1. Chapter 17 Ranching in Texas 1850-1890

2. Section 1 The Beginning of the Cattle Kingdom
Beginning in the Spanish era of Texas, cattle were raised on the grassy prairies of the state. These roaming herds were the beginning of the cattle kingdom.

3. The Cattle Industry
The Texas climate and geographic features were perfect for raising cattle
Cattle could graze on the grass of the prairies
Cattle industry grew rapidly in late 1800s
When Native Americans were forced onto reservations, settlers began to move into West Texas…cattle industry grew also

4. Spanish Origins
When Spanish explorers and priests came from Mexico into Texas, they brought cattle with them
In 1700s, Spanish explorer, Jose de Escandon, set aside land for people
Started a charro culture (kind of a cattle culture)
Charros = Mexican cowhands who used horses and ropes to round up cattle
They would brand the cattle
Brand = a mark burned on the hide of cattle to show ownership

5. Cattle Brands See Page 363 for Cattle Brand Info
See Page 363 for Cattle Brand Info

6. Longhorns Spaniards brought cattle with them
Some of this cattle roamed wild in Texas and multiplied
A new breed was formed—the Texas Longhorn
Longhorns had
Huge horns (used horns to protect themselves)
Could easily adapt to environment
Little water and food and could handle hot and cold weather

7. Longhorn Cattle

8. Texas Longhorn Cattle Video
Westward Expansion for Students: Old Texas and the Trail Drivers. CLEARVUE & SVE, 1997. Full Video. 7 April 2011. <

9. Early Ranchers
When Mexico controlled Texas, Mexican government would give settlers land if they would raise cattle
Cowhands developed own way of working with cattle
James Taylor White = first cattle baron in Texas

10. Early Ranchers, cont
By 1850s, cattle was “driven” to railroads to be shipped to market
On path of cattle drives, farmers were mad…cows ruined crops, etc
Cattle carried disease called Texas Fever…caused by ticks
Ranchers learned to “dip” cattle in chemicals to kill ticks
Because it was expensive to transport cattle to markets, ranchers started having cattle killed for the cattle hide (for leather) and for fat from meat to make soap and candles

11. Texas Herds During the Civil War
Texas cattle should have been used for food for Confederate soldiers
But, Union controlled the Mississippi River so cattle couldn’t cross river to get to soldiers
Cattle industry declined in Texas during Civil War
Ranchers fighting in war
Cattle roamed free and numbers multiplied
Cattle wasn’t worth much because people couldn’t afford to buy them…value of cattle decreased

12. Section 2 The Cattle Trails
As railroads expanded westward across the United States, markets for beef opened. Texas cattle owners drove their herds along cattle trails to the railroads.

13. A Market for Beef Demand for beef increased after Civil War
Beef was shipped to markets in North & East
Stockyards: a pen where livestock is kept before being butchered or shipped to market
Packinghouses: a warehouse where beef is prepared for shipment

14. A Market for Beef, con’t
Ranchers made a lot of money selling the cattle. Needed a way to get cattle to stockyards
Joseph McCoy built first cowtown in Abilene, Kansas
Cowtown: a town that serves as market or shipping point for cattle
Let ranchers know that they could drive cattle through Indian territory to Abilene, Kansas
Cattle would be put in holding pens there till the herds could get on trains for north and east

15. The Development of Cattle Trails
See map on page 367
First great cattle trail = Chisholm Trail
Started in 1867 by Cherokee trader named Jesse Chisholm
Between about 6 million herd of cattle were driven from Texas to Abilene, KS
More trails developed as more railroads were built
Western Trail (aka Dodge City Trail)
San Antonio across the Red River to Dodge City, Kansas
Pecos Trail (aka Goodnight Loving Trail)
Followed the Pecos River into New Mexico and then went into Wyoming

16. Cattle Trails,

17. Cattle Trails Video

18. Life on the Trail Trail Drive
Began with a Roundup: the process of herding together cattle that are scattered
Cattle rounded up and branded (took several weeks)
Scouts rode ahead to find best route and to alert trail boss of dangers, etc
Trail Boss —in charge of everything
Cowhand Duties
Pointers: rode at side of lead cattle to direct herd
Flankers: rode beside herd to keep cattle from straying
Other cowhands rode in rear of herd to keep cattle from falling behind

19. Life on the Trail, con’t Cowhand duties, con’t
Wranglers: took care of the extra saddle horses
Each cowboy had several horses; they would switch out horses several times/day to keep horses rested
Camp Cook: cooked all meals
Sourdough biscuits, beef, beans and coffee
After a meal, he would take Chuck Wagon: a wagon that carries cooking equipment and food for the cowhands
At night, the cowhands would gather around campfire and sing
Read A Real Life Story on page 366

