Speaker teaches history of black cowboys
ATLANTA, Texas — Cass County genealogists were introduced to a number of black cowboys in history by local Atlanta journalist Raydeen Edwards during their meeting Feb. 8.
Edwards was intent on making two strong points. First, the black cowboy was historically prominent in making up some 25% of the professional cowboy workforce.
Second, Edwards engagingly told of his own enthusiasm for being a cowboy as a youth.
“I loved John Wayne, had to be quiet when my grandmother turned on Matt Dillon and my father wore a cowboy hat every day of his life until he died,” Edwards began to explain.
“I dressed that way, too. I didn’t always understand everything about it, and I got occasional teasing, but it was in my blood.”
Raydeen had a strong recommendation for young people and horses.
“As for young people and horses, riding and taking care of them keeps the young kid occupied. You can be sure of that,” he said.
Edward told of exemplary — and notorious black cowboys as well — during the era of cattle ranching.
Two of the esteemed were Daniel Webster (80 John) Wallace (1860-1939) and Bass Reeves (1838-1910).
Wallace had been a slave in Victoria County, TX, but ran away to become a cowboy.
He became a successful wrangler for John Nunn whose brand was “80.” “80 John” became Wallace’s nickname.
Wanting more, Wallace sought education to learn to read and write and began to accept cattle as part of his pay.
With a reputation for fairness and hard work, he acquired a 1,280 area ranch. He died leaving an estate of more than $1 million for his wife and four children.
There is a historical marker with his name in Mitchell County and a school named in his honor.
Bass Reeves was an American enforcement officer and the first black deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River. He worked mostly in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory.
During his long career, he had on his record more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous criminals and shot and killed 14 of them in self-defense.
Edwards said he, too, in preparation for his remarks had been amazed to find all he discovered about the black cowboy in history.
He ended his presentation with a question and answer session that drew a number of comments and applause. He also expressed his appreciation for being able to address the genealogical society on this occasion in honor of Black History Month.