This is a personal history written for Mary Fear by Joe Chrisman in 1984. Joe died on August 17, 1989, just short of his 73rd birthday. We regret that Joe could not be with us to celebrate this project. He was a real cowboy.
Hi, Mary,
I don't know what you need or want so I'll try and tell it
like it was as short as I can.
I was born the 3rd of five children at the ranch where
the John Chrismans live. The day was Sept. 14, 1916. Parents
were Chester F. Chrisman, and Edna Black McClain. Grandparents were
Bill Chrisman of Green River and Joe Black of Missouri and points west.
Both parents were born in Wyoming. Grandfather Black had a small
ranch west of Big Piney which is now part of the Miller outfit. He
was active in politics in a small way. He was a County Commissioner
when Lincoln and Sublette were all in Uinta County. He also served
in the state legislature.
We moved to North Piney where the old Mason Post Office
was. All that is still there is the old house.
It was at the old Charlie Ott place where I started
to school. We had the whole sum of four students - two sisters, May
Ott and myself. During that time we had four teachers that lived
with the family. Only two of the teachers married and stayed in the
area. Mrs. J.F. Michelson was the first. He maiden name was Stuart.
Capitola Auss was my first and only teacher at Mason. She later married
Doctor Looney and was Mrs. Clifton Fear when she passed away.
I was going on eight years old when we moved from North
Piney to Hams Fork on the old home place of the Jim Chrisman family.
We had a family school there but later moved it to
Opal. It was at Opal that I first went to a public school.
Later we moved to Kemmerer and it was there I dropped out in my junior
year.
I started working on ranches in the Opal area.
They were summer jobs mostly for Chester V. Chrisman, a cousin of Dad's.
After I dropped out of school I went to Pinedale where
my mother and little brother were living. I started on ranches there.
In a span of seven years I worked at a lot of places.
I stacked for Mrs. Kelly and worked at the Sommers place when Carl and
Martha Hittle were there. I wrangled horses for Rex Wardell on the
Green River and packed horses for Stan Decker at the Green River Lakes.
I worked for Wm Todd. I went to Idaho and Oregon where I chopped
hay and topped beets. Didn't like that but the pay wasn't bad for
those times. Came back and worked some for the Chrismans on Hams
Fork. Came back to Piney and worked for Art Homer. I was at
the Gene Noble place when Mrs. Noble and her brother, Joe Pence, passed
away. I worked for young Joe who was the heir until the army got
me.
I left Pinedale in November of 1941. Was sent
to the 3rd Armoured Division and was with them when we shipped overseas.
Spent a winter in England with the rain and nightcrawlers. Went to
Omaha Beach in Normandy in July, got hit outside Stalburg, Germany Sept
18, 1944 and shipped home from England. Was sent to De Witte General.
It was there I received my medical discharge.
I came back to Big Piney and went to work for Buss
Fear. I worked 13 summers for the Big Piney Roundup Association and
was with it until they split it up. Worked for Fear Ranches, Inc.,
for 37 winters. In 1983 I kind of went on my own as a contract cowboy.
I like it but I never find enough to do to make ends meet.
During this period I was Past Commander of the Piney
and LaBarge Post. They later split and I don't know if either post
still has a charter. Ross Meeks, Buss Fear, Edward Carr, Jr. Fear,
Bob O'Neil and myself started the Sublette County Roping Club. Anyway,
we were the first officers. I was a member for 20 years. I
rodeoed some (never too good) and played a little at showing horses at
the County Fair.
I was past 50 years old when I was married my first
time. It was a short marriage. I married my present wife Jan.
30, 1978. We were married in the V.F.W. in Pinedale. I'm still
a V.F.W. member. Velma and I live in Marbleton where we are trying
to make us a home. That's all.
J.B.C.