PIONEER JUDGE
By J. M. Winchester
(From Amarillo News-Globe Golden Anniversary Edition)
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939)
The Bishop family came to Washburn from Saline County, Mo. in 1893. There were eight children in the family. Henry Bishop with his brother rode in the immigrant car, which was loaded with stock and household furnishings. He considered the trip a great adventure. Mr. Bishop's father had bought a plat of land a mile from Washburn, which was then the principal town, for it was served by two railroads. The Bishops lived in Washburn and most of the children attended school there.
Judge Bishop, after finishing the corses offered in the Washburn schools, decided to teach - to secure a little extra money to continue his education. His first school was a little farm building at the foot of the Quitaque mountains. He had 25 pupils. Judge Bishop said that these were exceptional children of fine pioneer families, with outstanding personalities, and pointed out the fine success some of them have attained.
There was no place for a teacher to stay except with a bachelor who lived near the school house in a little dugout; he had no stove and all the cooking was done in a Dutch oven in the fireplace. Very little housekeeping was necessary because the dugout had a dirt floor. It was customary for the teacher to visit the parents and patrons, staying overnight with them, in order to become better acquainted. As the judge's landlord had gone to South Texas for the winter to visit, this custom particularly appealed to him as it saved him much trouble cooking and keeping house. Most of the housewives were good cooks and accomplished miracles with what little they had, but even then the diet lacked variety. One of the early day delicacies was citron pie, served with cream.
Most of these pioneers were quite religious, saying grace before meals, and often family prayer was held. One ranch family he frequently visited was very musical, and the rancher would get out his tuning fork after supper and sing hymns until bed time. Even though he had often to eat his own cooking, Judge Bishop looks back upon that time that he spent at the foot of Quitaque peak as the happiest of his life.
The next term of school he taught at Matador, and then a couple of terms near Washburn.
On the first hour of the first day of the first week, of the first month of the century, Judge Bishop left Amarillo for Austin where he entered the University of Texas to finish his law course, graduating in the spring of 1902. When he returned home, he heard that the district attorney was a candidate for the judgeship of the district, so he decided to announce himself for the office of district attorney.
In the team-drawn buggy, he drove from one county seat to another, following up the terms of the court, stopping at ranch houses and visiting on the way. It was a leisurely campaign and a pleasant one. The blue stem grass was as high as the horse in the low spots and the heads of the short gramma were knee high. Row crops were abundant. The cattle brought in from the range for market were fat as corn-fed beeves. There were lots of antelope and countless thousands of bob white and blue quail.
The election won, the young lawyer moved to Amarillo and became the prosecuting attorney. The office paid $500 a year and extra fees but as the majority of the citizens were law-abiding, the fees did not amount to much.
Amarillo was a thriving little cow town and had one of the largest cattle markets in the world. When the big herds were held at the edge of town before being loaded for shipping, the town was kept awake all night by the bellowing of indignant calves, their anxious mothers, skittish yearlings and big steer.
Seven times Judge Bishop was re-elected to the office of district-attorney holding his office until 1918. In 1920 he became judge of the district court and held that office until 1934.
He believes that Amarillo's future development cane best be judged by the pace of its past progress.
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
By J. M. Winchester
(From Amarillo News-Globe Golden Anniversary Edition)
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939)
The Bishop family came to Washburn from Saline County, Mo. in 1893. There were eight children in the family. Henry Bishop with his brother rode in the immigrant car, which was loaded with stock and household furnishings. He considered the trip a great adventure. Mr. Bishop's father had bought a plat of land a mile from Washburn, which was then the principal town, for it was served by two railroads. The Bishops lived in Washburn and most of the children attended school there.
Judge Bishop, after finishing the corses offered in the Washburn schools, decided to teach - to secure a little extra money to continue his education. His first school was a little farm building at the foot of the Quitaque mountains. He had 25 pupils. Judge Bishop said that these were exceptional children of fine pioneer families, with outstanding personalities, and pointed out the fine success some of them have attained.
