Great Wester Ranches
Last year we did a post series on financing the Texas state capital with a land grant that became the legendary XIT ranch. That post series was read and shared by well over sixty thousand readers. It was one of the most successful posts we’ve done. Along the way, a number of readers suggested other ranches we should consider writing about. Well so many of you asked for it, here we go. We compiled a list from your suggestions and a couple of my own ideas. Let’s see where this journey takes us starting in North Texas at the Turkey Track Ranch.
The Turkey Track Ranch got its start in 1878 when Richard McNalty settled a grassy free range along Moore Creek in what became present day Hutchinson County Texas. The ranch took its name from a distinctive brand having the appearance of a three toed- you guessed it- turkey track. Over the next three years McNulty built a ranch of seven thousand acres running over six thousand head of cattle. In 1881 he sold the Turkey Track to Charles Word and Jack Snider.
Word and Snider continued to build the herd, though their most notable accomplishment might have been constructing a two hundered mile ‘drift fence’ in the fight to control the spread of Texas fever. As those who follow these posts know Texas fever is a tick transmitted cattle disease born parasitically by Texas Longhorns. The fatal disease infected other breeds when they came in contact with otherwise healthy Longhorns. Fear of the disease prompted quarantines and restrictions that limited driving Texas cattle to market. Years later it was discovered that Longhorn calves developed an immunity to the disease early in life and became carriers. Fleas that bite Longhorns lay infected eggs in grasslands the Longhorns grazed on. Fleas hatched from those eggs spread the disease to cattle lacking the Longhorn’s immunity.
In 1883 Word and Snider sold the Turkey Track to Hansford Land and Cattle Company, a Scottish syndicate headed by native Scottsman and Kansas City Banker, James Coburn. With Coburn at the helm, the Turkey Track entered a twenty year period of turbulence and growth.
Next Week: Coburn’s Turkey Track
Find Paul Colt books:
https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt
Ride easy,
Paul
The Turkey Track Ranch got its start in 1878 when Richard McNalty settled a grassy free range along Moore Creek in what became present day Hutchinson County Texas. The ranch took its name from a distinctive brand having the appearance of a three toed- you guessed it- turkey track. Over the next three years McNulty built a ranch of seven thousand acres running over six thousand head of cattle. In 1881 he sold the Turkey Track to Charles Word and Jack Snider.
Word and Snider continued to build the herd, though their most notable accomplishment might have been constructing a two hundered mile ‘drift fence’ in the fight to control the spread of Texas fever. As those who follow these posts know Texas fever is a tick transmitted cattle disease born parasitically by Texas Longhorns. The fatal disease infected other breeds when they came in contact with otherwise healthy Longhorns. Fear of the disease prompted quarantines and restrictions that limited driving Texas cattle to market. Years later it was discovered that Longhorn calves developed an immunity to the disease early in life and became carriers. Fleas that bite Longhorns lay infected eggs in grasslands the Longhorns grazed on. Fleas hatched from those eggs spread the disease to cattle lacking the Longhorn’s immunity.
In 1883 Word and Snider sold the Turkey Track to Hansford Land and Cattle Company, a Scottish syndicate headed by native Scottsman and Kansas City Banker, James Coburn. With Coburn at the helm, the Turkey Track entered a twenty year period of turbulence and growth.
Next Week: Coburn’s Turkey Track
Find Paul Colt books:
https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt
Ride easy,
Paul
No comments have been added yet.
