A story my mother told me...............

[Bob Wright]

My mother was born in 1896 in Defeated Creek, Tennessee. When my mother was about six years old, her mother died, and Mother lived with relatives and worked to pay her board. One episode was living/working with an aunt who ran a boarding house in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.
One day a man, new to the area, came seeking rooms at the boarding house. He was dressed in western attire, boots and all. The aunt referred him to another boarding house. My mother asked why, as they did have rooms available.

"Did you see his boots?" asked the aunt, "He looked like a cowboy, or worse."

In time the man died, and a lawyer who was executor of his estate, handled the funeral arrangements. And to the owner of that boarding house, gave the owner papers left by the old man. Seems he was from the west, Denver or somewhere close. Had struck it rich in silver mining, and left the widow a handsome sum of money, close to a quarter million dollars, as I recall the sum.


Bob Wright

 

[Sin6Sec63451022]

See? Ya just can't trust them cowboys!

 

[blume357]

There is probably more to the story, perhaps the lady that ran that boarding house helped him get those boots off on more than one occasion.

 

[Don Lovel]

There is probably more to the story, perhaps the lady that ran that boarding house helped him get those boots off on more than one occasion.

Old Cowboy......he might have stayed on the second boarding house lady more than 8 seconds...............

 

[stevemb]

Back in the early days of Denver and other such cities, it was hard to tell the difference between somebody that just mucked stalls and somebody that just mucked 10K of silver, "muck stick", a term for shovel back in that day. So, those that ran hotels and restaurants had to be a bit forgiving of a patrons dress and odor..just in case.

 

[Bob Wright]

There is probably more to the story, perhaps the lady that ran that boarding house helped him get those boots off on more than one occasion.

He was new in town...........



Sorry I posted.

Bob Wright

 

[Colonialgirl]

When I lived/worked in SoCal, one of the other Lab Techs had a Father that had been the BIGGEST independent oil producer on Signal Hill in Long Beach, CA. He told me of the time the state decided to have a FORMAL Banquet to "Honor" all the old time oil prospectors/producers. My Friend told me that the MAJORITY of them refused to give up their "Overalls" and wear a Tuxedo UNLESS the STATE RENTED those Tuxes for them. Sounds like quite a bunch to me.

 

[eveled]

Bob, I don't think blume meant any offense. He was just saying that the cowboy and the other rooming house lady may have had a relationship. To explain the inheritance.

 

[mikewriter]

I have known several old timers who were at least "very well off", who dressed and acted like they were probably low income, but most were pretty tight with their money. Some, though, would probably have repaid kindness as in this story.

Thanks for sharing. (I especially enjoyed those town names!)