Juan Andres Romero

(Embudo, NM. November 15, 1884 - Sept 2, 1945)

My grandfather, Juan Andrés Romero, worked as a borreguerro (sheepherder) on the Bar X ranch in Creede, Colorado. Tenderfoot at Bar X (1942), by Myrtle Mosher Perdew, references him throughout her memoir. My grandfather passed away before I was born, but the depictions in the book and accompanying photographs provide an insight into what his life was like on the manito trail.

Old Juan, the older of Jim Stewart’s two Mexican sheepherders walked slowly, 
staff in hand, up to the group. Juan never hurried. After so many years of 
tending sheep, he had once and for all adjusted his gait to their leisurely movements.

“O.K. now, Juan?” asked Rod.

“Yah! Me think O.K.,” answered the old man, his leathery face cracking into a
kindly smile.

“That was a fine job, Juan,” said Mrs. Stewart. “You must be soaked through. 
Better come back to camp now and have a cup of hot coffee.”

“Thank you, señora Stewart,” the old herder answered,” but me go help my dog now. 
Shep, he away up on hill bring in strays. He wet and tired too.” And he was off, 
up the mountainside with his trusty staff, the water dripping from his hat and the
wind whipping his long brown raincoat about his thin old legs.