The Trail Drivers of Texas

Interesting Sketches of Early Cowboys...

Edited by J. Marvin Hunter

SERIES: Texas Classics

University of Texas Press

These are the chronicles of the trail drivers of Texas—those rugged men and, sometimes, women who drove cattle and horses up the trails from Texas to northern markets in the late 1800s. Gleaned from members of the Old Time Trail Drivers' Association, these hundreds of real-life stories—some humorous, some chilling, some rambling, all interesting—form an invaluable cornerstone to the literature, history, and folklore of Texas and the West. First published in the 1920s and reissued by the University of Texas Press in 1985, this classic work is now available in a handsome paperback edition that contains the full text, historical illustrations, and name index of the hardcover edition.

For 60 years, The Trail Drivers of Texas has been considered the most monumental single source on the old-time Texas trail drives north to Kansas and beyond....Because of its vast volume of raw material, expressed in the words of those who lived the life and rode the long miles, students of cattle industry history regard it with high respect, even awe. Dallas Morning News

. . . the essential starting point for any study of Texas trail driving days. Walter Prescott Webb called it ‘Absolutely the best source there is on the cattle trail . . .’ Basic Texas Books

J. Marvin Hunter was a journalist and printer who wrote about Western U.S.
history.

Introduction
Foreword
Explanatory
Organization of The Old Time Trail Drivers' Association
Minutes of The Annual Reunion of The Old Time Trail Drivers' Association, Held in San Antonio, Texas, September 10th and 11th, 1919
Origin and Close of The Old-time Northern Trail
The Pumphrey Brothers' Experience on the Trail. By J. B. Pumphrey, Taylor, Texas, and R. B. Pumphrey of San Antonio
Dodging Indians near Packsaddle Mountains. By E. A. (Berry) Robuck, Lockhart, Texas
Fought Indians on the Trail. By Henry Ramsdale, Sabinal, Texas
Location of The Old Chisholm Trail. By C. H. Rust, San Angelo, Texas
What Has Become of The Old-fashioned Boy? By C. H. Rust, San Angelo, Texas
Cyclones, Blizzards, High Water, Stampedes and Indians on the Trail. By G. H. Mohle, Lockhart, Texas
Mistaken for Cole Younger and Arrested. By S. A. Hickock, Karnes City, Texas,
A Thorny Experience. By S. A. Brite, Pleasanton, Texas
A Trip to California. By Jeff M. White, Pleasanton, Texas
Raised on the Frontier. By Walter Smith, Del Rio, Texas
Drove a Herd over the Trail to California. By W. E. Cureton, Meridian, Texas
Parents Settled in the Republic of Texas. By Joseph S. Cruze, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Coming up the Trail in 1882. By Jack Potter, Kenton, Oklahoma
When a Girl Masqueraded as a Cowboy and Spent Four Months on the Trail. By Samuel Dunn, Houston, San Antonio, Texas
A Trying Trip Alone through the Wilderness. By Samuel Dunn Houston, San Antonio, Texas
First Camp Meeting in Grayson County. By Z. N. Morell
Seven Trips up the Trail. By J. F. Ellison, Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
