Paul, in his teens, set out with a friend to seek his fortune in Arizona. Perhaps the glamour of the cowboy role in the play had influenced him; also our half brother, Jack, was living in Arizona and had written about the state. The two boys thought bumming a ride on a Santa Fe freight boxcar would be exciting. They planned to make stops en route and work. Well, a rough time it was, but eventually they reached Jack's home looking like hobos. Paul worked on a ranch a while before returning home. Years later, when in retirement, he had a desire to see that ranch again. With his wife, Bea, and traveling by motorhome, he went back -- quite a contrast to his first trip in a boxcar.
In order for Ruth and me to be near school, our parents left the boys at the ranch and moved to Lawn for a year. We entered into school activities, kept up our grades, and enjoyed many friendships. We had parts in plays, and Ruth was on the basketball team. I played in a group which my chum, Ruth Selman, and I got together -- a straggly bunch who could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be called a team. Lots of fun. Some of us are still together; and, when I visit there, we reach back in memory with Thelma Morgan Willis and Myrl Windham O'Bar to our slumber parties, our visits in each other's homes, the fun times with schoolmates, and, of course, our dates. Our thoughts are never far from our parents who did so much for us. There are those -- some older, some younger -- in the Lawn community whose friendship I also cherish.
One summer Papa had our new Model T Ford touring car outfitted in Fiske (red rubber) tires -- considered by many to be the top- quality tire. Mr. Hefley was invited to make a trip with Papa to El Paso, with Ruth and me doing the driving. I was 13 or 14, and Ruth was two years older. I'm amazed at the confidence these two elderly, though still vigorous, men had in our driving ability. We had only driven in the community -- maybe to Abilene. We were to visit Jenny and family; Mr. Hefley would visit his daughter, Ethel.
There was no such thing as a driver's license, no identification cards, no ownership-of-car receipt in the pocket book, no speed limit, no patrolman on duty, no roadside travel information available, and no comfort stations. We were on our own. All we had to do was drive west on a graveled highway for five hundred miles. There was, however, considerable construction underway, causing much detouring on dirt roads. The car was not equipped with a "footfeed" pedal; attached under the steering wheel was a gas lever which was easily manipulated. We traveled at 35 miles an hour. By mid-afternoon, on our first day out, a terrific sandstorm blew in with such density that the headlights had to be turned on.
Papa thought we should stop for the night in Monahans, just a wide spot in the road, so to speak. The towns of Odessa and Midland were hardly spectacular. We arrived in El Paso the next afternoon. Prohibition was in force at this time, making trips across the Rio Grande to Juarez for beer a necessity, in Papa's view. We saw a bullfight in Juarez -- no enjoyment in that event. After a great visit, the Harris family and Ethel told us good-by, and we left for home. Way out in the open spaces, with cactus trees dotting the land, we drove up to a desolate, roadside store, hoping to get refreshments. There was a gypsy tent a few yards away. Papa saw Ruth going into the tent to have her fortune told -- quickly he got her out of there, saying the woman would have stolen Ruth's watch. The snack food we bought to take with us was too stale to eat. We arrived home without mishap, and the youn drivers never doubted their expertise in handling the Ford. Ruth still has some of the snapshots of that eventful trip.
Paul, I believe, was the serious one in our family, although he laughed easily and had as much fun as anyone. He was very serious, however, about starting to school. He took a big book, upside down, to Mama and tearfully opened it, pointed to a word, and said: "See, I can't read a word. I don't want to go to school."
Bond seemed to take life easy -- no problems. He brought home numerous little animals, hoping to make them pets. Once it was a big owl he perched on top of the hall door -- just one look from Mama sent him scrambling out with his bewildered owl. He didn't give up easily; he even tried to train two opossums to pull a little wagon. There were prairie dogs of all ages; and once he became too close to a skunk, and Mama had to burn the clothes he had been wearing. He was successful with the crow, and we appreciated his ability in that venture. We once had a beautiful collie dog; there were stray dogs, cats, and kittens always. I onc raised a duck from a fluffy, yellow ducklet. The boys took him to the fair while I was away, and he won a blue ribbon -- all in fun because he was the only duck entered at Lawn's big fair.
A story about Ruth is the time she found a silver dollar. She was walking to school with the older children when she saw a shiny object stuck in a crack of the wooden bridge. She was wearing her favorite, bright red coat; slipping the dollar unnoticed into her pocket, she went on to school, not letting anyone know of her find She never let the coat out of her sight all day -- even staying inside at recess to keep an eye on it.
