north, Janes' pasture on the northwest, and Littlefield's pasture on the south and southwest.

The townsite for the city of Littlefield, about 200 acres, was also laid out. Residential lots were aligned so that no house would face the west, evidently to avoid the afternoon sun.⁽¹²⁾

The railroad from Lubbock to Texico was completed in 1913, going west each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and east on the days following. Opening day selling of town lots was held on July 4, 1913, a few weeks after Roaring Springs, Texas had made a successful start. Western Union strung line along the railway that year but service did not begin until March, 1914. Telephone service would follow soon after, as the towns first businesses were established.⁽¹³⁾

In 1917 the town of Sudan opened on the railway, about 15 miles northwest of Littlefield. By December, however, land had been withdrawn from sale and the hotel there closed until after the war. The war had brought on higher taxes and had put limitations on the railroads, causing Littlefield to stop sales in October. The drought that year, continuing into 1918, had also discouraged sales. Major Littlefield resumed sales just a few months before he died at his home in Austin, Texas November 10, 1920. The executors sold the remaining property to the Yellow House Land Company in 1923.⁽¹⁴⁾

Lamb County's first farmers answered the "Call of the West" for one primary reason--fresh, and comparatively cheap land. ". . . the economic motive--less expensive land, a milder climate which allowed a longer growing season, an opportunity to open a business, or speculation or investment--was far and away the most important reason for making a purchase, with health and educational opportunities or the blandishments of (land) agents sometimes figuring as major or subsidiary considerations."⁽¹⁵⁾

The migration was, however, more north to south, than east to west. Many of the first colonizers were from older Mennonite settlements on the Great Plains, from Oklahoma to Canada. The droughts of 1917 and 1918, plus the desire to avoid conscription by the military (World War I), caused many of the Mennonites to depart for Canada.⁽¹⁶⁾

Just after Major Littlefield bought his Yellowhouse ranch from the XIT syndicate in July, 1901, W. E. "Bill" Halsell bought 184,155 acres of Yellowhouse and Spring Lake land from the XIT. Part of this land lay north of Littlefield's land. In 1906 Halsell sold 100,000 acres of Spring Lake land to George W. Wright, but retained a Spring Lake ranch headquarters for decades. It became one of Will Rogers favorite visiting places.⁽¹⁷⁾

It has not been determined when John N. Janes, began the colonization of his lands. His Lamb County land, on the west of Littlefield's, was not part of the XIT holdings. He was active in Bailey County on the west side of Lamb, and had an office in Muleshoe. Bailey's colony towns of Hurley, Old Hurley, Janes, and Virginia City disappeared from the maps, probably because they were missed by the railroad. Muleshoe became the county seat. The town of Progress, while on the railroad, would fade away.

"When the will is ready, the feet are light." (George Herbert)

The development of the Lamb County farming country had made good progress by the time Kay and Marie purchased their farm. Because many of the land developers such as Janes held first liens, they had to resell some of their farms. Such may have been the case with the farm Kay purchased.

As 1928 came to a close, Kay and Marie Brantner, now ages 29 and 25 respectively, anxiously looked forward to the move to their newly-purchased farm. They planned to make the trip in January after they had settled their affairs at Red Mud.

Their pre-move trip in December had increased their excitement at the opportunity and adventure that lay ahead. They were about as well off financially as any young couple their age. They had new farming equipment, a new car, and mostly new housekeeping items. They had no debts except the new farm note. A whole new world was about to open up to them and they would be on their own to make a go of it, or fail, as some of the first farmers in the still-new land had done before them.

As 1929 neared, so did the anxiety of leaving their families, and the multitude of memories gained from growing up in what had become a close, comfortable community of relatives and friends. But their generation, like those before, and those to follow, would hear the beckoning call. And those in each generation would decide if they were to be the ones to answer, or the ones to stay behind and perpetuate the known. Warnings by family and friends, especially Grandma Hoover, of tornadoes, sandstorms, freezing ice, and sick children added to the difficulty of the decision.

Kay and Bush Thornton went to Sudan in January for some additional preparation for the move. The weather was good, and in a week they had added a room to the little two-room house and were back in Red Mud.

