The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 64, July 1960 - April, 1961 Page: 350
574 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Reaching Austin and Onion Creek he found his cousins well
established. "They have done all and better than I expected," he
wrote. "They have both good homes and [are] fixed right to make
money." He continued to have reservations about settling in
Texas. "I didn't like the country at all on my first look at it," he
continued. "Everything was wet and muddy, and it rained about
every other day which looked gloomy enough. But as I had come
to the State I was bound to see [it], and think I shall remain here
for some time at least. It has been very severe on stock this past
winter. They have died and are still dying by hundreds. But after
all the prospects are rather gloomy to a new comer."2
He lost little time, however, in entering into a contract with
a Doctor E. H. Cleveland to drive mules and horses from the
Mexican side of the Rio Grande to Missouri. In 1856 stock driv-
ing along this 85o-mile route was in its infancy. That year Jesse
Day drove a herd of cattle from Hays County via Waco, and Fort
Gibson, Oklahoma, to Quincy, Illinois. Whether he broke a trail
or followed one, and whether he preceded or followed the Cleve-
land-Burrowes herd is uncertain. Since Burrowes was in the
vanguard of what was later termed the "Long-Drive," his obser-
vations have significance.
I have made an engagement with a Gentleman to go into the
Horse trade, and we expect to start for the Rio Grande on the 19th
[of March], and shall buy a considerable drove if the chance of
getting through is not to[o] scant[?]. The Indians and Mexicans are
rather treacherous along the route, but we shall go prepared for
them. I fell in with this man on the route here to Austin, and he
made me such good offers that I couldn[']t resist them. In the first
place he offered to advance the money free of interest and make me
an equal partner, but I couldn[']t stand that, although there is
mighty few such offers among strangers. But I am a partner in this
way. He advances the money to buy the stock and I bear one half
the expenses and get one third of the profits. ... If the Indians let
us alone I shall make a good year[']s work out of the trip. It will
take us about four months to make the trip with good luck, and if
fortune frowns we shant make any money and probably loose some.
But there is a risk in all trade, and if it was not so, it wouldn[']t
be half so interesting. ...
2Jack Burrowes to Richard B. Walling, March 17, 1856.350
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current periodical.
The Texan Archive War Of 1842 (Text)
Front cover of an article reprinted from an issue of the Southwestern Historical Quarterly.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 64, July 1960 - April, 1961, periodical, 1961; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101190/m1/385/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.