Townsmen

[Forty Rod]

This term, often shortened to "townies", crops up quite a bit.  In my opinion it is akin to saying someone speaks South American.  There are too many "languages" or "dialects"in both instances.

What is a "townie"?

banker
doctor
shopkeeper
school teacher
blacksmith
bartender
undertaker
dentist
laundress
carpenter
lawman
gambler
dance hall girl
bartender
station agent
beanery owner
nurse
gunsmith
and the list goes on...and on.

My point is that a "townie" might dress very well (banker, doctor) or be dresssed less than elegantly (butcher, smith) and no two would necessarily dress even remotely the same.

Some might even dress in "trail clothes" on occassion if the job called for it.  Granted they probably wouldn't wear chaps, spurs, and / or riding boots in town very often...but they might.

This also brings to question if everyone who isn't a "townie" is a "cowboy".  Lots of professions didn't call for "cowboy" outfits, many didn't even involve riding horses all that often, yet the people who practiced them could hardly be called "townies".

soldier
trapper
trader
explorer
buffalo hunter
indian agent
wolfer
teamster
road builder
stage driver
drummer
surveyor
railroader
tinker
express guard
lineman
and this list also goes on...and on.

My own character is a travelling trader.  I dress in whatever is on the wagon when I need a replacement.  I try to be a bit of a showman (It's good for the business and I like the look) and add all sorts of embellishments.  I wear sturdy boots with silver conchos, but don't remember the last time I wore spurs.  I have a fringed coat taken in trade, but it's "white man made" of boar hide.  My pants are machine sewn by a lady in a Baltimore factory.  My shirts come from a lady in Colorado.  I have trade beadwork, some done by Indians, some by white men, sewn onto much of my gear.  I wear a necklace of beads and bone, claws and pendants, and a neck knife made in Germany.  My hat is a derby that was handy when my previous hat decided to run off with a zephyl somewhere in Nevada.  It was not a popular style amongst my clientelle and was too large for most heads, so I adopted it.  It now has a beaded band with a decorated hawk feather.

I carry good guns, but save the better stuff for trade.  I tend to "doll up" my guns after I've had them a while.

Because of my trade, my clothing is generally in good repair and I am amply fed with groceries that I have to either eat or throw out if they haven't been traded off.  I am also not beyond trading yard goods or fooferaw for baked , fried, boiled, preserved, or otherwise prepared foods that I know won't be traded off.  Cherry and apple pies are good examples, as are any kind of "bear sign" (That's doughnuts to you, pilgrim.)

I may be the only person on the trail who can boast bacon and eggs several times a week.

I wear my hair short and am usually clean shaven because it's easier to keep clean when I'm on the trail for weeks on end.  I have almost no vanity at all.

My best friends are my wife, who travels with me driving a second wagon, my dog, and my mules...eight to pull the wagons and two for riding.
 
Now, then, am I a "townie"?  Nope, but I am also not a cowboy.

Cogitate on it and see where you really fit into the big picture.  Most folks aren't really cowboys at all, but are you a "townie"?

[St. George]

An excellent point - illustrating the fact that a myriad of folks settled and populated the Frontier West - bringing their trades with them in hopes of prospering.

Most of those folks owned rifles - perhaps a pocket revolver or their Civil War issued piece - but were unlikely candidates for more than that, and while the rifle was likely close to hand - they might have to do some digging to locate anything more.

Cowboys were but a facet of those times - though perhaps the most colorful...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Books OToole]

This term, often shortened to "townies", crops up quite a bit.  In my opinion it is akin to saying someone speaks South American.  There are too many "languages" or "dialects"in both instances.

What is a "townie"?

banker
doctor
shopkeeper
school teacher
blacksmith
bartender
undertaker
dentist
laundress
carpenter
lawman
gambler
dance hall girl
bartender
station agent
beanery owner
nurse
gunsmith
and the list goes on...and on.

...and the ubiquitous clerk.

Books

[Forty Rod]

Our local ubiquitous didn't have a clerk.  He kept his own books. 

[US Scout]

Also folks like miners, farmers, tailors/seamstress, cooks, diswashers, meat hunters, butchers, lawyers, liverymen, restaurant operators, journalists, printers, and hired help of all kinds.   

A very good list!  Well done.

[Delmonico]

Remember by the 1880's a lot of towns had phone service so I guess you can add telaphone operator,plus installer and repairman plus the bicycle mechanic in the late period, I helped a guy put together an outfit around that personna one time.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Very good point, Forty Rod. 

Most of my ancestors that lived during the time frame were farmers, but some were school teachers, ministers, storekeepers, restaurant owners, painters, carpenters, loggers, etc.

Slim

[River City John]

"Not everyone can be a Hero. Someone needs to sit on the curb and clap when the parade goes by." - Will Rogers

[Forty Rod]

Also folks like miners, farmers, tailors/seamstress, cooks, diswashers, meat hunters, butchers, lawyers, liverymen, restaurant operators, journalists, printers, and hired help of all kinds.   

A very good list!  Well done.

Can you imagine how big a full list would be? 

[Forty Rod]

Very good point, Forty Rod. 

Most of my ancestors that lived during the time frame were farmers, but some were school teachers, ministers, storekeepers, restaurant owners, painters, carpenters, loggers, etc.

Slim

Farmers....and sheepherders.   

[Delmonico]

Don't forget in some of the largest cites had "night soil" collectors.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Farmers....and sheepherders.   

Yep, those McDonalds probably were sheepherders in the old country.

Slim

[Curley Cole]

4Trod



Curley's Double Cross Rig
made by RedDog Leather

Is yer head so big cuz yer so dang smart? Well, we know where Old Tops persona comes from...mine is less clear. My character grew up in the Central Valley of California, being berthed about 1847. He carries an 1847 Trade Dollar in his pocket. He did some farmin/ranchin (as I did as a kid) which would include a bit of cowboyin' He traveled around doin some odd jobs in Southern part of California (as I did) and his jobs included workin in prisons/jails and even mental instutions (as I have worked in the asylum.
So Curleys attire is a mix of the cowboyin' and a bit of tryin to look well when coming to town, even though his "city clothes" are a bit "thread bare"

another look I am working on right now is that of an Army Scout, so's  I can appropriately hang out with Old Top and Cole Harbour. Has a leather fringe shirt, some indian geegaws he aquired around the way, A double crossdraw rig on a Fair Christian belt, with officers buckle holding a brace of 75 Remingtons, and he goes no where without that 92 Brass Frame Winchester with the 24" octagon barrel. Hat, coming slowly is that of the Duke's Rio Grande style with the USS hat pin, with crossed sabers.
Top and Cole are wanting to put together a "Military Posse, and thought this would look good there.

Curley

[St. George]

A few more of the commonly-found denizens of a decently-sized town:

Assayer
Hide Buyer
Cattle Buyer
Telegrapher
Printer
Printer's Devil
Land Agent
Pearl Diver
Swamper
Saddler
Railway Clerk
Newly-arrived Immigrant
Laundryman
Milliner
Barber

The list is endless, and still in effect, today - to one degree or another.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!