There was no place for a teacher to stay except with a bachelor who lived near the school house in a little dugout; he had no stove and all the cooking was done in a Dutch oven in the fireplace. Very little housekeeping was necessary because the dugout had a dirt floor. It was customary for the teacher to visit the parents and patrons, staying overnight with them, in order to become better acquainted. As the judge's landlord had gone to South Texas for the winter to visit, this custom particularly appealed to him as it saved him much trouble cooking and keeping house. Most of the housewives were good cooks and accomplished miracles with what little they had, but even then the diet lacked variety. One of the early day delicacies was citron pie, served with cream.
Most of these pioneers were quite religious, saying grace before meals, and often family prayer was held. One ranch family he frequently visited was very musical, and the rancher would get out his tuning fork after supper and sing hymns until bed time. Even though he had often to eat his own cooking, Judge Bishop looks back upon that time that he spent at the foot of Quitaque peak as the happiest of his life.
The next term of school he taught at Matador, and then a couple of terms near Washburn.
On the first hour of the first day of the first week, of the first month of the century, Judge Bishop left Amarillo for Austin where he entered the University of Texas to finish his law course, graduating in the spring of 1902. When he returned home, he heard that the district attorney was a candidate for the judgeship of the district, so he decided to announce himself for the office of district attorney.
In the team-drawn buggy, he drove from one county seat to another, following up the terms of the court, stopping at ranch houses and visiting on the way. It was a leisurely campaign and a pleasant one. The blue stem grass was as high as the horse in the low spots and the heads of the short gramma were knee high. Row crops were abundant. The cattle brought in from the range for market were fat as corn-fed beeves. There were lots of antelope and countless thousands of bob white and blue quail.
The election won, the young lawyer moved to Amarillo and became the prosecuting attorney. The office paid $500 a year and extra fees but as the majority of the citizens were law-abiding, the fees did not amount to much.
Amarillo was a thriving little cow town and had one of the largest cattle markets in the world. When the big herds were held at the edge of town before being loaded for shipping, the town was kept awake all night by the bellowing of indignant calves, their anxious mothers, skittish yearlings and big steer.
Seven times Judge Bishop was re-elected to the office of district-attorney holding his office until 1918. In 1920 he became judge of the district court and held that office until 1934.
He believes that Amarillo's future development cane best be judged by the pace of its past progress.
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
PIONEER JUDGE
By J. M. Winchester
(From Amarillo News-Globe Golden Anniversary Edition)
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939)
The Bishop family came to Washburn from Saline County, Mo. in 1893. There were eight children in the family. Henry Bishop with his brother rode in the immigrant car, which was loaded with stock and household furnishings. He considered the trip a great adventure. Mr. Bishop's father had bought a plat of land a mile from Washburn, which was then the principal town, for it was served by two railroads. The Bishops lived in Washburn and most of the children attended school there.
Judge Bishop, after finishing the corses offered in the Washburn schools, decided to teach - to secure a little extra money to continue his education. His first school was a little farm building at the foot of the Quitaque mountains. He had 25 pupils. Judge Bishop said that these were exceptional children of fine pioneer families, with outstanding personalities, and pointed out the fine success some of them have attained.
There was no place for a teacher to stay except with a bachelor who lived near the school house in a little dugout; he had no stove and all the cooking was done in a Dutch oven in the fireplace. Very little housekeeping was necessary because the dugout had a dirt floor. It was customary for the teacher to visit the parents and patrons, staying overnight with them, in order to become better acquainted. As the judge's landlord had gone to South Texas for the winter to visit, this custom particularly appealed to him as it saved him much trouble cooking and keeping house. Most of the housewives were good cooks and accomplished miracles with what little they had, but even then the diet lacked variety. One of the early day delicacies was citron pie, served with cream.
Most of these pioneers were quite religious, saying grace before meals, and often family prayer was held. One ranch family he frequently visited was very musical, and the rancher would get out his tuning fork after supper and sing hymns until bed time. Even though he had often to eat his own cooking, Judge Bishop looks back upon that time that he spent at the foot of Quitaque peak as the happiest of his life.
The next term of school he taught at Matador, and then a couple of terms near Washburn.
On the first hour of the first day of the first week, of the first month of the century, Judge Bishop left Amarillo for Austin where he entered the University of Texas to finish his law course, graduating in the spring of 1902. When he returned home, he heard that the district attorney was a candidate for the judgeship of the district, so he decided to announce himself for the office of district attorney.
