The Business End of the Cattle Drive

By Suzanne Norquist

Nothing represents the quintessential Old West like a cattle drive. Movies and books depict the adventure, from Red River starring John Wayne to City Slickers starring Billy Crystal. There are still ranches that allow guests to pay for the privilege of driving cattle from one property to another.

However, the famous cattle drives that originated in Texas in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s didn’t result from dreams of excitement. They were a profitable business venture.

For centuries, herdsmen have driven animals to relocate them. They still do. But none compare to the cattle drives of that era.

A twelve-man crew would move a herd of 2,000 to 3,000 head of cattle across hundreds of miles of wilderness to sell it for a premium price. The trip took several months.

What made this venture possible?

After the Civil War, Texans were long on cattle and short on cash. Herds thrived while the ranchers served in the Confederate army. And the soldiers’ pay wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. The cattle could be sold at a premium in northern markets. Not only that, but sturdy Texas longhorns could survive the long journey better than other types of cattle.

The land along the route hadn’t been divided up and fenced off yet. Anyone could use the open range. Railroads didn’t crisscross the country yet to offer an alternative form of transportation—the perfect environment for driving cattle.

A few business-minded cattlemen realized that moving a large herd to a high-priced market would increase their profit. No need to make the trip with only a few animals. They would contract with different ranches to transport thousands of head of cattle and put together crews that included a trail boss, a wrangler, drovers, waddies (teenaged trail hands), and a chuckwagon cook.

The wrangler managed the horses, eight to ten per drover. Drovers were divided into point riders who took the lead, swing riders in the middle, and drag riders in the rear. The chuckwagon cook not only prepared food, but also served as the doctor and dentist, offering herbal remedies as needed.

Teams followed one of several major trails. The most famous were the Chisholm Trail and the Goodnight-Lovington Trail. The Chisholm Trail started in San Antonio, Texas, and passed through Oklahoma and into Kansas. The Goodnight-Lovington Trail went from Texas to Colorado and Wyoming by way of New Mexico.

Business owners in the “cow towns” at the end of the route profited as well. They offered supplies, alcohol, and other amenities to weary crews.

The cattle drives proved successful. There were the occasional Indian attacks, cattle rustlers, swollen rivers, and stampedes, but most survived the journey. Newspapers reported their progress in the business section, including the number of head and the expected arrival date.

A problem arose when other cattle along the route contracted a disease known as “Texas fever.” This tick-borne illness didn’t bother the tough longhorns. But the ticks would drop off along the way and infect other cattle. Soon, quarantines were imposed on Texas herds. Local cattlemen formed mobs to keep them out.

To solve this problem, cattle buyer Joseph McCoy established a marketplace in the grasslands near Abilene, Kansas. No other cattle would be infected. He persuaded the Kansas Pacific Railroad to provide sidings and facilities. This established Abilene as a premier cow town. He convinced people that if the cattle “wintered” in Abilene, they no longer carried the tick.

The intercontinental railroads and a weak economy ended the twenty-year era of large cattle drives. Cattlemen no longer profited from the endeavor. The open range gave way to fenced farms and ranches.

All that remained was the lore of the cowboy pushing “doggies” up the Chisholm Trail. Hollywood glamorized it, and everyone believed the trail boss ran the show. It’s a far more interesting story than that of profit and loss.

 

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Love In Bloom 4-in-one collection

“A Song for Rose” by Suzanne Norquist

Can a disillusioned tenor convince an aspiring soprano that there is more to music than fame?

“Holly & Ivy” by Mary Davis

At Christmastime, a young woman accompanies her impetuous younger sister on her trip across the country to be a mail-order bride and loses her heart to a gallant stranger.

“Periwinkle in the Park” by Kathleen E. Kovach

A female hiking guide, who is helping to commission a national park, runs into conflict with a mountain man determined to keep the government off his land.

“A Beauty in a Tansy”

Two adjacent store owners are drawn to each other, but their older relatives provide obstacles to their ever becoming close.

Republished from Bouquet of Brides

Buy links: https://books2read.com/u/bOOx8K

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Bloom-Mary-Davis/dp/B0FPLFYCXR/

 

 

Multi-published author Suzanne Norquist has worked as a chemist, professor, and financial analyst, and has even earned a doctorate in economics. Everything fascinates her. Research feeds her curiosity, and she shares the adventure with her readers. She lives in New Mexico with her mining-engineer husband and takes road trips to visit her children and grandchildren. When not writing, she hangs out with her two active Siberian Huskies, takes piano lessons, and studies the Bible with the church ladies.