"Remember the ironing board" is an expression I was to hear when I became hesitant to do something that appeared to be difficult. Jac Cook's family, on leaving for California, left a wooden ironing board with the family who bought their house. We were to pick it up. The boys kept putting us off until one day I announced to Mama and Ruth (I must have been about ten years old) that I was waiting no longer. I was going after the ironing board. This was not just board -- it was made to fold out and stand alone on the floor; heavy wood was used in the construction. I walked half a mile down a shortcut path to the house, got what I went after, and started back home through the pasture. A cow lowered her head and ran towards me. I was scared but had no intention of dropping my burden. The cow stopped, and I reached home with my prize intact. We used that heavy, old ironing board for many years.
Mama read her Bible daily, usually after everyone went to bed or very early in the morning. Her days were filled with seeing to family needs. A framed Bible verse, in decorated letters on a pastel background, reading "He careth for you", hung on the wall. "God is love" is another framed verse that we saw every day. On Friday she began preparing for Sunday. Our clothes were made ready: one set for Sunday school and church, and one fresh, everyday set to change into when we got home. Most of Sundays' meals were cooked on Saturdays. About the only time she spent alone and for herself was Sunday afternoon. She played the piano or practiced violin lessons from a correspondence course. These are the years long after the time she had held Sunday school classes for boys. Sometimes we went visiting on Sunday afternoon, or friends visited us.
The hall of our house was not very long. It was a passageway from one porch to another, and it separated the parlor from the living room. Actually the living room was a bedroom for Papa and Mama. It had a brick fireplace and was furnished with a davenport, chairs, and an antique bed and dresser. Papa had a comfortable chair by the window where he did his reading. When he could no longer see the print, Mama read to him. The hall was furnished with a bookcase, a couch, and a wall telephone. It was a great place to read -- always a breeze flowing through and the couch was perfect for relaxed reading. It was not very wide and had no arms or back, but one end sloped upward to make a headrest. The surface to lie on was so firm that one did not easily fall asleep while reading.
We had a set of The Book of Knowledge. This twenty-volume set of children's literature is still published by the same company, but today it is an encyclopedia of literature for children. There were some books of poetry in the bookcase. Robinson Crusoe and Black Beauty were favorites of mine. Mama once gave me The Poor Little Rich Girl. Also I read Pollyanna, Lad -- A Dog, and a set of Ruth Fielding books. I remember a nicely-bound book of Alexander Pope's poetry and other fine books that I never read. The boys read a lot, including Edgar Rice Burroughs, Rex Bell, and Zane Gray books. When we were small, Mama read to us from The Youth's Companion Magazine -- a delight to all of us, even those who could read. She read by lamplight, after supper, with chairs drawn near the fireplace. Outside the wind might be howling or snow might be falling -- we hardly noticed.
Our parents did their best to give us advantages. Mama gave Ruth and me piano lessons, but we proved to be disappointing pupils. They made special efforts to get us all to the circus and, occasionally, to other attractions in Abilene. Once Laura, one of Papa's daughters, invited my sister and me to a silent movie and stage show at the Queen theater, Abilene's best. The Chautauqua came to Lawn. The high school did its best to present good plays and programs. There were drills in costume for the little ones. My fifth grade teacher led us in singing a couple of songs each morning before starting classes. We learned many of Stephen Foster's songs and other old favorites. I think, for the most part, we had dedicated teachers.
I started out to write my autobiography up to the present time, but I find sadness, as well as joy, has crept in when pursuing the lives of those dear to me who have passed on. I will stop this work and finish at a later date for Sallie and her family. Perhaps my nieces and nephews will add their memories to what I, with the help of Ky and Ruth, have written.
I have tried to portray the whole, as much as I could, by choosing significant detail of those early days as I remember them. There were hardships that I have not recorded, but in the main it seems they come from harsh weather conditions, crop failures of one kind or another, low prices for cotton or wheat, and an acceptance of hard work with few conveniences. I search for meaningful words to express what I feel for that time and place, knowing -- as I have always known -- that a part of me remains there.
Constance Cook Montgomery
| Opal Montgomery Wright and family
| Dorothy Montgomery Wright and family
| Doris Montgomery Hanks and family
Bea Cook (widow of Paul Wells Cook)
| Billie R. Cook Willis and family
| Paul W. Cook, Jr. and family
Bessie Cook (widow of Bond Cook)
| Marcheta Cook Mayfield and family
| Bob Cook and family
Ruth Cook Raper
Helene Cook Tyree
| Sallie Tyree Everette and family
This record is being written May 11, 1985, the birthday date of H. B. Cook (born May 11, 1849).