Kay rigged the front of the new wagon with a tarpaulin to protect him and his clothes from the weather. The wagon held the farming equipment and whatever else could be packed on it. Two horses would pull, and the other two would be led behind the wagon. He planned to make the 100-120 mile haul cross-country in three days. His route would take him through Kalgary west of Red Mud, and north and west through Roosevelt to Lubbock. From Lubbock he would follow the well-traveled road that followed the railroad northwest to Littlefield, then turn due west for 13 miles on the Bula road until he reached the Sudan road, then north toward Sudan for about three miles, to the farm.

On the first night out he found an old shed to sleep in. He slept in all his clothes plus his heavy wool-lined coat, and pulled the tarp over him, hoping this would be sufficient inside the windbreak of the roofless shed. He awoke about 5:00 A.M. covered with snow and freezing. The second night out he slept in a good barn and fared much better.

When Kay went through Lubbock, Fourth Street, now a major downtown east-west thoroughfare, was just a trail. Although the town had just put up Fourth Street markers, Kay felt like he was one of the first to "drive down Fourth." Texas Technological College, established in 1925, was "out west of town a-ways" and consisted of a house and three school buildings. The highway from Lubbock to Littlefield was gravel and "fairly good."⁽¹⁸⁾

While in Lubbock Kay pulled into a nursery and splurged by buying several young Chinese elm trees. One of the first things wives (and husbands) required on the treeless Plains was shade trees.

Marie gave Kay a two-day head start and started out the third day, with John driving her and the children. Irene had just turned five, Ralph was three and one-half, and Doris was nearly two. They pulled a trailer containing part of their furniture, bedding, and housewares. Joe Thornton followed them in his little roadster, which had a truck bed on back that they covered with chicken wire to hold Marie's chickens.

The third night Kay stopped at Anton but pulled farther off the road than Marie and her brothers-in-law expected. He waved greatly, but was unnoticed as they passed him by.

After unloading the cars, Joe spent the night with Ed and Seveatus Gaston in their new home. Marie spent the night in her new home worrying why they had not seen Kay along the way. Joe and John left out about ten the next morning to return to Spur.

These four days were the first time Kay and Marie had been separated since they had married. Suddenly she was alone with three small children in a new and strange place. Tears came quickly. Finally, about noon, she saw Kay turn in at the far corner of the place, standing in the wagon, again making wide sweeps with his hat.

Kay later made another trip back to Red Mud to pick up the rest of their things. Included in this load were two boxes of junk Marie had planned for him to toss in the canyon. So, she got back some of hers and Ray Lil's old corsets. Kay brought their four Jersey cows on this trip. Also, he stopped in Littlefield to pick up the new coal oil cook stove they had bought on their December trip.

The little house had three rooms straight in a row. The front room served as living room and bedroom, the second was a bedroom, and the kitchen was on the rear. At first, the children slept in the middle room.

Bush Thornton returned to help Kay with some additional improvements. They built a new windmill tower and several of the neighbors came over to help them put it up--Ed Gaston and son Trey, Rob Crim, and perhaps others. They also built a tall stand for a water storage tank. The stand was enclosed and also served as a storage and tool shed.

Next they piped water to the little white kitchen sink of which Marie was so proud. Having running water to the kitchen after depending on water drawn from a cistern was certainly a modernization, and was one of the many little excitements associated with coming "up on the Plains." The water was sweet and cool as it came up from the ground. A new outdoor toilet was erected--a two-hole privy. After new lots were built for the horses and cows, they ran a water line to the pens, complete with new, galvanized watering troughs.

A large tent had been used temporarily to store some of their belongings until they were settled in. A cellar was hand-dug and entrance steps were formed of lumber. A heavy "tin" door that would withstand hail and high wind was added. Extra lamps, candles, and matches were kept in the cellar. Marie had been in a terrible storm during her younger days and memories of the devastation stuck. When the clouds looked stormy, which was often, she would quickly shuffle everyone to the cellar--a normal part of Plains raising. The cellar served other valuable purposes. Canned fruit and vegetables were stored on shelves. A huge quilt chest also held the winter woolens when not in use.⁽¹⁹⁾

Cream and eggs were in big demand and the creamery and hatchery in Sudan would buy all that was brought in. The cream separator was put in the water storage shed and cream was sold twice a week in five-gallon cream cans. Marie bought 50 young brown Leghorn hens from the hatchery to add to her flock. The milk and egg money paid for their groceries. Kay bought some hogs to feed the skim milk.