The Old Trailers
Killing and Capturing Buffalo in Kansas. By M. A. Withers, Lockhart, Texas
On the Trail to Nebraska. By Jeff. D. Farris, Bryan, Texas
Echoes of the Cattle Trail. By Jerry M. Nance, Kyle, Texas
Reminiscences of Old Trail Driving. By J. M. Hankins, San Antonio, Texas
Got "Wild and Woolly" on the Chisholm Trail. By J. N. Byler, Dallas, Texas
With Herds to Colorado and New Mexico. By G. W. Scott of Uvalde, Texas
Recollections of Old Trail Days. By B. A. Borroum, Del Rio, Texas
High-heeled Boots and Striped Breeches. By G. O. Burrows, Del Rio, Texas
Sixty Years in Texas. By William J. Bennett, Pearsall, Texas
The Good Old Cowboy Days. By Luther A. Lawhon
Courage and Hardihood on the Old Cattle Trail. Sketch of Sal West
Lived on the Frontier during Indian Times. By Joe F. Spettel, Rio Medina, Texas
Made a Long Trip to Wyoming. By H. D. Gruene, Goodwin, Texas
Played Pranks on the Tenderfoot. By Henry D. Steele, San Antonio, Texas
When a Man's Word was as Good as a Gilt-edged Note. By George N. Steen, Bryan, Texas
My Experience on the Cow Trail. By F. M. Polk, Luling, Texas
Punching Cattle on the Trail to Kansas. By W. D. Hardeman, Devine, Texas
Exciting Experiences on the Frontier and on the Trail. By C. W. Ackerman, San Antonio, Texas
Observations and Experiences of Bygone Days. By Louis Schorp, Rio Medina, Texas
Met Quanah Parker on the Trail. By John Wells Bartlett, Texas
Texas Cowboys at a Circus in Minneapolis. By S. H. Woods, Alice, Texas
The Remarkable Career of Colonel Ike T. Pryor
Habits and Customs of Early Texas. By L. B. Anderson, Seguin, Texas
Hit the Trail in High Places. By Jeff Connolly, Lockhart, Texas
The Men Who Made the Trail. By Luther A. Lawhon, San Antonio, Texas
A Few Thrilling Incidents in My Experience on the Trail. By L. B. Anderson, Seguin, Texas
Memories of the Old Cow Trail. By C. H. Rus, San Angelo, Texas
Established the First Packing Plant in Texas. Sketch of W. S. Hall, Comfort, Texas
Trail Driving to Kansas and Elsewhere. W. F. Cude, San Antonio, Texas
When Lightning Set the Grass on Fire. By George W. Brock, Lockhart, Texas
"Big Cowboy Ball
Did You Ever Do the Square? By James Barton Adams
Experiences "Tenderfeet" Could Not Survive. By G. W. Mills, Lockhart, Texas
Killing of "Billy the Kid." By Fred E. Sutton, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
His Father Made Fine "Bowie" Knives. By John James Haynes, San Antonio, Texas
Three Times Up the Trail. By W. E. Laughlin, Bartlett, Texas
Will Build a Ten-story Marble Hotel in San Antonio. Sketch of John Young, Alpine, Texas
When Ab. Blocker Climbed a Fence. By G. M. Carson, Rocksprings, Texas
Found a Lot of Snuff on the Trail. By J. A. Blythe, Del Rio, Texas
Eight Trips Up the Trail. By A. N. Eustace, Prairie Lea, Texas
A Long Time between Drinks. By Sam Neill, La Pryor, Texas
Scouting and Routing in the Good Old Days. By J. M. Custer, alias
Wilson
Catching Antelope and Buffalo on the Trail. By A. Huffmeyer, San Antonio, Texas
The Old Trail Driver. By Branch Isabell, Odessa, Texas
Drove a Herd to Mississippi and Alabama. By W. D. H. Saunders, San Antonio, Texas
