|
www.txland.com
|
Features |
|
|
Services |
|
Classified |
|
Advertising |
|
Subscribe
WebUpdat
Renewal |
|
Staff |
Monte D. West,
Publisher
Megan P. West, Assistant Editor
Kim S. West Bookkeeping
Regina Ducharme,
Office Manager
Melanie Hall, Staff Reporter
Brett Bowen, Staff Reporter
936-449-NEWS (6397)
|
|
Contributing
Writers |
|
JJB,
April Sound Upbeat
Sissy Boulware,
I've Been Thinking
Sharon Faison,
Travel
Doc Fennessy,
Walden Happenings
Marty Sanford,
Crusin' Cape Conroe
|
|
Who
We Are |
| |
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
I've Been Thinking, Historical Account of the Montgomery Area
by Narcissa Martin Boulware
"Yippee likes butter too"
During the time my husband and I had cattle on the open range on the San Jacinto River and on Little Lake Creek our cattle mixed with those of two fine old men, Buddy and Oliver Dunlap. Another good cowman, Robert Malone, had lots of cattle in that area, and every so often these cowmen got together to "work" the cattle.
Buddy Dunlap was the stay-at-home brother while Oliver, along with his right-hand helper, Downey Young tended the cattle. Mr. Malone did not ride anymore when we were there, but he also had a very trusted, capable rider and like Downey, a black man who was a top hand with cattle. One of these cow-hunting trips, a very hot day, very little water for the people, horses and more important the dogs, which were the utmost importance to the riders. These little leopard dogs ranged far and wide ahead of the riders in heavy dense thick brush, in which the riders could see very little. The dogs located, surrounded, stopping (in case one ran) and barking continuously at the cattle, until the riders arrived. Every cowman had his prize dogs, and his favorite among the lot. Great value was placed on these dogs. The two Dunlap brothers, both bachelors, lived in the Dunlap home founded by their parents. These two men were in their late sixties at the time and lived on the south bank of Little Lake Creek, established in the early 1860's. They still lived the life style in which they were raised. Food was raised on the place, and the two boys still slept in a house in the yard of the main house. Customs in those days were that the boy children slept upstairs or attic of the home, while the female members of the family slept downstairs. At some time while Buddy and Oliver were growing up, a small house was built in the yard, and all the male members of the family moved out there. It was a "bunk house" and meant only for sleeping. All other family members were in the main house. Even when all the family members were dead or permanently living out of the family home, Buddy and Oliver still slept in "the office". They had a wonderful black lady that arrived at their home every morning in time to cook a hot breakfast on a wood burning stove for these early rising two brother. Breakfast for these two men always included biscuits, unlimited amounts of butter, bacon or ham slices, always some jam or jelly made by this cook-housekeeper.
One very hot, dry day we were cow hunting in the area known as Camp Letcher, a former lumber camp. Peach Creek ran parallel with the old campsite, but was totally dried up for miles either way. The pond built for the old logging camp had plenty of water, and we decided to stop there and let the horses, dogs and men get refreshed in the water. There was a small empty house a short distance from Camp Letcher pond on what was called the Edward's Place. We all got off our horses, got our lunches out of our saddlebags and sat down in a shady place on the porch. Everybody but Oliver Dunlap had one lunch sack. As we sat and ate our lunches, Oliver pointed toward an area toward the San Jacinto River and told us that as a small boy, his family lived on that very piece of land. He said that he had slept out on this porch and at night could hear the bears in his father's cornfield tearing ears of corn off to eat. There was nothing his family could do to protect the crop that was a vital part of the food for the family and animals. The bears would not just get what corn they wanted to eat but would destroy a lot of it in their rampage. As we were eating, I noticed that Oliver whistled to his prized leopard dog little female that my husband and I had given him. He called her "Yippee" and was one of the things Oliver loved most; she came slowly and quietly on the porch and laid down by Oliver. There were two lunch sacks in Oliver's bags, one for him and one for Yippee. The lunches were made with biscuits. Oliver opened one bag set it aside and opened the other. He handed Yippee a biscuit, which she took quietly and slowly. She ate very daintily. Each time she finished a biscuit, Oliver handed her another. I had never seen a man and a dog have separated lunches, or of eating their lunches together. It was evident that this same event had been done many times over because it was done so automatically.
Our dogs were scattered around the house in any shade that could be found. They neither got nor expected food in the middle of the day, they were fed all they wanted at the end of the day. We had proven many times over in our rise of cow dogs that a full stomach of food was very detrimental to the working dog. They just could not work on a full stomach and was very dangerous to the dogs on a hot, dry day.
I said I was curious as to why Oliver had to separate lunches, one for him, and one for Yippee. He said Yippee was very particular about her food and would not eat her biscuits unless they had lots of butter on them. I like butter, and Yippee likes butter too!
A greater love hath no man. |
Anniversary
announcement
April Sound
Classified
Events
Crusin' Cape
Dobbin Texas
Editorial
Happy
Birthday
History
of Montgomery I've Been Thinking
Entertainment
Legal
Notice
People Focus
Obits
Schools
Sports
Travel
Walden
Happenings
Wedding/Engagement Announcements