I have always enjoyed stories that older folks have to tell about things they remember from their youth. How many times have all of us said, after an old friend passes away - “Why didn’t I get some of those stories on tape?”

It was the summer of 1978 when my mother’s cousin, Archie Burch came from Olathe, Colorado to visit relatives. Archie’s father Elmer Burch. was a brother of my Granddad. “Sandy” Burch, Archie’s mother was a sister of Bob Allen, so that made him also a cousin of Logan and Ashley Allen.

Archie worked on several ranches between Saguache and Gunnison as a young man. When he asked me about his old time friend, Jim Raby, I said “let’s go see him”. At that time, Jim was living alone on the ranch, since the death of his wife, Linda.

After comparing notes, these two old fellows decided that it had been at least forty years since they had seen each other, and agreed that quite a lot of water had gone under the bridge! Archie told us he had recently celebrated his 84th birthday and Jim confessed he would never see 90 again.

How I wished for a tape recorder as I sat there listening to these men tell stories and recall names of some of the pioneer families. I found it interesting to learn that most of the early day cattle in this area were short horns. Both of these men well remembered when the first Herefords were brought in and soon became the principal breed of cattle in these parts.

At that time there were lots of wild horses throughout the area, that could be taken, if you were man enough to get the job done. From what I’ve been told and stories I’ve read, the Fullerton brothers were well known for their escapades involving wild horses, back in the early days.

Jim Raby told us about moving to Saguache from his home State of Michigan, shortly after turning 21 years of age. A few weeks after his arrival in town he stepped into Johnny O’Neil’s saloon located just north across the alley from where the Saguache Hotel is now. Ike Colt was the bartender and said “What can I do for you kids?” Jim said “I’ll have a glass of whiskey and a water chaser’’.

Ike laughed and  replied, I’ll tell you what kid - you come back when you’re old enough and I’ll buy you a drink.” Jim said he always looked young for his age and was a rather small person, but it made him mad to be refused service.

(In those days, people carried no type of papers. such as a drivers’ license. etc. to prove identification.) Jim spoke up and said, "Look, old man, I’ve already had the seven year itch three times and lived to tell about it.’’

Ike thought that was pretty funny and went ahead and poured Jim his drink.

As I said before - all of us need to get stories on tape or on paper from our older friends while there is yet time.