"Trail Life." By James Gibson, Alice, Texas
An Indian Battle near the Leona River. By L. A. Franks, Pleasanton, Texas
Jack Potter, the "Fighting Parson." By John Warren Hunter
The Chisholm Trail. By Fred Sutton, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Preferred to Take Older Cattle Up the Trail. By Thomas'Welder, Beeville, Texas
A Woman Trail Driver. By Mrs. A. Burks, Cotulla, Texas
The Experience of an Old Trail Driver. By Richard (Dick) Withers, Boyes, Montana
Cornbread and Clabber Made a Good Meal. By Joseph Cotulla, Cotulla, Texas
One of the Best-known Trail Drivers. Sketch of John R. Blocker, Big Wells, Texas
Captain John T. Lytle
J. D. Jackson
T. A. Coleman
Twice Across the Plains in Fourteen Months. By Joe S. Clark, Orange Grove, Texas
John Z. Means
George W. Evans
Cowboy Life in West Texas Days Gone By. By Hiram G. Craig, Brenham
Captain Charles Schreiner, Kerrville, Texas
The Early Cattle Days in Texas. By A. W. Capt, San Antonio, Texas
The Cost of Moving a Herd to Northern Markets. By Col. Ike Pryor, San Antonio, Texas
Lost Twenty-one Thousand Dollars on One Drive. By John S. Kritzer, Taylor, Texas
Mose Wesley Hays
The Platte was Like a Ribbon in the Sunshine. By J. W. Jackson, Bartlett, Texas
Put up Five Hundred Steers to Secure Three Hundred Dollars. By E. L. Brounson, Sample, Texas
Some Interesting Things Seen on the Cattle Trail. By John B. Conner, Yoakum, Texas
When "Louisiana" Came to Texas. By T. M. Turner, San Antonio, Texas
Made Several Trips up The Trail. By N. L. Word, Alice, Texas
Probably the Oldest Feeder in Texas. By R. F. Sellers, Mathis, Texas
Up the Trail to Northern New Mexico. By L. A. Franks, Pleasanton, Texas
The Son of a Well-known Trail Driver. By Robert Farmer Jennings, San Antonio, Texas
When George Saunders Made a Bluff "Stick." By T. T. Hawkins, Charlotte, Texas
Put Many Herds up for D. R. Fant. By Thomas M. Hodges, Junction, Texas
The Milk of Human Kindness is Drying Up. By George F. Hindes, Pearsall, Texas
Took Time to Visit His Sweetheart. By H. C. Williams. San Antonio, Texas
Reminiscences of the Trail. By Jasper (Bob) Lauderdale
From Texas to the Oregon Line. By W. A. Peril, Harper, Texas
An Old Frontiersman Tells His Experience. By Joe Chapman, Benton, Texas
Parents were among Early Colonists. By Henry Fest, San Antonio, Texas
Phil L. Wright
Reflections of the Trail. By George W. Saunders, San Antonio, Texas
Mrs. Lou Gore
Buried a Cowboy in a Lonely Grave on the Prairie. By Alfred Iverson (Babe) Moye, Kenedy, Texas
Some Things I Saw Long Ago. By George Gerdes
Ate Stolen Meat, Anyway. By Jim Wilson, Alpine, Texas
When a Boy Bossed a Herd. Sketch of J. D. Jackson, Alpine, Texas
Spent a Hard Winter near Red Cloud. By D. S. Combs, San Antonio, Texas
Experiences of the Trail and Otherwise. By M. J. Ripps, San Antonio, Texas
Sketch of Col. J. F. Ellison. By J. F. Ellison, Jr., Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
Sixty-eight Years in Texas. By Pleasant Burnell Butler, Kenedy, Texas
My First Five-dollar Bill. By J. L. McCaleb, Carrizo Springs, Texas
Slaked Their Thirst in a Dry Town. By A. D. McGehee, San Marcos, Texas