Coal oil for the cook stove was delivered by the barrel. In the winter they burned coal in their wood-burning heater. Coal came in by train to the lumber company or coal yard--another of the reasons railroads were essential to the development of the treeless country. They had no refrigeration, as butane and electricity were a few years away.

On their first visit back to Red Mud they dug several cottonwood trees from the creek. Ambrose supplied them with bugle ivy vine and some blooming willow trees to dress up their Plains landscape. The elm trees and one cottonwood tree were planted on the west side between the house and the road. Cottonwoods were also planted between the house and barns for shade. Later, they obtained peach and crabapple trees, one cherry tree, plum bushes, and blackberries. A garden was started as soon as weather permitted. Because water was plentiful, they watered everything, including the elm trees.

About ten acres were fenced off to serve as a horse and cow pasture, and sudan was planted that spring for early grazing for the stock.

And of course, Grandma Hoover was right! Irene caught pneumonia, so Marie took all the children back to Spur until Irene was better and things were more settled.

Back at Red Mud, John (and Ambrose) farmed the home place in 1929 and 1930. It was probably in 1930 that Brose's oldest sister, Mary, came and stayed a while with him and John.⁽²⁰⁾

The family attended community church services which were conducted in a tabernacle building a few miles south, with all denominations participating. It was a good place to meet the neighbors and to be a part of community life. After a short while they learned of a small Church of Christ group meeting in the Sudan school building and started making the seven-mile trip to worship with those of a similar persuasion.

Marie added some homey touches to the house. Starched and ironed Priscilla curtains were hung, with bedspreads to match. Linoleum was put down to cover the wooden floors. When winter came they hung wallpaper, even on the ceilings, which took some doing.

They depended on the catalogs of Sears, Roebuck, and Company, and Montgomery Ward for much of their household goods and apparel. Sheets, towels, shoes, clothes, and yard goods for sewing were ordered. Writing out the order required care as they had to be very specific about sizes and colors, and had to calculate weight and postage. Usually, a child's foot was traced on paper and included with the shoe order to insure correct fit. If a credit or refund was due, a non-negotiable company check (credit) was sent, that could be applied to the next purchase. Receiving orders through the mail was almost like getting Christmas presents. Even though it might be socks or underwear, it was something new and pretty.

A quilt was always in the quilting frame, ready to be worked on, especially in the winter. Frequently, neighboring ladies would gather at one house and work on the hostess' quilt, sharing news and exchanging information. Marie learned to drive the car so she could visit, and if necessary, drive to town.

The Lamb County community lying between Littlefield, Sudan, and Bula was quickly and thickly settled with young farm families. Roads, schools, and churches were of utmost concern. Of greater and growing concern were the effects of the depression that were growing more severe.

The Plains dryland farmers obviously depended on rainfall. But they also depended on their horses. Kay had strong, gentle horses that were well teamed. They pulled everything there was: turning plow, planter, cultivator, harrow, go-devil, wagon, whatever. The horses were highly valued and loved by all the family. When horses became sick from poisonous weeds, bad feed, sleeping sickness, or whatever, they treated them as best they could as there were no veterinarians nearby. It was a terrible sight to see large, sturdy animals become sick and just lie down and die. The loss was devastating from all standpoints. When it happened, Kay would just turn aside pale and shaken, and then remove the animal. The family felt helpless, discouraged, and heartbroken beyond words.⁽²¹⁾

Next on the list, the farmer depended on hired hands to get the cotton crop out. To get a crew one had to accommodate them. Early in the fall of 1930 Kay built a rectangular shack, divided into two rooms with separate doors. It also had its own privy.

