James Bell “J. B.” Armstrong Oral History Project

This collection includes eleven interviews detailing the life of James Bell “J.B.” Armstrong, who was born in Texas in 1888, and worked many years as a cowhand, freight hauler, and sheriff in Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The interviews were conducted in 1957 by his daughter Ina Tascher. Armstrong discusses his childhood as part of a pioneer family and what it was like to work as a cowhand and live in the American West, particularly Carter County, Montana and Ekalaka, Montana, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Armstrong authored the books Bedding the Drags, The Big North, and The Raw Edge, which are based on many of the experiences he shares in these audio recordings. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 034 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.

The interviews in this collection have not been transcribed, but a tape counter index (TCI) is available for each one. A TCI lists the major topics in the audio recording and the approximate point when they occur in the recording according to an analog cassette recorder’s tape counter.

This collection includes 11 interviews.

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James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 10, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong discusses how cowhands and cattle replaced the North American bison. He explains that work and pride allowed the young cowhand to keep doing a better job and that the nature of the work taught them lessons. Armstrong also discusses designing his ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 11, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong tells an imaginary story about a cattle drive with the Mill Iron outfit intended to provide an overview of what the cowhand life was like. He also discusses how his associate Pruny Bill received his nickname. He briefly discusses a wagon ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 1, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong recalls his father’s decision to drive cattle from Amarillo, Texas, to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma in 1892. He discusses the schooling available for both white and Native American children in the territory and more broadly discusses the relationship between settlers ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 2, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong discusses the rise of sheep farming and the decline of the cattle ranching industry. He talks about the influx of sheep farmers in the early 20th century from California, Oregon, and Nevada to the Little Missouri River and Powder River areas. ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 3, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong talks about various people from South Dakota who lived and worked near him. He recalls gathering buffalo chips to fuel fires during his childhood in Texas and Oklahoma. He reminisces about the Miles City Museum. Armstrong talks about moving to Mill’s ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 4, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong talks about hauling grain to Baker, South Dakota, in his truck, which he called “Tilly the toiler.” Armstrong remembers various storeowners and residents of Ekalaka, Montana. He discusses George Cleveland and his family who were part of a freight team. Armstrong ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 5, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong tells stories from his childhood. He talks about his mother’s job as a midwife, and he recalls helping a cowboy who dislocated his shoulder. He also remembers burning his hand while playing with gunpowder. Armstrong talks about his father-in-law Moses Lantis ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 6, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong talks about the “Days of ’85” celebration held in Ekalaka, Montana. He talks about his brother Mel Armstrong and the land he purchased in Montana. Armstrong discusses Robert Ridgeway who was a schoolteacher in Long Pine Hills in the 1890s. He ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 7, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong reminisces over old photographs from Camp Crook, South Dakota. He talks about numerous people and places. He talks about a bunkhouse he used to sleep in when he worked for a man named Jess Kerr. He discusses Whitey Phelps who ran ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 8, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong tells a story about traveling to Camp Crook, South Dakota in a Model T and having car trouble on the way back. He talks about taking sheep to Belle Fourche, South Dakota in 1919, and being caught in a bad snowstorm. ... Read More
James Bell "J. B." Armstrong Interview 9, 1957

James Bell Armstrong

James “J. B.” Armstrong recalls stories about his family’s time in Texas, and talks about working for the Mill Iron outfit in Montana in 1907. He reminisces about Jack Kennedy from the Sheep Mountains with whom Armstrong stayed and cooked a meal. He talks about ... Read More