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Some
Early Ranches and Their Brands
(From A
History of Coleman County and Its People,
1985
There are
literally hundreds or different sizes, shapes, and
kinds kinds of letters, figures, signs, and
symbols representing brands of Coleman County
ranches now on file at the Coleman County
Courthouse. The history of the opening up or
the first ranches in the county is clouded with
uncertainty, but some evidence is available.
Records show some surveying was done under the
flag of the Texas Republic in the early forties
near the Colorado River and Rockwood.
However evidence indicates that most surveying was
done in the 50's, when the U. S. Government
established most of its forts in Texas.
Colonel J. E. McCord located Pecan Springs in 1856
and surveyed and filed "upon adjoining lands known
as Pecan Springs Pasture' in west Coleman County,
according to his son J. P. McCord. It is a
supposition that little, if any, ranching was done
prior to the establishing of Fort Colorado in 1857
because of Indian dangers and depredations.
It is the opinion of J. C. Jones and others that the Coffey Ranch, owned by Rich Coffey, near the "Flat Top." Elm Creek and Colorado River, was among the very first permanent ranches in the county. John Chisum ran a large number of cattle in the Trickham area and ran a large supply store there, before moving to New Mexico. These and all other ranches of the 60's and 70's were what are termed "open range" ranches - with no fences except some small field or "horse -trap" enclosure. While opinions differ, it is believed no ranch of any consequence was established prior to the 60's unless it was the Coffey Ranch. At the same time, however, Mr. McElrath reports that General Kirby Smith sent a herd of cattle to Coleman County for grazing purposes in the 50's, although no one seems to know about any permanent ranch headquarters. Some think that when the war broke out, General Smith went into the army, and the cattle scattered and went to the "wild bunch." Mrs. M. K. Witt reports her great-grandfather (who was a Baptist preacher) moved cattle to Coleman County and ranched near Robertson's Peak, at head of Cow Creek, about or Robertson's Peak derived is name. The pioneer, Kin Elkins, who branded K I N, located his ranch near Camp Colorado. vAlthough Mr. Elkins came to Coleman County prior to the Civil War, he did little, if any, ranching until after the war was over. It is the opinion of J. W. Golson, former representative, that the Vaughn and Guthrie ranches, near Trickham, were located sometime in the 60's. Barton Brothers, south of Santa Anna, was another pioneer ranch. Ranches of the "seventies" increased rapidly. Mr. J. C. Jones reports that his father, E. C. Jones, drove a herd of cattle to this county in the 70's and located near Hords Creek, with cow pen near site of the Coleman Baptist church. Jones' brand was ELI. Mrs. Willie Day Padgitt reports her father trailed cattle through Coleman County before he located his ranch on Grape Greek in the southwestern part of Coleman County and the brand was D A Y on the left side of the animal. This old ranch is now known as the Padgitt ranch. The Overall Ranch was located on Home Creek, in the central part of the county. The brand was T Y E. The "O-H-Triangle" Ranch situated in the southwestern part of the county and the brand was "O-H-Triangle," owned by Willson and Davidson. The C. C. (Coon) Hudson Ranch was on the north prong of Hords Greek in the west-central part of Coleman county. Mr. Hudson's brand was C O O N. The Jim Jackson Ranch was near the head of north prong of Hords Creek. Brand was 2D. The Townsend Ranch was established on Rough Creek in north-western Coleman County. Brand was O T O. The Venable Ranch was between Cow Creek and Indian Creek. Brand O-Ladder-O. The Andy Young Ranch on Pecan Bayou had the brand Y O N G. The R. L Dunman Ranch was on Turtle Bayou in north central Coleman County and had the brand S I X -, "Six Bar'' brand and ranch. The Jonathan Miles Ranch on Jim Ned Creek is now the J. C. Dibrell "Echo" Ranch. The John Davidson, Clay Mann, Sam Gholson, and Newt Ferguson Ranches on Jim Ned Creek, in north central Coleman County, are now parts of the Morris Ranch, whose main brand is "Rafter Three." The afore-mentioned were all mainly cattle ranches of the 70's while the Jackson and Tip Mann Ranch on Cow Creek were among the main horse ranches, located in the70's. or four of the main sheep ranches of the 70's Three or four of the main sheep ranches of the 70's were the H. R. Starkweather Ranch in southern Coleman County, the Rodden Ranch in the northwestern part of the county, and the Robey Ranch in central Coleman County. The "eighty" ranches, which include such prominent ones as the "Anson," "Busk," and "Brown," are too numerous to mention. Lastly, we mention the Warnock Ranch, west of Coleman, near the old Fort Concho and Camp Colorado road. Mention of this ranch and the deceased pioneer owner, Mr. J. T. Warnock, with hospitality which was characteristic of other pioneers, is left to the last-to record a true and serious, but amusing story, told to this writer by this pioneer ranchman who first came to this country in 1868, but did not locate his ranch until in the 70's. Mr. Warnock reported that he and a white hired man with a negro cook were traveling on horseback and using a pack horse, and were driving some cattle and horses he had bought somewhere near Fort Concho, from which place he was returning to Arkansas in 1868. And, while driving these animals along the Fort Concho road near Post Oak Springs, in west Coleman county, they saw what they took to be an Indian riding in haste - as if to tell others of the approaching party, with the then much desired horses and cattle. Mr. Warnock stated he advised his white man helper, that if they saw the Indians coming they had better leave the cattle and try to save the horses they were then driving, to which the negro replied: "Well, boss, maybe you knows better than I does, but I think if we sees the Indians a coming, we had better jess try to save these horses we's a ridin'." O H Triangle Horses - Carl Young, Boss W. G. Bush Bulls - 1897 Beck Ranch sheep with Curtis Beck in foreground - 1908 Morgan mares on the Dibrell Ranch - 1922 Dibrell Bulls - 1922 |
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