Lived in San Antonio at Time of Woll's Invasion. By George W. West, Jourdanton, Texas
Got Their Names in the Pot for Supper and Breakfast. By E. M. (Mac) Stoney, Lockhart, Texas
Settled on the Frontier of Texas. Sketch of Ed B. English of Carrizo Springs
Some Thrilling Experiences of an Old Trailer. By L. D. Taylor, San Antonio, Texas
The Man Who Had Hell in His Neck. By Ab. Blocker, San Antonio, Texas
My Third and Last Trip Up the Trail in 1886. By R. J. Jennings, San Antonio, Texas
Sketch of Colonel Dillard R. Fant Relates of a Trip Made in 1872. By M. L. Bolding, Bartlett, Texas
Paid Three Dollars for Five Gallons of Water. By Sam Garner, Lockhart, Texas
I Listened to the Chant of the Night Songs. By I. H. Elder, Sanderson, Texas
Sketch of L. B. Allen
Had Less Trouble with Indians than with the Grangers on the Trail. By J. E. Pettus, Goliad, Texas
My Trip up the Trail. By W. E. Thompson, Pearsall, Texas
Richard King
Drove Cattle for Doe Burnett. By L. Beasley, Junction, Texas
Worked with Cattle for Over Sixty Years. By E. M. (Bud) Daggett, Fort Worth, Texas
Made First Trip in 1877. By D. B. Sherrill, Rocksprings, Texas
Cowboys Dressed Up at End of Trail. By R. J. Jennings, San Antonio, Texas
A Tenderfoot from Kentucky. By J. D. Jackson
A True Story of Trail Days
Traveling The Trail with Good Men was a Pleasure. By J. F. (Little Jim) Ellison, Jr., Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
Had Plenty of Fun. By Gus Black, Eagle Pass, Texas
Slumbered through the Shooting. By H. H. Peel, Jourdanton, Texas
Another Successful Cowman. By J. B. Murrah, San Antonio, Texas
The Real Cowboy. By Beulah Rust Kirkland, Phoenix, Arizona
Cowboy from the Plains of Nebraska. By V. F. Carvajal
Echoes of the 1916 Convention
Early Days in Texas. By J. T. Hazlewood
Worked for Geo. W. Saunders in 1875. By L. T. Clark, Quanah, Texas
Was Freighter and Trail Driver. By. J. M. Cowley, Fentress, Texas
Sold Cattle in Natchez for $4.50 a Head. By A. E. Scheske, Gonzales, Texas
Days That Were Full of Thrills. By Branch Isbell, Odessa, Texas
Some Trips Up the Trail. By J. M. Garner. Texarkana, Arkansas
Thrilling Experiences. By Levi J. Harkey, Sinton, Texas
Noted Quantrell Was with Herd on Trail. By Dr. J. W. Hargus of Dimmit County
Lost Thousands of Dollars. By C. S. Broadbent, San Antonio, Texas
Were Happier in Good Old Days. By Oscar Thompson, Hebronville, Texas
Latch String is on the Outside. By R. T. Mellard, Eddy County, New Mexico
Dedicated to the Memory of W. J. Edwards. By E. M. Edwards, San Antonio, Texas
Lived in Live Oak County Many Years. By W. M. Shannon, Lytle, Texas
William James Slaughter
James Alfred McFaddin
An Old Cow Hand. By John Pat Ryan
William C. Irwin
Lee L. Russell
Thomas B. Saunders
Ate Terrapin and Dog Meat and was Glad to Get it. By Ben Drake, South Antonio, Texas
Gives Some Early Texas History. By W. F. Cude, Pearsall, Texas
Drove Horses to Mississippi. By F. G. Crawford, Oakville, Texas
When Jim Dobie Lost His Pants. By E. S. Boatwright, Falfurrius, Texas
Sketch of Col. J. J. Meyers
Came over from Germany in 1870. By F. Cornelius, Midfield, Texas.