Western Cattle Queens: Hattie Cluck

The Wild West had a way of producing tough women, and none grittier than the cattle queens who rode, roped, and endured the privations of the trail as well as any man. Facing challenges, hardships, and perils—sometimes with children at their side—they garnered grudging respect in an era of shifting cultural roles. Some accrued wealth, while others paid with their lives. These women overcame cultural expectations to live on their terms. The halls of history must ring with applause.

This blog series celebrates the cattle queens mentioned in The Whispering Wind, the final installment in the Montana Gold western historical romance series.

"Pioneer Woman" and "Pioneer Boy" (statues of Hattie and Emmett Cluck) published courtesy of Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Western Cattle Queens: Hattie Standefer Cluck

Harriet Louise Standefer entered this world on April 14, 1846 in Alabama. Her parents, James Stuart and Caroline (Randall) Standefer soon left for Williamson County, Texas, taking their young daughter with them. Her father did quite well at cattle ranching.

In 1860, Hattie started her studies at Salado College. She met George Washington Cluck at a dance. Hattie was seventeen when they married on June 25, 1863. The Civil War had begun, several of their brothers enlisted in the Confederate Army. George remained behind, most likely to run the ranch. Hattie gave birth to two daughters and a son over the next six years.

Up the Chisholm Trail

Following the War, the eastern states were in short supply of beef. Cattle that sold for $4 each in Texas fetched $40 a head when sold in Abilene. A supply route opened up in 1867 when the railway connected to Abilene Kansas. Texas ranchers could drive their cattle up the Chisholm Trail to newly-built stockyards and send their beef to eastern buyers by rail. In the spring of 1871, George Cluck decided to join forces with another rancher to drive their herds to Abilene.

Hattie accompanied George on the arduous journey. Hattie later said that George “took all he had in the world with him, and we wanted to be together no matter what happened.” However, her granddaughter stated that Hattie was the one who insisted on going along. The truth is probably lost in time. Either way, Hattie is celebrated as the first female to travel the Chisholm Trail. She accomplished this feat with her three children (ages six, four, and two) in tow and while pregnant with her fourth child.

Along the way, Hattie and her family dealt with several harrowing experiences. She and her children had to cross the swiftly-running Red River on horseback to lighten the wagon. Robbers assailed their party and had to be fended off at gunpoint.

Despite the hardships and dangers, the Clucks made it to Abilene with their herd and their family intact. Hattie was so close to her due date that she and her husband opted to remain in Kansas. This didn’t go particularly well, since Kansas farmers resented the tendency of Texas ranchers to drive their cattle through their crops. 

The Clucks returned to Texas two years later, and George registered a second cattle brand under Hattie’s name. George closed several good land deals, enjoyed success as a cattle rancher, and sold water rights to the railroad. He donated land and money for a local school. Hattie and George added six more children to their family. They also took in their nephew.

After George died in August of 1920, Hattie spent her days in simple living. She continued to run her farm, and in spare moments might be found quilting, reading popular fiction, writing poetry, daydreaming, or collecting arrowheads on her property.

The Hattie Cluck Legend

She was 84 when reporters began making much of her journey up the Chisholm Trail. They were guilty of embroidering its perils. The bandits became Indians in some accounts, and Hattie helped loade guns for the men who resisted them. One legend has it that Hattie declared herself ready to take the place of any coward who refused to fight. Whatever the truth may be, the bandits left without any cattle.

Hattie died on March 2, 1938, at the venerable age of 92, but her fame lives on. The Chisholm Trail Crossing Park in Round Rock, Texas includes a statue of Hattie Cluck with her young son, Emmet.

Hattie is much admired by Phoebe Walsh, heroine of The Whispering Wind (Montana Gold, book six). Phoebe cites Hattie Cluck as an example while trying to talk her uncle into training her to become a ranch hand. Like Hattie, Phoebe challenges limits imposed on women. Regardless of her impending spinsterhood, Phoebe determines to live a meaningful life. It would take a strong man to change her mind--someone like Will Canfield. Despite the kiss he'd stolen along with her peace of mind, Will doesn't want her. 

