The members of the Daedalian Literary society of Intermountain Union college
enjoyed a party at the home of Miss Leone Carsley, 634 Mound street, last
night. Games were played and refreshments served. A literary program was
given:
Devotions, Margaret Knudsen; piano solo, Ethel Doles; reading, Eunice
Lindquist; "Daedalian Traditions," Mildred Bartz; "Strummin' Along,"
Olna Odenbaugh; reading, Helen Knapp; "I Dunno," a comedy, Betty
Midgett and Company; "Good, Bad, or Indifferent," Margaret Wills.
New Mexico:
The Mr. Odenbaugh mentioned below was
Edward Nelson Odenbaugh. He and his
second wife were the only Odenbaughs living there in the 1930s.
THE DEMING HEADLIGHT
Deming, New Mexico
Friday, March 23, 1919
Page 5
The many ways in which a cowboy's life has changed
OLD TIMERS
By Thelma Inmon
Continuing with the story about the early people of this area, and it was
left off where after statehood ranchers were able to lease the state lands
and have more control over what they called "their range."
It didn't cost much to raise stock, but the rancher sold 3-and-4-year old
steers for $3 per head. He rarely sold cows or calves, and generally
raised his own bulls. It was rumored that one cowman never bought cows or
bulls, but always had plenty of stock.
He fought adverse weather conditions: disease in livestock was rampant;
and he branded wherever he found the stock. A chuckwagon and cook was a
necessity.
Needles to say, the women who lived on these ranches also had their
problems. Oil lamps, wood stoves or an open fire to cook on. Washing
clothes in huge kettles outside, and teaching the children
"book-learning."
When I came here in 1925, there had already been much advancement, but
most of it has come since 1930. The Taylor Grazing Law came into effect
in 1935, and boundaries were defined. The range was fenced, and a cowman
started buying good bulls, calved his cows and stopped overgrazing.
He "punches cows" in a pickup truck, or sometimes even by plane. Through
scientific research, he has found a way to combat many of the diseases
that plagued the early rancher. Perhaps the greatest "varmint" he worries
with today is the thoughtless hunter or picnicker who has no respect for
other people's property.
He come to town in a matter of minutes over good roads or in the the sky.
His cattle are well-bred and he rarely keeps a steer that is over a year
old. His wife and children have most of the same conveniences of women
and children in town enjoy.
The growth of farming in this valley is even more fabulous that that of
ranching. Its development hasn't been as gradual over the years but has
now attained a stature of which we can be justly proud.
As I stated earlier, the Indians were the first farmers. Then came the
Spaniards and Mexicans. People who put the plow to the land on the upper
river country. They were small, isolated farms. The first land put into
cultivation in this valley was done by the Chinese.
This farm was known as the Chinese Gardens and was east, and slightly
north of town. They started sometime in the early '90s and produced the
only fresh vegetables in the valley for many years. With the coming of
refrigerated railroad cars, they were forced to close their operation
around 1930.
The first homesteaders started arriving about 1908. The big influx of
homesteaders began around 1912 to 1914.
The Meissie Tract was one of the first big farm operations and it started
the town of Myndes. The area several miles south of town was also settled
and the town of Hondale came into being.
There was much farming activity in the lower valley between here and
Columbus and a settlement named Waterloo served these people.
The early settlers were land hungry and many knew very little about how to
farm this new country. Because of the lack of "know how," poor land and
low prices, most of the land was abandoned. Many of these settlers were
from Iowa and could not cope with the change in climatic conditions.
One of the early-day promoters was Ralph Ely, a lawyer, who established
the Little Vineyards southeast of town. Among the first who were most
successful in farming the valley was a John Lund who proved that this was
a good potato country. There was also a Charles Hicks, the Hon family and
the Ousterbouts.
The big stimulus in the farming industry came when Sam Skidmore, who was
secretary to the Chamber of commerce, working in cooperation with Frank
K(rotok?) Sr. brought the first Bohemian families in the middle '20s.
Some held on through the worst kind of conditions possible. Later, a
Mr. Odenbaugh sought to bring in settlers from West
Virginia. Only one remained, and today he is one of our most successful
farmers. He is Nick Vocale and I'm sure that he could fill a large book
with his problems and heartaches. He demonstrated that a coal miner could
become a good farmer.
Back in those days, the major crops were beans, potatoes and tomatoes. A
Mr. Osborn opened up the first tomato cannery in the valley.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The compressed Spirits and Chemical Company is the name of a firm incorporated
in Binghampton to put up whiskey and other spirits in tablets, homeopathic
doses of good old rye done up in a small package.
Mr. Odenbaugh claims for his invention that it will be of great use in the
medical world, as it occupies but small space in the medicine case. He claims
that his tablet combines all the properties of pure whiskey in a solid form
and that by dissolving in a certain quantity of water the very best kind of
whiskey is produced.
Another feature claimed by the members of the company is that the high
internal revenue tax and all State licenses will be avoided by the use of the
tablet.