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I was born on December 5th, 1908 in Bryson, TX, Jack County, Dr. Edward Hughes attendant, in a small two room house not far from Bryson. Father, Colin Cole Chambers, Mother Bessie Lee (York) Chambers. Dad was born and grew up on the Chambers ranch south of Bryson. Mom was born at Mount Ida, Arkansas and moved to the Bryson area when she was five years old. They married December 24th, 1907. The first year they were married, their grocery and dry goods bill was $19.50.
I grew upon the ranch where Dad grew cotton, corn, wheat, oats and raised horses, mules and cattle, also enough hogs for our own use. I grew up on the back of a horse and have always enjoyed riding. When I was ten years old, I started breaking horses to ride. Dad would saddle the horse and snub it to the saddle horn of his horse. I would get on and Dad would lead me and my horse out in the center of a big open pasture then take the rope off and I was on my own.
We did all the farming with mules. Before I got big enough to harness the mules, Dad would harness them and hook them to the plow and I would plow until time to quit, then he would come back and get the team. Always had chores to do night and morning; feed the pigs, milk cows and teams. All the family worked in the fields chopping weeds out of the cotton and corn. Always had a big garden and raised most of our food. But it wasn’t all work, had plenty of time to go fishing and swimming in the summer. In the fall there were pecans, plums, grapes and persimmons on the creeks.
I had a good hound dog and would hunt squirrels. Then in the winter would hunt and trap opossum, skunk, and coon. Would ship the hides and get a little money. The first job I had away from home was plowing for a man, and worked ten hours a day, and was paid 50 cents per day. Never had any money as a kid, but didn’t need it. There was nothing to spend it on.
Bought my first pair of western boots when I was twelve. Paid for them $1.00 per week that I made as janitor at the church. Just about everyone went to church. We had Sunday school at 10:00 am, then the Sermon at 11:00, then a Sermon again at 8:00 in the evening. Then Prayer Meeting Wednesday evenings.
Had lots of Aunts and Uncles and Cousins to visit with. Dad’s parents died when I was young, so don’t remember much about them. Mom’s Dad died also when I was young, but Grandma York lived for a long time.
In 1925 November, we moved from Bryson to Lovington, NM. Was hard to like the plains after the rolling hills and trees of Texas. For a few years Dad ran a sheep ranch for a widow. Then bought his own place two miles from west of Lovington on the Lovington-Artesia highway.
Had no trouble with the change of schools. In a few days knew most everyone. Played basket ball, football, and tennis. Won District 1st place in tennis singles and 2nd in doubles. Played every second of every game in football for two years and we only lost one game. It was the first game we played, it was the first game I had ever seen.
Should have finished High School in 1928, but got involved in building an addition on the gymn and had to go for half a year in 1929.During the summer while in high school worked on ranches branding, building fences, moving cattle or anything that needed doing. Got $1 per day, worked for a month with a survey crew surveying for the railroad from Monahana, TX to Lovington, NM.
Soon after high school, went to work in a general store. We opened at 6:00 a.m. and closed at 6:00 p.m. except on Saturday weekend at 9:00 p.m. Was paid $60 per month. After a year I was manager of the grocery and feed part and the pay was $80 month.
On August 1st, 1931 married Gladys Hudgens. Had a nice home ceremony at Dad and Mom’s home. Then the 1st of February, 1932 I lost my job with the store. Was the beginning of the depression. They sold the store. There weren’t any jobs to be had. The first of April went to Uncle Leonard’s ranch and worked for a month during lambing. Didn’t work any more until the 1st of December, drove 500 lambs to Elida, NM. Got home December 24th, had $35, played pinochle the rest of the winter. Then April 1st of 1933, went to Uncle Vestor’s ranch for lambing, made another $30. Just me and eleven Mexicans. Then in the summer of 1933, went to work for Eidson on a ranch west of Lovington during roundup. Mom was cooking for the hands. I worked as cowboy, windmill mechanic and many other things. We started our day at 4:00 a.m. and finished from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. We were paid $1 per day for the two of us. We were at Eidson's for a few months, then went to the Record ranch at Monument. Were paid $40 per month. Were there only about two months, then moved to Wicket, Texas and worked in an oil refinery firing boilers. Was paid $4.00 per day when we worked, but would work one to two days a week then would be off about the same length of time. Worked there until the spring of 1934 when we went to work again for Eidson on a ranch at Mentone, TX. There were 70 sections in the ranch and the Pecos River was the west boundary. Was ten miles to the river from the house. Our closest neighbor was 15 miles, got our mail and groceries at Mentone another 15 miles. Were there until the summer of 1937 when they sold the ranch. Then worked for Mrs. Kyle for a short time. Then in a grocery store in Mentone a short time. Then went to Hobbs, NM and worked in a truck shop for a month. Then went back to Lovington and took over the dairy on Dad’s place. Milked by hand until World War II. The service took all the help so had to get milkers. Ran the dairy until 1947. While on the dairy, bought 320 acres of pasture and had a few Hereford cows on it. But no house. Sold the land and cows in 1948, then started looking for a place to buy. Wound up in Goldendale, WA in August 1948. Found and place and bought it. Had to build a house and barns. Then found I couldn’t make a living on the place. So went to work as a plumber in Goldendale for Fred Stone. Worked 8 hours a day in town and about that many on the farm. Made long days. Sold the Goldendale farm in 1970 and bout 50 acres near Granger, WA. Always wanted a real cow ranch, but guess it doesn’t really matter.
I owe all I have to a good wife and a good family.
December 21, 1978
J.A. Chambers