The Whispering Wind

Fancy parties and embroidered fans hold little appeal for Phoebe Walsh. She would rather gallop across the open range or help her father with a wounded calf. Of her many admirers, none spark her interest. Ma seems determined to save her from becoming a spinster, but how can Phoebe accept her mother's choice of suitors when her heart belongs elsewhere?

Several years have passed since Will Canfield stole a kiss and her heart. Remembering her passionate response still curls her insides, but how she feels doesn't matter. Will's interest in her isn't serious, as he's made clear. She needs to get over the man. If Uncle Con will stop throwing them together, that could be a whole lot easier.

Will feels guilty about Phoebe, but he can't risk another heartbreak. Being left at the altar certainly changed his mind about romance. Phoebe is better off marrying someone else, even if the idea sets his teeth on edge.

Phoebe and Will must both, with God's help, conquer an old fear before they can move ahead with their lives. 

Set during a troubled time in America, the Montana Gold series explores faith, courage, and love in the Wild West.

Claim your copy of The Whispering Wind.

What's New with Janalyn Voigt

Hello friends. I hope all is well with you. Have you planned any challenges for yourself lately? I'm working to improve my daily life. Recently, I came across an image of types of coffee drinks. Some I've tried and others I've thought about making. It surprised me, though, to learn how many I'd never heard of before. There were 30 pictured, meant to encourage a month of experimenting. Now, as an author, I have an affinity for coffee. 

Last Christmas, a family member gave me a tongue-in-cheek sign for my office: "I turn coffee into books. What's your superpower?" Hmmm... I wonder if consuming various coffee drinks produces different books. What do you think?  

Biography 

Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Writing in the historical romance and medieval epic fantasy genres, Janalyn is represented by Wordserve Literary. When not writing, she loves to discover worlds of adventure in the great outdoors.
Learn more about Janalyn Voigt and her books.

Cattle Drives of the Old West--and a giveaway

One of the most enduring and iconic images of the Old West is the cattle drive—where a cowboy crew moved several thousand head of cattle a thousand miles from Texas to Kansas. There, in one of the Kansas rail towns, the herd was then sold and transported to stockyards in the east. This major undertaking happened yearly after the spring roundup, and typically, the cattle from several ranches were all pooled into one large herd for the drive (rather than each individual ranch doing its own drive).

So what happened on a cattle drive? The easy answer is that the cowboys pointed the herd north and started the longhorns moving. In reality, there was a lot more to it than just “drive the herd north, fellas!” In fact, the cowboys on the drive fell into one of several specific jobs or positions.

Cowboy during a cattle drive, circa 1903

Positions

Trail Boss—The head honcho of the outfit. This seasoned cattleman plotted the day’s course, including any breaks, watering holes, and the end-of-day campsite. He was also in charge of keeping track of the brands in the herd. Likewise, the Trail Boss’s job was to make decisions on how to handle injured animals, newborn calves, any strangers they came across along the trail, and mediate any disputes that cropped up among the crew.

Point Rider—The Point Man rode out in front of the herd, setting the pace for the day and acting to lead the herd in the direction the Trail Boss had told them to go. The Point Rider became the focal point for the herd, and everyone else followed after him. In larger drives, there might be two Point Riders. 

Swing Riders—The Swing Riders were situated about one-third of the way back in the line of cattle where the herd began to widen out. There would be one Swing Rider on either side of the herd. This position helped keep the herd bunched and also helped the Point Riders turn the herd as needed. The men riding Swing would constantly watch for any animals trying to make a break away from the herd. It was their job to catch them before they got too far away and turn them back in with the main group. If for any reason, the point rider left his position, a Swing Rider would move up to lead until the Point man returned.

Flank Riders—Similar to the Swing Riders, these cowboys rode one on either side of the herd, although about two-thirds of the way back. Their main job was to back up the Swing Riders and keep the herd from fanning out across too wide an area. 

Drag Riders—This was the least desirable position in the cattle drive, often reserved for the greenest cowboys. The Drag Rider rode behind the herd, driving the back end of the herd to stay up with the front and rounding up any stragglers or strays who break free from the tail of the herd. The Drag Riders had the unfortunate daily experience eating the dust that the thousands of cattle in the herd kicked up.

Wrangler—The Wrangler was in charge of the remuda (or horse herd). An average cattle drive would require some 100 or more horses to keep the cowboys mounted and moving each day. The Wrangler’s job was to drive the horse herd along the day’s course, doctor any sick or injured mounts, as well as help with camp chores, such as collecting fuel for the fire, washing dishes after the meal, and the like.