A Faithful Negro Servant. By J. E. Folts, Columbus, Texas
Grazed on Many Ranges. By T. J. Garner, Loveland, Colorado
John H. Ross Was a Bronco Buster
Has Had an Eventful Career. By William B. Krempkau, San Antonio, Texas
No Room in the Tent for Polecats. By W. B. Foster, San Antonio, Texas
Garland G. Odom
Reminiscences of an Old Trail Driver. By John C. Jacobs, San Antonio, Texas
"Chawed" the Earmarks. By J. G. Thompson, Devine, Texas
James Madison Chittim
A Big Mix-up. By W. M. Nagiller, Williams, Arizona
George T. Reynolds
Colonel Albert G. Boyce
Born in a Log Cabin. By G. O. Burrow, Del Rio, Texas
Sixty Years in Texas Around Good Old San Antonio. By Jesse M. Kilgore, San Antonio, Texas
Hardships of a Winter Drive. By Alf. Beadle, North Pleasanton, Texas
Mont Woodward Was a Friend. By G. O. Burrow, Del Rio, Texas
Dream was Realized. By Charlie Bargsley, San Antonio, Texas
When He Got Big Enough to Fight the Indians were Gone. By W. T. (Bill) Brite, Leming, Texas
Fifty Cents a Day Was Considered Good Pay. By Louis and Joseph Chorp, Rio Medina, Texas
When the Elements Wept and Shed Tears. By W. F. Fielder
Sketch of Captain James D. Reed. By Lou Best Porter, Mountainair, New Mexico
A Tribute to the Character of William Buckner Houston. By Thomas H. Lewis
Served with Lee and Jackson. By J. B. C. Harkness, Pearsall, Texas
Harrowing Experiences with Jayhawkers. By J. M. Daugherty, Daugherty, Texas
Major George W. Littlefield
Kidnapped the Inspectors. By Leo Tucker, Yoakum, Texas
David C. Pryor
Helped Drive Indians Out of Brown County. By J. W. Driskill, Sabinal, Texas
Robert E. Stafford
Lafayette Ward
Thomas Jefferson Moore
William G. Butler
Seth Mabry
J. D. Murrah Caught the Measles. By Dan Murrah, Del Rio, Texas
Medina County Pioneer. By Xavier Wanz, Castroville, Texas
Experiences of a Texas Pioneer. By John M. Sharpe
W. A. (Buck) Pettus
R. G. (Dick) Head
Sketch of J. M. Choate
W. M. Choate
Crossed the Arkansas River in a Skiff. By J. H. Saul
When Temperature Was 72 Degrees Below Zero. By C. C. French, Fort Worth, Texas
History of an Old Cowman
Indians Got Their Horses. By W. H. Crain, Pipe Creek, Texas
George Webb Slaughter
Thomas M. Peeler
Hardships of a Cowboy's Life in the Early Days in Texas. By James T. Johnson, Charco, Texas
Associated with Frank James. By Sam H. Nunneley, San Antonio, Texas
The Tankersley Family. By Mary Tankersley Lewis, San Angelo, Texas
Trail Driving was Fascinating. By W. A. Roberts, Frio Town, Texas
Followed Cattle from the Ranch to the Shipping Pen. By Mrs. A. P. Betcher, Del Rio, Texas
Tells of an Indian Fight. By W. A. Franks, Pearsall, Texas
Reminiscences of the Old Trails. By C. F. Doan of Doan's
Made Many Trips up the Old Cow Trail. By E. P. Byler; Wadsworth, Texas
Fifty Years Ago. By J. J. (Joe) Roberts, Del Rio, Texas
P. E. Slaughter
Sketch of the Life of Captain J. J. (Jack) Cureton. By W. E. Cureton, Meridian, Texas
Trail Recollections of George W. Elam
Tells About Bob Robertson. By W. B. Hardeman, Devine, Texas
"Doe" Burkett
Ben C. Drago
An Old Trail Driver
Richard Robertson Russell
From the Nueces to the North Platte. By J. R. Humphries, Yoakum, Texas
A Long, Hard Trip
A. P. Rachal
D. C. Rachal
Frank S. Rachal
John Redus. By Mrs. Sallie McLamore Redus
James David Farmer
A Well-known Frontier Character
Alonzo Millett
Three Comrade Cowpunchers
Could Ride a Hundred Miles a Day. By C. E. Johnson, Charco, Texas.