The shack doubled as a storage shed in the off-season and also made a good playhouse when the girls got older. In one end, the salt pork and homemade soap was stored. Kay sometimes put his cottonseed in the shack. Like most, he caught some of the first cottonseed and kept it for seed as it came from the larger, first-opened bolls on the plant. He also caught and stored some cottonseed in the barn to be fed to the milk cows. Otherwise, cottonseed would be sold to the gin and it usually covered the cost of ginning. One of his winter jobs was to sack up the cottonseed so it could be handled easily at planting time. Burlap "tow sacks" (they didn't say tote sack) were kept for this and a multitude of other uses. Kay had a big needle he used to stitch the sacks closed--leaving two half-hitched "ears" to serve as handles.

School Boarding and Room Mothering

In the fall of 1930 Kay and Marie enrolled their first child in school. For the next twenty-eight years they would have one or more children in school or college. Kay would spend many of those years serving on school boards, and Marie would be a "room mother" for one or more children each year until her youngest graduated from high school in 1954. Their dedication to the educational process came not so much from a trait of leadership as from a sense of priority and service. In both arenas of school endeavor, they contributed their time, judgment, and talent to the greater good of the community, rather that just for their own children.

Irene began the adventure of riding a bus each day to school in Sudan. Sudan was a large school--about 800 students--and was the hub for twelve bus routes running in every direction. All buses ran on unpaved roads, caliched in places. When it rained heavily or there was melting snow, the bus would sometimes slide into the "bar pit." The older boys would get out in the mud and shove the bus back up on the road. The bar pit was the shortened term for the "borrow pit" or borrow ditch. This was the ditch along each side of the road that resulted during the road's construction, when dirt was scooped out to build the grade.

Irene's first teacher was Mrs. McKelvy, and her first reader was "Baby Ray." Her learning center was a large sand table and the teacher rigged up a small brooder so the children could watch chickens hatch. She loved the crayons, colored paper, books, and decorated rooms. They had the usual playground equipment: merry-go-rounds, swings, and see-saws, most of which was locally made, and would be considered unsafe by modern standards. The children didn't have any of these things at home, so they enjoyed them, even if someone was always getting hurt.

The bus came by the house early in the morning, and on cold days that meant dresses--always--but with long stockings, warm underwear, a wool coat, and a tam on the head. The book satchel and lunch were carried in hand. As the day warmed, the stockings would be rolled to the ankles. On windy days, however, the windblown gravel would sure sting bare legs.

The first grade's day was over at 2:30, but because there was only one bus run, the country kids remained at school until high school dismissed at 4:00. This made a long day for the young ones, and it was late when they got home. A big fear for first-graders was getting on the wrong bus, even though the teacher marched them to the bus and remained until everyone was on the right bus.

School began the first week of September. Because of the mix of town and country children, it did not break for cotton harvest, as was the custom with many country schools. Some children were kept out of school because many farmers depended on family help to hand-harvest the cotton crop. This was an embarrassment to those who got behind in school and were held back in the grades. This was hard on the teachers also, as the classes were too large in the first place. Sometimes the classes were divided into low-first, high-first, etc. to accommodate the learning level of the children. The students were all Anglo: The Mexican-Americans worked seasonally and did not enter their children in the schools. Blacks were rare in this newly-settled land.

In Irene's class Marie was selected to serve as the "country" room mother, along with one from town. This meant providing punch, cookies, cake, and ice cream to the class after plays, programs, and other special events. As these refreshments had to be homemade, there was a lot of work involved, and it showed a lot of caring on her part. She was still serving as room mother in Irene's senior year.

The teachers had college degrees and the pay was $60 per month. For someone aspiring to teach, it always helped to know someone on the school board. Much was expected--good moral character, teaching skill, and a willingness to blend into the community and take part in its activities. In turn, parents were supportive and very interested in the schools.

As 1930 neared an end, Marie was honored with a baby shower given by the church ladies. The baby clothes were tucked away in a pretty pink and blue crepe-paper-covered box. For Irene's seventh birthday that December 23, she was presented with a baby sister, Alma Joyce, delivered in the home by Dr. Gibbs of Sudan.

