Cooper Family History

Descriptive

Part OfCooper Family History Oral HistoryIntervieweeDwight CooperInterviewerJoyce McBrideBrowse TopicBusiness and IndustryCommunity GroupsLand, Environment, and Natural ResourcesSociety and CultureSubjectOral historiesArizona HistoryArizona History 19th centuryArizona History 20th CenturyGila County (Ariz.)BiographyCattle--West (U.S.)--HistoryRanching History of Gila CountyRanch managers--ArizonaDams--Arizona--Salt River--1910-1920U.S. Forest ServiceDescriptionDwight's great grandfather first settled in the Roosevelt area, the original ranch, the Hay Hook Ranch, was just 3 miles from where the dam was built in 1911. He tells of early ranching practices and of how ranchers related to each other. His father raised cattle, but his love was horse racing and playing a fiddle. Dwight was born in 1941, went to grade school with the dam workers' children in Roosevelt and to high school in Globe. While still a boy, his father's health declined, and he went to work running the family ranch. He has lived his whole life on this ranch and so can recall events unique to the Roosevelt Dam residents for the past 60 years. He tells how the cattle industry has declined over the years, accrediting it to Forest Service management. He relates the bittersweet last round up, the struggle to survive as cattlegrowers, and why it would now be difficult to reintroduce cattle due to the unique browse. Dwight talks of his contribution of building an irrigation system for cattle and wildlife and other interests in land stewardship.Audio Length00:52:15Date Original2008-11-13Date Range1880s (1880-1889)1890s (1890-1899)1900s (1900-1909)1910s (1910-1919)1920s (1920-1929)1930s (1930-1939)1940s (1940-1949)1950s (1950-1959)1960s (1960-1969)1970s (1970-1979)1980s (1980-1989)1990s (1990-1999)2000s (2000-2009)TypeSound- NonmusicalOriginal FormatOral historiesLanguageEnglishContributing InstitutionArizona Heritage Research FoundationCollectionOral Histories of Gila County RanchersRights StatementThe opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee only. they do not represent the views of the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation. Please contact the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation with questions about the use and reproduction of this resource.

Geographic

CountyGila CountyStateArizonaCountryUnited States

Oral HistoryCooper Family

Administrative

IdentifierCooper, Dwight 11-13-08.mp3Date Digitized2008Digital FormatMP3

7.mp3

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Cooper Family History