The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 301
672 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Book Reviews
Timmons. The Francklyn Land & Cattle Company adds meas-
urably to the already brilliant luster of the Range Life Series.
Written by an acknowledged master in the field of historiog-
raphy, tastefully illustrated, and profusely documented with ex-
planatory footnotes, the book is at once informative, readable,
and entertaining. The author made prodigious use of the
Francklyn Company files in the Panhandle-Plains Museum at
Canyon, Texas, resulting in a revealing survey of a relatively
unexplored segment of ranching enterprise.
The Francklyn Land and Cattle Company was organized in
1882 with a capital stock of $3,ooo,ooo. Charles G. Francklyn
was the first president of the company, Frank G. Brown was
secretary, and William F. Van Pelt was chosen as treasurer. On
November 8, 1882, the company purchased 637,440 acres of
land in Gray, Carson, Roberts, and Hutchinson counties for
$887,654.40. Thus began a saga of superb endurance and studied
enterprise characterized by a succession of episodes dominated by
such celebrated personages as B. B. Groom, Charles Goodnight,
Murdo McKenzie, I. F. Ikard, S. B. Burnett, Dan Waggoner,
Temple Houston, and T. D. Hobart.
Droughts, range fires, northers, depressions, and the countless
minor irritations always present in any ranching venture occu-
pied much of the early history of the cattle complex. White
Deer, as the company lands came to be known, steadily evolved
into an energetic and efficiently operated venture, one which
exerted a markedly stimulating influence on other ranches in
the vicinity.
Primary consideration was given to the development of water
resources, grass, and credit. The company purchased 75,000
head of cattle, 500 saddle horses, and lease and range rights to
a spread of grass lands extending fifty miles by seventy-five miles
in Greer County, Texas. Some of the cattle were scattered over
Kiowa and Comanche reserves, requiring protracted negotiations
with Indian Agency officials. Ramifications of the Greer County
controversy affected company interests for decades.
In addition to early establishment of scientific breeding
methods, the company pioneered in intensive stock farming,
creating a diversified system of ranch economy.301
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964, periodical, 1964; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101197/m1/343/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.