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Early County Rancher Rodeto Wellingtonc. h. a r,nousNot all ttollingswofth County ranchers traveled by horseback, One, a staunch individualist, rode his bicycle when be had to commute from his ranch in the north part of the county to Wellington or Shamrock.In a talk before the 1954Study Club Thursday, November 13, County Judge R.L. Templeton told of G.H. Aldous, “The Rancher Who Rode a Bicycle.” His material was taken from the journal Mr. Aldous kept over a long period of years, and which was published a few years ago by Dr. Donald Green of (he History Department, Central State University. Edmond, Okla.The journal—and Judge Templeton’s talk, revealed another sidelight of Collingsworth history: among all the cattle ranchers, there were a few who raised sheep. Mr. A Id on s’s first job after arriving here was one as a sheep herder.In 1899, he recorded in his journal that he was summoned In jury duty inWellington, and rode his bicycle lo town. It is also known that he had jury duty in Wfleeter County...not exactly legal even for those« ■ Jpioneer days, and all the more unusual since Mr. Aldous was an English citizen.G. Herbert Aldous was born at Ipswich. Suffolk, England, September 18. 1868. the son of a lawyer with 1 I children, .fudge Templeton told the group.He raised homing pigeons and silk worms, and when he was lb years old, he had saved enough to pay his passage to the United States—S112. the speakercontinued.He left for the United States May 4. 188b. bringing with him a small alcohol stove his mother gave him, so lie could brew lea during the voyage. He recorded in his journal that he landed at New Orleans, had his clothes boiled and then disinfected, and caught the train toDa I las-Fort Worth--andthen to Harold, just east of Vernon and the end of the Ft. Worth and Denver line.Mr. Aldous bought a gun, shot, powder, bedding, and a horse, He shot doves and rabbits for food and arrived at the site later to become Wellington on June I, 1886.He worked as a shecp-herder for Henry Partis and Frank Cole and lived in a dug-out on the north bank of Elm Creek.Once in 1889. he ran out of tea and had to grimly drinkcoffee for a while.The journal reveals that he (ended John Robert (Bob) Jones for two weeks when he was kicked in the head by a horse, and tended Mrs. C.C. Cook while she had smallpox. He voted in the elections of 189b and 1900.Mr, Aldous also hunted prairie chicken; danced at Elm Creek School; and attended a picnic and singing at Aberdeen.He was married to Miss Lillie Cook, a teacher at Elm Valiev School. September 18, 1902.’His part in helping organize the Episcopal Church was noted in the journal in 1905.Although his wages as a sliccpherdcr were only $20 a month, be was able to buy 400 head for himself in September 1888.Mr. Aldous bought 640 acres of land for $250 and traded a bay mare for 320 more.As the 20 th century opened, he owned 1280 acres of land and was paying his hired hand 50 cents a day.He had bought his first cattlein 1890. and two years later he had 147 head.Mr. Aldous planted kaffir corn in 1897, believed to be the first in the county, and by 1905 he was growing alfalfa.He had noted in his journal that his entire income in 1891 was $414.25 and his expenses $317.62. He must have had a little money lucked away, for he loaned out $115 at 12'/2% interest.When he died in 1923, Mr. Aldous was still a citizen of Great Britain, and as long as he lived, he returned onceHospiuViftltlflg Haunt 1;0U M 4:Murray Dodson, Dodson, medical, was hospitalized Nov. 10 and dismissed Nov.16. iDavid Baumgardner, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Baumgardner, medical, was admitted Nov. 10 and released Nov. 13.James Thomas, son of Mr, and Mrs. James Thomas. Sr.. traumatic surgery, was admitted Nov. 10 and dismissed Nov. II,Robert Roan, traumatic surgery, was admitted Nov.11.Mrs. Louella Daves, medical, was admitted Nov. 11 and released Nov. 13.evey five years to his native land.His journal is an accurate rcfleciton on prices of the day in Collingsworht County. He paid $135 for a row binder and $34.55 for a disc seeder. Eggs cost 25 cents a dozen and bacon 7 cents per pound.Even his bicycle earned him a bit of income. Bicycle riders were considered sissies, so he once challenged two cowboys to a race of 40 miles. He won handily and collected 10 silver dollars from each.Mrs. Lynn Wright was hostess when the 1954 Study Club heard this bit of Collingsworth History. Members brought gifts for the Vernon State Hospital.During the business session, directed by Mrs. Virgil Patterson, plans were made for club members to conducta tour of the CollingsworthCounty Museum for children on Thursday, November 20.Attending were Mrs. Fred Cox. Mrs. A.J. Fires, Mrs. Leon Hartman, Mrs. Bill Hatch, Mrs. Cal Hurst, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Paul Spillman. Mrs. R.L. Templeton and the hostess, Mrs. Wright.Save atThomas Music Center 9th East AvenueSee John A If Thomas or call 447-543116-k
Newspaper Details
Wellington Leader
Wellington, Texas, US
Thu, Nov 20, 1975
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Floyd K.
NA, 28 Jul 2022
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Wellington Leader