Cook—The cook’s job was to provide the food for the crew each day, among other things. Look for a more detailed post on this position and his mobile kitchen on October 25.

The average pay for those on the cattle drive was as follows: the Trail boss earned roughly $100-$120/month. The cook could count on about $60/month. And a typical drover (any of the other positions) would earn roughly $40/month. All were paid at the end of the trail after the herd was sold.

While western cattle were capable of covering roughly twenty-five miles a day, few if any cattle outfits moved at such a pace. Why? Because at that pace, the cattle would lose weight and thus, wouldn’t fetch as high a price when sold. Instead, the Point Man set a pace to cover roughly twelve or fifteen miles a day—whatever the Trail Boss laid out. After traveling several days in a row, the herd would be allowed to rest a day or two in a spot with lots of good grazing and water. At this rate of travel, the approximately-one-thousand-mile trek would take several months to complete.

Map provided by the National Parks Service (in the Public Domain)

Cattle Trails

There were four principal cattle trails that led from Texas to the railroads far to the north. The earliest was the Shawnee Trail, in use from the 1840s until just after the Civil War. It departed Texas and took a north-easterly course through the eastern corner of Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma), then ended in various places in Missouri (anywhere from St. Louis to St. Joseph and Kansas City, depending on the time in history). When disease affected the cattle along the trail in the 1850s and 1860s, farms near the route balked at the Texas cattle continuing to use this route to the rails.

The Goodnight-Loving Trail was in use in the late-1860s after the war’s end. Founded by Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, the trail struck west through Texas, then turned north into modern-day New Mexico. Continuing from there, it drove on into Colorado where it eventually intersected with various railroad lines such as the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe at Pueblo, Colorado, or the Kansas Pacific in Denver. Some even went as far as the Union Pacific line (the Transcontinental Railroad) just over the border into Wyoming.

The next major trail was the Chisolm Trail, which traversed north from Fort Worth, through Indian Territory, and into Abilene, Kansas or Ellsworth, Kansas. Its popularity rose in 1867, but dwindled for a time in the early 1870s, only to resurge again later in the decade.

The last important trail was the Great Western Trail, which left Southern Texas, cut through the western edge of Indian Territory, through Kansas, and up into Nebraska. This trail held the greatest popularity from 1874-1885 but became harder to travel due to the implementation of barbed wire fences and farmers’ fears of the spread of Texas Tick Fever. 

It’s Your Turn: Would you have wanted to participate in a cattle drive? Why or why not? Leave your answer with an email address, and you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of the 4-in-1 novella collection, The Cowboys.

Jennifer Uhlarikdiscovered the western genre as a pre-teen when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has finaled and won in numerous writing competitions, and been on the ECPA best-seller list numerous times. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers, Women Writing the West, and is a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, college-aged son, and four fur children.

Available Now!

The Cowboys

Taming the west—one heart at a time.

Healing Hearts by Cindy Ervin Huff
Lonnie Holt’s external scars remind him of his failures, his internal scars torment him. Genny Collins seeks safety at the ranch once owned by Lonnie’s uncle. When Lonnie and his brother arrive, sparks fly and distrust abounds. While Lonnie and Genny fight the love growing between them, his past haunts him, and her past pays them a visit.

Becoming Brave by Jennifer Uhlarik
When Coy Whittaker stumbles upon a grisly scene littered with bodies, he wants nothing more than to get his boss’s cattle out of Indian Territory. But when a bloodstained Aimee Kaplan draws down on him, his plans—and his heart—screech to a halt.

Trail’s End by Sandra Merville Hart
Wade Chadwick has no money until his boss’s cattle sell, so he takes a kitchen job at Abby’s Home Cooking. The beautiful and prickly owner adds spice to his workday. Abby Cox hires the down-and-out cowboy even though the word cowboy leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Just as she’s ready to trust Wade with her heart, money starts to disappear … and so does her brother.

Loving a Harvey Girl by Linda Yezak
Eva Knowles can't imagine why the local preacher doesn't like Harvey Girls—women who work serving tables instead of finding a husband and falling in love. But if Eva can get the handsome and wayward cowboy Cal Stephens to join her in church, maybe the reverend will accept the girls. Or maybe she'll forfeit her job for a husband, hearth, and home!

