The Border and the Buffalo: the Illustrated Recollections of a Buffalo Hunter & Indian Fighter on the American West Frontier

by John R. Cook

In presenting these Reminiscences to the reader the author wishes to say that they were written and compiled by an uneducated man, who is now 63 years of age, with no pretensions to literary attainments, having a very meager knowledge of the common-school branches. In placing these recollections in book form there is an endeavor all along the line to state the facts as they occurred to me. The tragic deaths seen by the author in dance-hall and saloon have been omitted, in this work. But to that band of hardy, tireless hunters that helped, as all army officers declared, more to settle the vexed Indian question in the five years of the greatest destruction of wild animals in the history of the world’s hunting, the author especially devotes that portion of the book pertaining to the buffaloes. The incidents connected with the tragic death of Marshall Sewall will be appreciated, I trust, by all lovers of fair play. Thomas Lumpkins met his death in a manner that could be expected by all old plainsmen. There were so many tragic incidents that occurred during the author’s experience after leaving New Mexico, that it was difficult for him to segregate one event from another, in order to prepare a presentable book,—one that could be read in every home in the land without shocking the finer sensibilities of the reader. And it is the sincere hope and desire of the author that this design and object have been accomplished.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John R. Cook (1844-1917)

Reviews

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating Look Back in Time

I got this book because it contains some history of my family, Wood’s, whose cabin resides in the Panhandle Plains museum. It was lovely to see them described as good people, Samaritans who aided the author in his time of need. It was also great to have some relationships confirmed. I had to look up a lot of terminology that is no longer in use.

[Abby Stopka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart. Explains a lot about the Buffalo hunts and the camps and things like that that they used while trying to eliminate the buffalo. We all know that this was a horrible thing that was done in the past, but to learn about it so we can see where we went wrong is quite interesting.

[Debbie Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reprinted in 1938 by R R Donnelly Lakeside Classics collection in my small in size antique book collection. A first had account a buffalo hunting as the huge herd was destroyed for their skins…hard to read about this part of history for such an iconic animal.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was excellent in some areas, tedious in others. Strong factual first hand history. Not worth rereading.

[Steve Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Simpson Family

Most informative book regarding the Simpson and Wood families I've read. I was born in Canadian, Texas in 1953 and can't remember not knowing them. George Allen Simpson passed away on November 10, 2014 at the age of 91 years 10 months. He is buried in the Edith Ford Cemetery in Canadian. Goodbye old friend.
Steve Whipple