Midkiff: A Texas Family, Town and Way of Life

Author: Mary Lou Midkiff
Publisher: Oleo Publishing
Date of Publication: March 15, 2005
ISBN-10: 0976395509 #
ISBN-13: 978-0976395508
Price: $32.50, hardcover
Pages: 418

Oscar Midkiff becomes a cowboy and returns to Indian Territory to marry his sweetheart and bring her to Texas. Working other ranches to pay for his land and build his herd, Oscar is frequently away on cattle drives. During these times, Oscar & Lillie correspond about ranch life. Through their words with each other, we discover how West Texas was settled.

Reviews & Endorsements

"Mary Lou Midkiff has written an interesting and factual history of her husband's family, early ranchers in the arid Midland and Upton counties of the Permian Basin of West Texas. Skillfully narrating a pioneer history of hard work, drought, and unpredictable commodity markets, the writer uses old family letters, personal reminiscences, and interviews as well as newspapers and scholarly articles and other secondary resources to document her work. Midkiff's characters could fill the pages of a novel, but they are real people with real experiences common to the decades in which they lived. She has shown family historians how to write a family history that is worth reading. At the same time, Midkiff has written a regional history of people who settled in an uninviting land, exhibited unusual determination, and prevailed over the lack of rain and money as well as other adversities. This is a good family history and there are few of them published."
- Julia Cauble Smith, Editor, The Permian Historical Annual


"This true story of the Midkiff family reflects the life and times of West Texas in the early to mid 20th Century. It is based on wonderful newly found letters between T O Midkiff and his wife from their first years of marriage to older age. A wonderful story of the Midland, TX area of West Texas and the hard, but rewarding ranching life that prevailed. A must read for anyone with interests in the history of West Texas."
-Herb Hurn, Retired IBM Exec & avid history reader, Highland Haven,TX

"I grew up in Midland , Texas in the late 1930s until I left in 1954. By then practically all of the openness of the West Texas and Eastern New Mexico area that had been so prevalent in the late 1800s and early 1900s was gone. This book was a very refreshing look back at what life had been like back then and the hardship people endured in their day to day life. The facts of this book were gleaned from many letters and other documents and they have been skillfully presented in a way that keeps the reader interested. I have friends from Wales who read the book and were very pleased with the factual view they got of life on the early plains."
- J. G. "Gary" Throckmorton, San Jose , CA

"I found this book quite fascinating as it led me through the generations of the Midkiff family as they established their legacy ranching in Texas . The writing was well researched and clearly described the difficulties of everyday pioneer life. The photographs were excellent and brought to life the stories of the family members they depicted. I recommend this book as it left me with great admiration for the family and the way of life they represented on a Texan ranch. Full of facts and photos."
-Diana Forster

"Anyone who has had family living in Texas during the time period of this book or anyone interested in Texas history should enjoy reading about the Midkiff family as the book describes vividly how life was at that time. The author has put together through family letters and documents and accurate research the love story of a couple and their life. It is a beautiful read, a well written account of the early days in West Texas."
- B.K. King, a native Texan
 
"A must-have for any faculty teaching women's literature, writing, history. The author's personal involvement, careful research, documentation, and ability as a writer set this book apart."
-A daughter of pioneers

"…Mary Lou Midkiff weaves into their story the growing up times on the prairie, the fortune seeking, the cattle industry, the good and some bad years, the everyday circumstances, the energy and dedication and hard work of a life style of men and women that will never be recaptured but will be remembered. Her well-researched depiction of the times and of individuals, many of whom were leaders, includes authentic pictures, letters, and interviews making the history come alive."
- MS Fairchild