WACO'S SUSPENSION BRIDGE

By Golden Keyes Parsons

flicker.org

Last month I delved into a dark section of Waco, Tx, past when I searched the business of prostitution which flourished in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The buzz of that activity took place in the area around the suspension bridge over the Brazos River. 

commons.wikimedia.org

 Today the bridge is a popular spot for wedding photo ops, fraternity and sorority activities, and engagement pictures. Even baptisms take place in the river at the historic location, and families gather every 4th of July to watch a huge fireworks display. But the suspension bridge had a much more respectable place in history than simply being the location of the red light district in Waco or a popular spot for photographers. 

Hundreds of thousands of cattle came up the Chisholm Trail from the Rio Grande Valley on the way to West Texas or Kansas, and it was the money from the new

fineartamerica.com

cattle industry that brought Texas out of bankruptcy after the Civil War. However the crossing of the river was dangerous and time consuming. Businessmen in Waco knew they needed to come up with a solution to the dilemma, and proposed the monumental idea to build a suspension bridge across the Brazos River. Construction began in 1868 on what would become the largest suspension bridge in Texas at that time. The building materials were ferried from Galveston to Bryan, Tx, then brought overland to Waco. The twin towers, considered a modern-day miracle at the time were constructed of nearly 3 million bricks which were made locally.

The bridge collected its first toll on January 1, 1870. Five cents per head of cattle was collected from cattle drivers for the convenience of getting across the river without the danger of losing multiple heads of cattle by drowning. Two stagecoaches could pass by each other at the same time due to how wide the bridge was. The bridge quickly paid for itself, and in 1889 was turned over to McLennan County who no longer collected tolls for those using the bridge.

The place of the suspension bridge in Waco is not earth-shattering history, but it is a registered historical site and is worth stopping to see and imagine the rumble of cattle over the bridge. It is only used for foot traffic today and is a favorite spot for locals.

pinterest.com

A multi-published fiction author, Golden Keyes Parsons and her husband, Blaine, live in Waco, TX. Her series, Darkness to Light, (Thomas Nelson) chronicled the journey of her ancestors in 17^th century France and was a finalist for ACFW’s Debut Author of the Year in 2008. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, a Civil War novel, was a National Readers Choice finalist. Parsons has also written a biblical fiction series entitled Hidden Faces, Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (WhiteFire Publishing). You can contact her at www.goldenkeyesparsons.com.

Salado, Texas

Quaint Little Town in Texas

I first visited Salado, Texas back in the 1950’s when I was a student at Baylor University. I attended a luncheon at the Stagecoach Inn and was fascinated by the building, the food, and the town.

I visited there once again to attend a bridesmaid luncheon for my son’s bride-to-be. As many times as I’ve wanted to go back, I’ve never made it. I still remember the quaint shops that lined the streets then.

Tucked away in Bell County, it lies just east of Interstate 35 between Austin and Waco. The bubbling springs of Salado Creek run through the town, adding to its charm. The creek also made it a good home and camping grounds for Indians long before explorers took to the land.

Settlers came to the area as early as 1834, but abandoned it several years later because of Indian raids and an invasion by Santa Anna and his Mexican Army. Archibald Willingham came in 1850, and was the first permanent settler. A post office came along in 1852, a weekly stage ran between Austin and Waco several years before the town actually existed.

From 1866 till 1885, the famous Chisholm cattle drives passed through the town straight down Main Street making Salado and the Stagecoach Inn one of its stops. The inn still serves as a hotel today and is the site of many luncheons, dinners, and reunions not only because of its history but also because it has great food.

In 1867, Salado incorporated to build a wire suspension bridge across Salado Creek and it was finished in 1869. It stood until the great flood of 1900. The creek, a great force in the history of the area was designated the first recorded Natural Landmark in 1966.

By 1884 Salado had a population of 900, 7 churches, 14 stores, 2 hotels, 2 blacksmiths, and 3 cotton gins. However after the railroads bypassed Salado to the North and South trade moved away from the town and population began to dwindle, hitting 400 by 1914 and down to 200 by 1950.

After re-incorporating, the population grew and the 2010 census lists the population of the village at 2,126. Tourists will find nineteen Salado locations that are listed in the National Register of Historic places including the home of George Washington Baines, maternal great-grandfather of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. 

One of the most significant aspects of Salado is the college established there in 1859 on land donated by Elijah Robertson who was elected President of its Board of Directors. The cornerstone for the first building was laid on July 4, 1860. He also donated land that was sod to families moving into the area. All proceeds from the sales were contributed to the building of the college. It was the first college in the state to operate without church or state funds.

