Every now and then, you learn something. I guess that is a basic tenant of life, at least for those who seek to grow.
For instance, I had been reading "The Sons of the Pioneers" by Bill O'Neal and Fred Goodwin, and was completely enthralled by the book. The have done an incredible job of chronicling the journey of the Sons of the Pioneers from 1932 (or so), all the way up to the last 1990's.
But, the Pioneers were not always so named. They had changed names several times, The Rocky Mountaineers, The Sons of the Pioneers, and one of the names they used was the "O-Bar-O" Cowboys. Traveling under this name, Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer ventured north and met with some success. Tim met his future wife, Len met Arlene and the band made a bit of money.
I have also been reading a historical book, "Bar 20", by Clarence Mulford. You may not consider this historical, but let me make my case.
"Bar 20" is the first of the Hopalong Cassidy hard covers. Consisting of a collection of stories published by "The Outing Magazine" from 1905 to 1907, "Bar 20" was published by A L Burt, and featured interior plates by N C Wyeth, and F E Schoonover. The early version of Hoppy, is not the clean cut version of our hero, but rather a gambler, drinker, and cowboy beyond compare. He is renowned for his skill with his pistols, and holds somewhat of a disdain for those who depend upon their Winchesters.
But, I digress.
In reading this book, the last section of the book deals with a gang of cattle rustlers led by Slippery Trendley. Buck Peters, foreman of the Bar 20, and head boss of the alliance to rid the valley of the rustlers had ordered the cowboys of the local ranches to search out the home 'plot' of the varmints. With help from Hoppy, and Pie Willis from the Double Arrow, the men encircle the corrals, and after a day recapture the rustled cattle and the living rustlers.
Now, the mystery becomes a little clearer.
One of the ranches co-operating in the sting operation, is the "O- Bar- O", but this is somehow not enough for me to say this is where the Pioneers stole a name from.
After the victory,
"A fire burned briskly in front of Mr. Trendley's cabin that night and several punchers sat around it and occupied in various ways. Two men leaned against the wall and sang softly of the joys of the trail and the range. One of them, Lefty Allen, of the O-Bar-O, sang in his sweet tenor, and other men gradually strolled up and seated themselves on the ground, where the fitful gleam of responsive pipes and cigarettes showed like fireflies. The songs followed after one another, first a lover's plea in soft Spanish and then a rollicking tale of the cow-towns and men."
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