There was snow on the ground that day, and a cold, bitter wind was blowing. Kay woke the kids and told them they had a new baby sister. He took the girls into the kitchen to dress, feed, and "mother" them as they were excited and scared from all the activity. In the kitchen, Mrs. Byerly, a neighbor, was bathing the new baby. She had come to stay with Marie, the baby, and the children.

Kay left immediately for Spur, to get Grandmother Hoover to come stay with the new mother. During this time, all new mothers were required to stay in bed ten days. Cleanliness was essential for both mother and baby as there were no medicines to adequately treat infections. All clothes, sheets, and diapers were boiled when washed. Mother and baby were cared for with vigilance.

Grandma Hoover brought "aunts" Norma, Robbie, and Eurena with her, to stay until Marie could be up and about. The girls were in the same age group as Irene, Ralph, and Doris. As all the children believed in Santa Claus, Grandma had hidden her girls' toys in the car. The Brantner toys were safe in the cellar. So, the Brantners had a mother in bed, a new baby, four relatives for care and company, and Christmas to celebrate-all in a three-room house.

On Christmas Eve Kay carried the six children to the Methodist Church nearby, where they were having their Christmas Eve celebration. Finding that they needed a Santa Claus, Kay donned the suit and made a very jolly Saint Nicholas. Every child's present was hung on the tree unwrapped and Santa called out each child's name to come get their gift. Each one also got a bag of fruit, nuts, and hard candy. All of the girls got dolls except Irene, which upset everyone. Kay told her that Santa had made a special stop and took her doll to the house. Sure enough, when Kay looked in the quilt box in the cellar, the doll was there. For Kay and Marie, it had been a hectic and tiring 48 hours.

Sudan was growing with new businesses in spite of the depressed economy. In addition to Dr. Gibbs, there was a drug store, barber shops, variety stores, dry goods and clothing stores, a shoe shop, hotel, and several cafes and grocery stores. The cotton gin, grain elevator, and creamery were very important to the farmer. But one other business that was vital and frequented often was the Higginbotham - Bartlett Company. It sold lumber and other building supplies, windmills, and just about anything else needed on the farm.

The family looked forward to Saturday afternoons, when they bathed, dressed up, and went to town for groceries, other supplies, and perhaps new dress fabric, ribbons, or shoes. It was a good time to see and talk with friends after being somewhat isolated all week. Later on, Sudan would have a movie theater, with westerns and a serial feature, that was especially great for Ralph.

One thing popular with the homemakers was a bonus of free dishes given at the grocery store. As all of the dishes used at the time were breakable, and with such limited counter space in the kitchen, it was a struggle to maintain a full set of dishes.

"Write often, and come when you can!"

There were no telephones out in the country, so Kay left Joe Foster's number with the Hoovers and Brantners at Spur. In case of an emergency they could call Mr. Foster, who managed the Higginbotham - Bartlett store in Sudan and knew Kay personally. He would deliver any message as a kindness to friends and customers.

In those days the U.S. Postal Service would deliver a personal letter to a rural mailbox in 3-4 days for the price of a 1 ½-cent stamp or a 1-cent postcard. Letters were received with joy, opened in haste, and read over and over. If you were homesick, or experiencing the "not knowing" about a sick relative, that letter received was precious. When the grown-ups mailed letters to relatives, the kids got into the act by enclosing drawings, riddles, jokes, etc. for their cousins or aunts.

The Brantner family visited Spur when farm and school schedules would permit. The biggest problem was getting someone to feed, water, and take care of the cows, horses, and other livestock. Sometimes an older farm boy was hired, but usually a trade-off was arranged with a neighbor. A trip back to hometown Spur usually meant leaving early on a Saturday morning so as to be in Spur that afternoon when old friends and neighbors came to town. Most of the roads were being paved--nice when finished--but the detours were many. And if the shallow, playa lakes were rain-swollen up over the roads, they went around them also.

A wooden crate tied to the car contained food for the trip and for the relatives. There were jars of vegetables, fruit, jelly, canned meat, ham and bacon, and even eggs. It was a long, boring trip for the kids. Between Crosbyton and Spur, near a draw with trees, came the final stop before arrival. The children were bathroomed, fed, washed, dressed in fresh-starched dresses, hair brushed, and admonished to stay clean and quiet until they arrived. They would go directly downtown and try to find a parking spot on main street to see and be seen. It was always good to see the relatives and relieve the homesickness. Everyone was interested in their adventures living "up on the Plains." Questions would continue well into the night after all the pallets were down and the last child was told to hush and go to sleep.