BURIAL FOR H. B. COOK, 78, FRIDAY
PIONEER TAYLOR COUNTY RANCHMAN PASSES AWAY AT HOME NEAR LAWN
H. B. (Ruff) Cook, seventy eight years and one day of age, pioneer Taylor county rancher, civic worker and official, died at his home near Lawn at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The funeral is to be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the residence with burial immediately afterward in the Dewey cemetery nearby. Only the Masonic service will be held at the home and cemetery.
Active pall-bearers will be members of the Masonic lodge, that organization being in charge. Honorary pall-bearers will be J. M. Wagstaff, J. W. Red, Col. H. L. Bentley and Lee W. Brooks of Abilene; R. F. Cannon, J. J. Montgomery, G. F. Hefley, P. H. Armistead, D. A. Berry, A. L. Harris, E. Mitchell and W. R. Patterson, all of Lawn.
Mr. Cook was one of the best known and most universally loved of the older citizens of Taylor county. He came to Abilene in 1889 and built a home at 302 Palm street which is now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. D. M. Oldham, Jr. He was a delegate to practically every county and state Democratic convention since the nomination of Will Hogg as governor and had attended most of them. His great personal charm and loyalty to friends gave him one of the strongest personal followings of any man in this section. Among other offices he had served one term as sheriff here. He was on the board of directors of the Abilene State hospital when it was first established and, as alderman for this city, put over the deal for acquisition of the old fire station at First and Cedar streets, said to have been dedicated to him.
Born in Tishimingo county, Miss., May 11, 1848, he came to Bastrop county, Texas, with his father when young, and later moved to Milam county, where he was in the ranching business. He was married in Milam county on his twenty-fourth birthday to Miss Martha Jane Crossett, a North Carolinian who died here May 16, 1895 and is buried here. Nine children by his first wife survive. He was married on October 8, 1899 at Abilene to Mrs. Sallie Wells Cole, who, with their five children, survive him.
Soon after his first marriage, Mr. Cook moved to Coryell county, where he lived four years before spending four years in McLennan county, coming from there to Abilene.
Nicknamed "Ruff."
Before coming here he was known as "Ruff" Cook, having been nicknamed "Rough and ready" when a young man, but was known in this county more as "H. B." His cattle brand was "RUF." The nickname was given by his father, after that of General Taylor.
Mr. Cook was very active as a Knight-Templar Mason and had served as Worshipful Master of both the Waco and Abilene lodges. He organized most of the Masonic lodges in Taylor and many in Runnels county. He was a member of the Baptist church.
At the time of his death he lived on a 3,000 acre ranch, though he had largely abandoned the cattle business for farming and had 1,600 acres in cultivation. The ranch is located four miles southwest of Lawn in southeastern Taylor county. Mr. Cook was very active in the campaign for the location of the Texas Technological college and made the nomination speech for Buffalo Gap.
He was the father of fifteen children, fourteen of whom survive him. Althea, a daughter by his first marriage died in 1899 at the age of ten years. His surviving children by the first marriage are Mrs. E. N. Harris, El Paso; Mrs. L. E. Merchant, Carlsbad, N. M.; Mrs. D. M. Oldham, Jr., Abilene; J. H. Cook, Holtville, Cal.; Mrs. W. S. Wood, San Antonio; Mrs. Allan Rutledge, Dallas; Mrs. T. R. Holbert, Greeley, Iowa; Mrs. Newton M. Callahan, Birmingham, Ala.; H. B. Cook, Jr., Dallas. The children by the second marriage are Mrs. Walter Montgomery, Paul, Bond, Ruth and Helene all of Lawn.
Held in High Esteem.
Judge J. M. Wagstaff said Thursday morning that Mr. Cook had always taken a prominent part in political and civic matters of Abilene and Taylor county. He held many places of prominence. Beginning with the election of Governor Hogg he had been a delegate to almost all state Democratic conventions and had attended most of them.
"I have known Mr. Cook for more than 35 years and have been intimately acquainted with him during all this time. I have never known a man who was more loyal to his friends or who would sacrifice more for them than would H. B. Cook. He had resided in the county for more than 35 years and there were few men who have been more prominent here. He took an active part in all civic and political matters. I have attended many conventions with him, and, although I have differed with him on many instances, I have never seen one more loyal to his personal friends. I feel that Taylor county has sustained a distinct loss in the death of Mr. Cook," said Judge Wagstaff.
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