Bob Fudge: Texas Trail Driver, Montana-Wyoming Cowboy, 1862-1933

by Jim Russell

Genres: Westerns

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Mark Mitten]

A must-have for your personal library. This is one of the all-time best firsthand accounts of cowboying in the "golden era" of trailing herds in the American West.

Western singer-songwriter Ian Tyson wrote a biographical song about Bob Fudge, based on this book, and it can be heard on his "Live At Longview" album. I first read "Bob Fudge" some years back, after Ian Tyson's album first came out. Reading it again now, I am reminded how solid this book is. The song, too, is amazing in & of itself...which is what led me to search out a copy. I'm glad I found it.

If you have any interest in the historical West, Bob Fudge was someone who lived it. This book gives you a clear window into authentic cowboying--with details about branding, roundups, trail herding, swimming rivers, line camps.

Interestingly, in 6000 Miles of Fence, there are several mentions of Bob Fudge.


www.BobFudge.com

[Hunter Weis]

In the bibliography, “Bob Fudge: Texas Trail Driver; Montana-Wyoming Cowboy 1862-1933” Jim Russel uses heavy amounts of imagery to describe the stories of the American cowboy. In the beginning, the author makes note of Fudge’s early childhood and the troubles that he and his family endured. Personally, I believe that Russel had created a great scenic view of the old west and how these pioneers lived before the times of rails and automobiles. Along with this, the early parts of the book illustrate the ideas that life was hard and challenging for Bob Fudge and his family. Constantly, they had to deal with famine, death, raids, and diseases, and because of this, at the age of eleven, all he had left was his mother and his brothers. At the age of twelve, just a year later, the author begins to incorporate Bob Fudge’s first experiences with cattle ranching. Then afterward, the author gets into the personal stories of Bob Fudge and he describes the events and landmarks that the cowboy saw as he traveled through the untouched western world. Russell had noted, “As we got up somewhere near Laramie, we saw for the first time snowcapped mountains. They were on our left for many days. These snow-capped mountains held a secret we southern cowboys had never seen. As we traveled north from Fort Laramie, we could see the Black Hills to our right. This was across a gumbo soil and becoming very dry. The Cheyenne River had considerable water but it was muddy.” (Russell 37) As the cowboys had pushed north, they saw many troubles as they had crossed large flowing rivers, fought the wild-like cattle, and faced angry Indian tribes. Every day that the cowboys were on the trail was a feeling of challenge. As you read, it is clear that you can tell how much stress and courage these cowboys had driven the cattle north. On the topic of stress and nervousness, one quote Russell had incorporated had really set the scene for the final parts of the chapter as he set a scene for the hell the cowboys were about to face. In particular, he had mentioned, “I got within about fifty yards of the bank when the lead cattle got scared of the people who had come to see them swim. I kept trying to push them to the shore but before I could get out of the way I was surrounded with scared, mad, swimming cattle. They soon became so tightly pressed together that they got my horse under them.” (Russell 35) Like the lines had made it sound, Fudge, along with the others, had many troubles getting the cattle across the rivers and mountains.
For my review of the book, I think it was a definite five out of five and anyone who would be interested in understanding the cattle drives or the old west should read this book. The author, Jim Russell, made a very interesting story by using Bob Fudge’s real interactions with these cattle and forming it into something that many people cannot relate to today. Along with this, the author does a very good job incorporating what happened afterward and how the cowboy let out his last few years of life.

[Drew Hansen-Coomes]

I am 63 pages deep in Bob Fudge: Texas Trail Driver, and it is amazing. As of right now Bob has just escaped from outlaws who were out to get his head, and he is helping at the "The General" which is a huge beef round up of about 65,000 heads of cattle. I don't read this book at home, just at school but luckily its very short. When I get home I like to read fantasy, but at school I don't mind a little non-fiction.
If you love anything about the west you will love this book. Just to know that people that have lived lives like the songs and stories you have heard is mind-boggling. As an uneducated man telling a story this book gives off a bit off campfire like story telling, which is an aspect I am absolutely a fan of. With each word on the page the reader enters a time machine back to a time saloons, shoot outs, and sage brush. The west in its entirety is captured in this man life time.

[Avery R.M.]

An authentic insight into a extinct way of life that is unobtainable from any other source. Bob Fudge was destined for the life of a cowboy following the tragic death of his father, along with many other relatives, during his family’s short-lived venture to California in search of a better life. He spent countless hours on horseback, making the trek from Texas to Montana and neighboring states multiple times. He witnessed the taming of the Wild West as railroad lines pacified the once wild land. Friends from across the country that he had traveled through congregated in Broadus, Montana for Fudge’s funeral in order to say goodbye to the great man. The book is a testament to his accomplishments, and if you want to be inspired by the fortitude of a man who lived a powerful life during one of the most unique eras in human history, read Jim Russell’s impressive account of Bob Fudge’s story, told as remembered by the cowboy.

[Aidan Richardson]

This book goes into depth about the history of cowboys in America. If you are interested in the history of America or just cowboys this is the book for you. This is a biography written about Bob Fudge, a trail driver in the late 1800s. The book tells the life story of Bob Fudge which teaches about the history of being on the trails driving cattle and the hardships they had gone through. This book will keep you intrigued the whole time you are reading. It is also a short book which will help if you struggle to read for an extended period of time like I do.

[Ky Meeks]

134 pages.

Bob Fudge lived and embodied everything of the true cowboy life. Fudge dictated his life story to a friend, so the entire book reads as a monologue one would have relating stories around a campfire.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading his stories that fiction novels, movies, and television shows have essentially been recreating for over 100 years now. My first encounter with Fudge’s story was actually by hearing a song entitled with his name. I am proud to have this book displayed on my bookshelf.

[Boone Ott]

This was an incredible book to read. I first heard Colter Wall’s song, “Bob Fudge,” and loved that basic story. Then I discovered Ian Tyson actually wrote the song and finally I realized Bob Fudge was a real person; I had to order this book. These first hand accounts are incredible to read if you enjoy westerns, horses, cattle, or imagining the US before it was settled. I can’t wait to order it for a few friends and family members.

[Sarah Kelnhofer]

What a great gem! Given to us by a friend. Husband and I read it out loud to each other. Dry with details at times, but that guy, Mr. Fudge, surely was a hero and an amazing human who suffered tremendous loss and maintained his sense of humor and valor in the face of difficulty. So grateful to the author for capturing his story.

[Greg Lardy]

Great read about a Texas cowboy who came to Montana on the great cattle drives in the late 1800’s. Lots of history in this one!

[Lucas Gould]

Pretty much as advertised, just Bob Fudge talking about his life as a cowhand.

[Scott Graddy]

One of the best true accounts of the cattle trail days I’ve ever read. Everyone should read this book for a better understanding of those days.