The Border and the Buffalo: An Untold Story of the Southwest Plains

by John R. Cook, James L. Haley (Introduction)

John R. Cook was an American original. He witnessed or participated in a string of important events that shaped the nation and sculpted the history of the West. Born in Ohio in 1844, Cook moved with his family to Kansas. He joined the Union Army at sixteen and fought along the Kansas-Missouri border, in Indian Territory, and in Arkansas. After the Civil War, he ventured out to establish a homestead and work cattle. Several hardships forced Cook to try his luck at various enterprises. He became a prospector in New Mexico, a buffalo hunter in Texas and Kansas, and an Indian fighter.

Santa Fe, Adobe Walls, Fort Elliot, and Rath City were among Cook's Great Plains haunts. His accounts of the 1878 Hunters War against Comanche leader Black Horse and the battle of Yellow House Canyon near present-day Lubbock are rare glimpses into the last great effort of the Comanche people to maintain their way of life. He eventually found employment as a government scout and guide with the army.

In later years, Cook recorded his adventures in a modest volume, The Border and the Buffalo, first published in a small edition in 1907. Historians quickly recognized it as one of the most important first- hand accounts about buffalo hunting ever written. The organization of hunts, camp routines, and marketing of the buffalo hides are all described in detail.

Award-winning author and Texas historian James L. Haley provides a new foreword in this reprint edition of this classic of Texana.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

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