The Sixth of June⁽²²⁾

There were three "Remembers" that were an integral part of the children's early training, "Remember the Lord's Day, Remember the Sixth of June, and Remember the Alamo." The latter was meant to invoke a sense of pride in the heritage of the State. Faithful attendance at bible study and worship was a diligent exercise. The second one, "Remember the Sixth of June," was sacred in family tradition.

Each year on June 6 the people of the Red Mud community, those who had once lived there, and anyone else with relatives buried there, came to the cemetery for a day of cleaning and reunion. This day was marked on everyone's mind calendar and, unless crucial cotton planting or something unexpected happened, plans were made each year to attend. The Brantners traveled from Sudan and many others came from far away.

Despite the sunny heat and dusty job at hand, everyone dressed up--at least the women and children did, for this was a social occasion also. The men wore their more casual "Saturday best" because they had to do most of the hoeing. Everyone visited the family plot in remembrance and silent prayer. Parents would explain family relationships to those too young to know or remember.

The old community church building came to be called the "tabernacle." At noon, lunch was spread at the tabernacle and brush arbor nearby. Table after table was spread with fried chicken, iced tea, and each lady's favorite dishes. In the afternoon, someone from the community would speak on the business matters of the Cemetery Association and then give an address on the hardship and courage of our forebears and of the neighborly kinship felt by those present.

In addition, the children were expected to perform with readings, songs, music, or whatever. Before the program began Aunt Leeoma Hoover Cross would line the kids up and "assure" them that they were going to perform! After all, the family reputation was not to be disgraced for failing to do so. So, the Hoover and Brantner kids lined up, rehearsed a little beforehand, and then usually sang. After the children entertained, there would be duets, quartets, fiddle and guitar playing, etc. The "Beer Barrel Polka" or something equally rousing by a local "cracker jack" piano player would liven the group. And Johnnie Brantner would be asked to sing a bass solo hymn, just to see the old wooden tabernacle rattle.

The Sixth of June tradition at Red Mud continues--now the first Saturday in June. Although family members are hundreds of miles away and can seldom if ever attend the reunion, a check or letter is not dated on that day without each one, in their own way, remembering the Sixth of June.

ENDNOTES

1. Haley, The XIT Ranch of Texas, p. 5.

2. Ibid., p. 39.

3. Ibid., pp. 36-37.

4. Ibid., pp. 45-46.

5. Ibid., pp. 50,55.

6. David B. Gracy, II., Littlefield Lands: Colonization on the Texas Plains, 1912-1920 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1968), p. 3. Gracy's bibliography contains an extensive listing of books and studies (including unpublished theses) relating to the colonization of West Texas and of specific counties.

7. Haley, The XIT Ranch, pp. 204, 210, 248.

8. Ibid., p. 218. J. Evetts Haley, George W. Littlefield, Texan, (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1943), pp. 198-199.

9. Gracy, p. 4.

10. Ibid., pp. 4, 9.

11. Ibid., p. 8.

12. Ibid., pp. 15-17.

13. Ibid., pp. 31, 33, 34.

14. Ibid., pp. 86, 92, 95.

15. Ibid., pp. 100, 103.

16. Ibid., p. 88.

17. Haley, The XIT Ranch, pp. 218, 220. The author saw photographs and other memorabilia relating to Rogers during a visit to the Halsell Ranch in 1962.

18. Kay P. Brantner to C. R. B., 1962.

19. Lemley, "The K. P. Brantner Family." Marie was married and living on the Brantner home place when tornado-like winds and hail devastated the Red Hill area east of Spur on May 12, 1924, killing a child. The storm cloud, however, probably passed over, or near Red Mud. There were probably other storms vivid in her memory.

20. Marie Brantner, "Family History."

21. Lemley, The K. P. Brantner Family.

22. Irene Brantner Lemley to C. R. B. May 29, 1989.