21. Cattle Drives Video

22. After the Cattle Drive Video

23. An Expanding Cattle Range
Usually cattle were driven each spring to railroad and sold
The ones that got there earliest got the most money for their cattle
So, they started having cattle drives in the fall and staying through winter to spring to be first to sell cattle
These winter herds expanded cattle kingdom out of Texas into other parts of US…usually Wyoming and Montana

24. Read Old Yeller excerpt
Video Bibliography
Westward Expansion for Students: Old Texas and the Trail Drivers. CLEARVUE & SVE, 1997. Full Video. 7 April 2011. <
Read Old Yeller excerpt
Page

25. Section 3 The End of the Open Range
The expansion of large ranches multiplying herds of livestock, and barbed wire all served to close the open range in Texas.

26. The Great Spreads 4 Large Ranches King Ranch JA Ranch
Founded by Richard King and Mifflin Kennedy
In South Texas
They split up the ranch and King, his wife and his son-in-law expanded the ranch to over a million acres in size
JA Ranch
Founded by Charles Goodnight and John Adair
In Palo Duro Canyon
Used canyon walls as part of ranch and got water from Red River
One million acres and 100,000 head of cattle
Charles Goodnight’s wife, Moll’, was first white woman to live on the Texas Plains

27. The Great Spreads, con’t
Large Ranches, con’t
Matador Ranch
Founded by A.M. Britton and H. H. Campbell
In Motley County (in Panhandle)
Scottish company, Matador Land and Cattle Company, bought it and expanded it
XIT Ranch
Largest ranch in Texas
In Panhandle, along New Mexico border
Over 3 million acres”, covered ten counties
XIT stands for “Ten in Texas” or just straight lines made it hard for cattle rustlers to change brand
Cattle Rustler: a cattle thief

28. Sheep and Goat Ranching
Sheep and goats were also raised on ranches
Sheep brought by Spanish explorers
Rancher, George Wilkins Kendall, started raising sheep for wool
After Civil War, big demand for wool…more sheep ranches started

29. Sheep and Goat Ranches, con’t
Goats
Ranchers started raising goats for mohair…from silky coats of Angora goats
Mohair used for yarn for clothes
Goat ranching mostly on Edwards Plateau…still producing mohair today

30. Barbed Wire and Windmills
As more Texans were raising cattle, the grass supply diminished
Also, ranchers couldn’t keep their cattle separated
And, farmers started farming land the ranchers needed
Result: conflicts over land

31. Barbed Wire & Windmills, con’t
Open Range Ranching: no fences
But, there was a growing need for fences
In 1873, Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire
So, ranchers started using barbed wire for fences
FYI: XIT Ranch used 6000 miles of barbed wire for fences
Many people were against fences and started wire cutting…eventually became illegal to cut fences

32. Barbed Wire http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/images/bwipic.gif
Barbed Wire

33. Barbed Wire & Windmills, con’t
With invention of windmills, ranchers could pump water from underground…used this water for animals
By 1890s…old ways of cattle industry were going away
Too many cattle and not enough grass
Cattle industry became way to make money rather than a way of life

34. Windmills http://denr.sd.gov/des/wr/images/windmill1.jpg

35. Charles Goodnight Map of XIT Ranch Joseph Glidden
Map of XIT Ranch
Joseph Glidden

36.
Angora Goats

37. The Myth and Reality of the Cowhand
Myth: it was glamorous and exciting…Wild West Shows exaggerated how it really was to be a cowboy
Reality: very different
Not glamorous but a hard way of life
Many cowhands were African Americans, Tejanos, and even women….they were ignored

38. American Cowboys Video

39. Range of Cultures Many cultures contributed to ranching industry
African Americans
Daniel Webster Wallace
former slave
former trail boss
Owned ranch
Bose Ikard
Worked as JA Ranch for Charles Goodnight
Vaqueros
Tejano cowhands (1 out of 10 cowhands was a vaquero)
Many vaqueros also owned ranches in South Texas
Women
Some worked ranches alongside husbands
Some became independent ranchers
*Margaret Borland: had 10,000 acre ranch near Victoria
*Lizzie Johnson Williams: owned ranch and well respected for ranching knowledge
(see page 376)
*Both of these women rode on cattle drives

40. Daniel Webster Wallace
Lizzie Johnson Williams
Daniel Webster
Wallace
Margaret Borland
Read Bill Pickett, Bulldogger (page 377)