The college site is now Salado College Memorial Public Park.  After being destroyed by two fires in 1901 and 1902, the buildings were rebuilt, but a fire in 1924 came at a time when the citizens couldn’t afford to rebuild. After the ruins were stabilized it became a park. A foundation formed in 2011 has made improvements and now maintains it for the public.


The revitalization of Salado started in the 1940's as the fame of the dining room at the Stagecoach Inn spread. In 1959, the Central Texas Area Museum was founded. Today, the town boasts of about 130 businesses of many kinds and add to the quaint charm of this small town in the heart of Texas.


Our nation is filled with historic places to visit and famous places to dine. What is the most historic place you have stopped in for dining?

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Martha and her husband Rex live in Houston where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.  A former English and Home Economics teacher, Martha loves to cook and experimenting with recipes and loves scrapbooking when she has time. She is the Director of the Houston Christian Writers Conference held in August each year, a member of ACFW WOTS chapter in Houston, and a member of the writers’ group, Inspirational Writers Alive.

Find Martha at:  www.marthawrogers.com

Jesse Chisholm

Since we've been without cable we've had the neat experience of being able to watch Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and The Rifleman. Watching these shows has really renewed my love for all things Old West, and it brought to remembrance a research trip to Abilene, KS and my discovery of a man who was a pioneer as well as a true hero.

One look at Jesse Chisholm and you can see he's not your ordinary white man. Born around 1805 in Tennessee to a Scottish father and a Cherokee mother, it's no surprise Jesse was a good business man. When the Cherokees began moving themselves to Arkansas, Jesse and his mother went. Later, and I can only imagine the circumstances, they moved into what is now known as Oklahoma.

Jesse set up a trading post in Council Grove, OK (near Oklahoma City). From all accounts, Jesse was a friendly man, and very diplomatic. One of the things I found very interesting about Jesse is that he spoke many languages. Somewhere there is an account that he spoke over fourteen of the tribal languages, making him an ideal man, not only for trading, but for diplomacy when it came to negotiations among the various tribes.

One thing of note here, when we think of Indian tribes and treaties we tend to think of those treaties in terms of the white man. But sometimes issues arose between the tribes. Jesse was known for listening to both sides, really listening, before seeking out a solution.

Although Jesse had left TN well before the Trail of Tears began, you should understand that it still could not have been easy for him. There was a distrust of the white man, as well there should have been, and there was a lot of prejudice against mixed breeds (sounds harsh, but it was the reality). I'm pretty sure Jesse's friendliness and willingness to listen gained him a lot of trust with those he encountered.

Jesse wasn't only a trader and a negotiator, he was also a trail guide. It was during one of his trail guiding trips in 1836 that led him to Wichita, KS where he set up another trading post. It is this trail he used between Council Grove and Wichita that would become known as the Chisholm Trail.

Some believe the Chisholm Trail had begun and ended as a cattle drive to Abilene, but that isn't the case. When the Civil War threatened to tear apart the United States, it also divided many of the Indian tribes. The greatest division seemed to be amongst the Cherokees themselves (this topic deserves a blog of its own). The result of the division was a mass exodus of Indians to the north, settling into Kansas. Jesse used his trail to Wichita to bring those who wished to flee the south.

I hadn't a second thought about the Chisholm Trail, until the conductor of our train ride mentioned Jesse. My attention grew as the conductor spoke about Jess and his death. It was during my research of his death that I discovered what a wonderful man Jesse Chisholm was. During a time when kidnappings and ransoms were common place amongst the tribal nations, Jesse often ransomed hostages himself, especially when children were involved. His actions spoke his heart. He cared for people, no matter who they were.

Jesse died in 1868, only a year after the Chisholm Trail was used to drive cattle all the way to Abilene, KS, the first real 'cow town'.

As for Jesse's death, he died of accidental food poisoning. Supposedly, Jesse's favorite meal was bear grease and honey. I've searched around to find exactly what this was, but no luck. From what I gather it was bear meat, honey, and possibly nuts. Jesse's wife, of Cherokee blood, often made this for him in a brass pot. It was after one of their travels where she had bought a copper pot that she made Jesse's favorite meal. Something in the food had a chemical reaction with the copper pot and poisoned him.

Jesse Chisholm was one of a kind. 

And very hero worthy.