A history of Deaf Smith County, featuring pioneer families Page: 13 of 174
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History
Deaf Smith County
PioneersCarter, F. B. Fuller, W. A. Higgins, Ira Aten, T. M.
Palmer, L. B. Tannehill, R. J. Kibbe, A. J. Lipscomb,
and C. R. Moreman, directors.
The young city was beginning to show civic consciousness;
reported on the front page of that first newspaper was the
story of the organization of the "Hereford Sanitary and
Improvement Society," with one of its prime objectives
the development of a 10-acre park tract given the city
by Western Union Land Company. L. Gough was named
president; other officers were: F. B. Fuller, secretary;
Dr. R. M. Johnson, vice-president; John E. Ferguson,
treasurer; John S. McKnight, auditor; JohnA. Tomamichel,
C. G. Witherspoon, Jack Harwell, C. R. Moreman, W. H.
Patton, and Dr. R. M. Johnson, executive committee.
Something of the untamed west lingered in the story
of the murder of a deputy sheriff: "The many friends
of Deputy Sheriff Will Rainbolt were shocked to hear of
his untimely death at the hands of Nate Hendricks,"
the story, under a small headline on the second page,
began.
"At a dance held in the west part of town, Mr. Rainbolt,
as constable, was called to see that order was preserved,
and during the progress of which his attention was called
to a revolver carried by Oliver Hendricks, brother of the
assassin. Mr. Rainbolt called Hendricks out and took the
pistol away from him and told him he would have to go to
jail and it was while Mr. Rainbolt was in the act of getting
in the wagon that Hendricks fired the fatal shot," the
story ran. The murderer and his brother made their
escape, and strenuous efforts were being made toward
their apprehension.
While society was not accorded a special section, the
first edition gave account of three weddings, capped
"Three Couples Made Happy in Hymenial Bonds." Following
were accounts of the weddings of Miss Joyce Womble
and M. 0. Meeks; H. L. Goats and Miss Mattie Giles;
and M. N. Brown and Miss Amanda Guest.
A very active "Dramatic Club" was doing its bit toward
adding cultural activity to the town. It had chartered a
special train during the second week in February and
played in Canyon City. The play was a version of "Arabian
Knights,' and the local paper quoted "The Stayer,"
evidently published at Canyon City: "Each one acted their
part perfectly and every act from start to finish went
off with the rhythm and precision of professional work.
Miss Womble, a perfect soubrette, played the adventuress
to perfection." Another item reported: "The
Hereford Dramatic Club will produce the pathetic comedy-'Tompkin's
Hired Mar'--in the near future. Its success
is assured."
A patriotic program under the direction of Prof. J.R.
Overstreet had been presented by local school pupils
at the court house in observance of Washington's birthday.
Selections ranged from patriotic numbers, recitations,
music, to biographical compositions dealing with
various phases of Washington's life.
At the turn of the century, spiritual life was not being
neglected in the toddling city. All denominations were
using one building. The Christian Church held services
on each first Sunday with Rev. H. M. Randa in the pulpit.
On succeeding Sundays the following services were scheduled:
Methodist church, Rev. N. B. Bennett; Baptist
church, no regular pastor scheduled; and Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, Rev. Charles Lotton, pastor. United
Sunday school services were held each Sunday morning
at 10.
Lodges were flourishing in that Hereford of 1901. The
I. 0. O. F. Lodge had meetings scheduled every Thursday
in its hall over McGlothlin's Furniture Store, with F.B.
Fuller, noble Grand, officiating. HerefordLodge, U.D.A.F.,
the Baptist Ladies' Aid
Society, with Mrs. Geo. W. Irwing as president; and the
Home Charity Society, meeting each Thursday with Mrs.
A. D. McKellar presiding.
Thus the editor of the newspaper pictured a growing
business section, an expanding residential area, and a
wide-awake citizenry in Hereford at the beginning of 1901."Earl of Lakeview," pride of the Norton Ranch
and considered a top registered bull in 1902,
with Claude Norton on Main Street.The coming of the railroad and fencing of the plains meant
the end to the trail drives. Soon Hereford and Bovina
were busy shipping centers for the growing ranching business
in the area. Locals in one issue of the newspaper
mentioned sale of more than 6,000 head of cattle. Some
had been sold to out of state buyers and were delivered
at Hereford for shipment. Others were brought here to
be placed on the open market.
Names seen on registers of the two local hotels included
outstanding cattleman from many states: Messers LaPlant,
Montana; Joe Brown, Lubbock; Hall Harman, Colorado
City; A. G. Mills, Hagerman, N.M.; Mr. Stacy, a northern
buyer; and Frank Tomlinson of Fish Cattle Company.
Station Agent Davis reported that 790 cars had been
ordered for April. It was pointed out that many herds
also would be here which would be placed on the open
market.
"Cattlemen who are contemplating bringing their cattle
to Hereford for shipment may rest assured that there is
plenty of open range for grazing purposes and also several
large surface lakes with plenty of water in them within
a short distance of the stock pens," the paper reported
in April, 1902.
Old-timers recall that there were still a fewlong-horns
on the open ranges as late as 1890, and many small
ranchers were running their herds on the 'strip' between
the XIT spread on the west and the T-Anchor on the east.
Most herds consisted of grade cattle and could be bought
'such as they went' for $10 a head as late as 1895.
Rat Jowell and L. R. Bradly brought the first registered
Herefords to the county in January, 1898. They came from
the famed herd of Gudgell and Simpson in Independence,
Mo. The herd consisted of 19 females and a bull, Climax,
of Anxiety 4th bloodstrain.
From this original herd, many local ranchers secured
stock to improve their range herds. Mrs. Bradly recalled
that the use of registered bulls had so improved grade
herds that in a few years cattle were selling for from
$25 to $35 a head.
In 1906 the paper reported the sale of a herd of yearlings
by J. D. Burkett to R. G. and C. B. Guffy of Onaga at
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Patterson, Bessie. A history of Deaf Smith County, featuring pioneer families, book, 1964; Hereford, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth16011/m1/13/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Deaf Smith County Library.