In the team-drawn buggy, he drove from one county seat to another, following up the terms of the court, stopping at ranch houses and visiting on the way. It was a leisurely campaign and a pleasant one. The blue stem grass was as high as the horse in the low spots and the heads of the short gramma were knee high. Row crops were abundant. The cattle brought in from the range for market were fat as corn-fed beeves. There were lots of antelope and countless thousands of bob white and blue quail.
The election won, the young lawyer moved to Amarillo and became the prosecuting attorney. The office paid $500 a year and extra fees but as the majority of the citizens were law-abiding, the fees did not amount to much.
Amarillo was a thriving little cow town and had one of the largest cattle markets in the world. When the big herds were held at the edge of town before being loaded for shipping, the town was kept awake all night by the bellowing of indignant calves, their anxious mothers, skittish yearlings and big steer.
Seven times Judge Bishop was re-elected to the office of district-attorney holding his office until 1918. In 1920 he became judge of the district court and held that office until 1934.
He believes that Amarillo's future development cane best be judged by the pace of its past progress.
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
By J. M. Winchester
(From Amarillo News-Globe Golden Anniversary Edition)
Source: History of Armstrong County Vol. 1 (1939)
The Bishop family came to Washburn from Saline County, Mo. in 1893. There were eight children in the family. Henry Bishop with his brother rode in the immigrant car, which was loaded with stock and household furnishings. He considered the trip a great adventure. Mr. Bishop's father had bought a plat of land a mile from Washburn, which was then the principal town, for it was served by two railroads. The Bishops lived in Washburn and most of the children attended school there.
Judge Bishop, after finishing the corses offered in the Washburn schools, decided to teach - to secure a little extra money to continue his education. His first school was a little farm building at the foot of the Quitaque mountains. He had 25 pupils. Judge Bishop said that these were exceptional children of fine pioneer families, with outstanding personalities, and pointed out the fine success some of them have attained.
There was no place for a teacher to stay except with a bachelor who lived near the school house in a little dugout; he had no stove and all the cooking was done in a Dutch oven in the fireplace. Very little housekeeping was necessary because the dugout had a dirt floor. It was customary for the teacher to visit the parents and patrons, staying overnight with them, in order to become better acquainted. As the judge's landlord had gone to South Texas for the winter to visit, this custom particularly appealed to him as it saved him much trouble cooking and keeping house. Most of the housewives were good cooks and accomplished miracles with what little they had, but even then the diet lacked variety. One of the early day delicacies was citron pie, served with cream.
Most of these pioneers were quite religious, saying grace before meals, and often family prayer was held. One ranch family he frequently visited was very musical, and the rancher would get out his tuning fork after supper and sing hymns until bed time. Even though he had often to eat his own cooking, Judge Bishop looks back upon that time that he spent at the foot of Quitaque peak as the happiest of his life.
The next term of school he taught at Matador, and then a couple of terms near Washburn.
On the first hour of the first day of the first week, of the first month of the century, Judge Bishop left Amarillo for Austin where he entered the University of Texas to finish his law course, graduating in the spring of 1902. When he returned home, he heard that the district attorney was a candidate for the judgeship of the district, so he decided to announce himself for the office of district attorney.
In the team-drawn buggy, he drove from one county seat to another, following up the terms of the court, stopping at ranch houses and visiting on the way. It was a leisurely campaign and a pleasant one. The blue stem grass was as high as the horse in the low spots and the heads of the short gramma were knee high. Row crops were abundant. The cattle brought in from the range for market were fat as corn-fed beeves. There were lots of antelope and countless thousands of bob white and blue quail.
The election won, the young lawyer moved to Amarillo and became the prosecuting attorney. The office paid $500 a year and extra fees but as the majority of the citizens were law-abiding, the fees did not amount to much.
Amarillo was a thriving little cow town and had one of the largest cattle markets in the world. When the big herds were held at the edge of town before being loaded for shipping, the town was kept awake all night by the bellowing of indignant calves, their anxious mothers, skittish yearlings and big steer.
Seven times Judge Bishop was re-elected to the office of district-attorney holding his office until 1918. In 1920 he became judge of the district court and held that office until 1934.
He believes that Amarillo's future development cane best be judged by the pace of its past progress.
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
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