90th Birthday

Written for Daddy's 90th birthday  July 9, 1999

Bernard was the name Andrew and Nellie Welch Applegarth gave to their third son. He took the name Thomas as a middle name when he was confirmed. But most everybody who has met him in his 90 years has known him as “Barney.”


When his Mother died when he was about 14, he assumed the protection and care of his younger brother and sister. He took this responsibility seriously even into adult hood.


Andy Applegarth and his boys were a crack hay crew and contracted haying in the sandhills between Bingham and Gordon. Barney’s skill with horses showed itself at a very early age and he contributed to his own support by breaking horses. Besides providing the necessities of life, this sideline also assured that he would always have a good horse to ride. Bronc riding and racing were natural to him.


He was the first of the Applegarth’s to finish high school. He was on the basketball team and they (Bingham) went to state all four years. This was before class divisions were established so they always faced much larger schools and were eliminated in the first round but for boys from the sandhills, the trip was exciting and they loved going to Lincoln to play that first game.


Barney worked on various ranches in the sandhills and continued to break horses and compete in rodeos on the side. One fall while he was away on a trail drive, a new teacher requested a change in her assigned board. Someone suggested that Barney was gone and she could stay there until another boarding situation could be found. June cleaned and rearranged the house but only stayed one night. Of course, when he came home Barney wondered who had rearranged his house. She’s been rearranging it for nearly 60 years.


In 1947, Barney realized a dream. He bought a ranch of his own. Leaving the familiar ranches of Cherry and Grant Counties, he moved his family, his horses and his cattle to the Smith ranch in Morrill County. There he raised Hereford cattle, thoroughbred horses and kids until his retirement into Alliance.


In his 90 years, he has seen many changes. From horse and buggy to jet planes, from horse drawn hay equipment to mammoth tractors, from sons and sons’ sons staying on the ranch to families scattered across the country, he has changed with the times. Always believing in education and teaching himself to do many things, he has adapted and learned from the changes he’s seen.


Happy Birthday !!