Ranson Capps
Why I am a Prohibitionist. By George F. Hindus, Pearsall, Texas
Fifty Years a Policeman
Trailed 'Em Across Red River. By Gus Staples, Skidmore, Texas
Was in a Railroad Wreck. By John B. Conner, Yoakum, Texas
The Rutledge Brothers
Jesse Presnall
George W. West
Played the Fiddle on Head at Night
Reminiscences of the Trail. By A. F. Carvajal, San Antonio, Texas
James Dobie Made Several Trips up the Trail. By R. J. Jennings, San Antonio, Texas
Charles de Montel, Jr Was in Packsaddle Mountain Fight. By N. G. Ozment
The Cowboy's Prayer
Where They Put a Trail Boss in Jail. By W. T. (Bill) Jackman, San Marcos, Texas
Made Several Trips. By Joe P. Smith, Click, Texas
Relates Incidents of Many Drives. By William Baxter Slaughter, San Antonio, Texas
A Pioneer Mother's Experience. By Mrs. Kate Cruze, San Antonio, Texas
A Cowboy Undertaker. By W. K. Shipman, San Antonio, Texas
Captured Three Thousand Quarts
Would Like to Go Again. By Webster Witter, Beeville, Texas
My Experience on the Trail. By Mrs. W. B. Slaughter, San Antonio, Texas
Ed C. Lasater
The Pluck of a Poor German Boy By B. Vesper, Big Wells, Texas
Mrs. Ike T. Pryor
Mrs. George W. Saunders
Col. C. C. Slaughter
M. Halff
Daniel Oppenheimer
The Killing of Oliver Loving. By Charles Goodnight, Goodnight, Texas
W. J. Wilson's Narrative
Cyrus B. Lucas
John J. Little
William Henry Jennings
John B. Slaughter
Dennis O'Conner
Shangai Pierce
J. D. Houston
Bob Houston
Jess McCoy
On the Fort Worth and Dodge City Trail. By T. J. Burkett, Sr., Waelder, Texas
Character Impersonation
My Early Days in Good Old San Antonio. By John A. Miller, Bandera, Texas
Captain A. C. Jones. By George W. Saunders
Captain Henry Scott. By George W. Saunders
Oscar Fox. Composer of Cowboy Songs
A. W. Billingsley, Wife, and Son
John and Thomas Dewees. By George W. Saunders
Came to Texas in 1838. By Mrs. H. C. Mayes, Carlsbad, Texas
A Long, Dry Drive
Chaplain J. Stewart Pearce
Martin and Joe O'Connor
Father Received a Premium for Best Corn. By C. E. Austin, Nixon, Texas
Son of a Trail Driver. By Harry H. Williams, San Antonio, Texas.
More About the Chisholm Trail. By Charles Goodnight, Goodnight, Texas
Now a Member of Congress. By Claude Hudspeth, El Paso, Texas
Captain Mifflin Kenedy
John G. Kenedy
Felix M. Shaw
A Log of the Trails. By George W. Saunders, Texas
Thomas H. Shaw
E. B. Flowers
Experiences of a Ranger and Scout. By A. M. (Gus) Gildea, Deming, N. M
Got a Tail-hold and Held on. By R. F. Galbreath, Devine, Texas
The Poet of the Range
The Old "Square Dance" of the Western Range
James B. Gillett
A Few Bars in the Key of G
The Morris Family
One Trip Up the Trail. By B. D. Lindsey, San Antonio, Texas
No Friends Like the Old Trail Drivers. By G. M. Carson, Rocksprings, Texas
Dock Burris was Well Known
Was in Captain Sansom's Company. By J. W. Minear, San Antonio, Texas
Al. N. McFaddin
Ira C. Jennings
A Trip to Kansas in 1870. By W. R. Massengale, Rio Frio, Texas
From the "Historian of the Plains"
The Trail Drivers of Texas. By Maude Clark Hough, New York City
Made Early Drives. By D. H. Snyder, Georgetown, Texas
Rather Confusing
James Washington Walker
Andrew G. Jones
Four Bandera Pioneers
In Conclusion
Index

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