In Idaho history, agriculture headlines before statehood often mentioned ‘Texas cattle’

“TEXAS CATTLE” was the headline on a Statesman story on Sept. 7, 1869. The cattle had been driven all the way from Texas to Owyhee County, and would winter on the Bruneau River near the mouths of Sinker and Reynolds creeks. In November, J.H. Whitson wrote a letter to the Statesman “warning of ‘Spanish Fever’ which is caught from Texas cattle by native stock, killing them off. It is also notorious that Texas cattle are now being driven into our Territory in large numbers.”

In March 1870, the Owyhee Avalanche reported that “Con Shea and Tom Bugbee have gone again to Texas after more cattle.” In May 1871, “Con Shea got back from Colorado this week in advance of his drove, consisting of 900 head of fat beef cattle which will arrive here in a few weeks.”

In October 1871, Boise pioneer John O’Farrell moved with his family to Ross Fork, Oneida County, “intending to fix his future residence there, and engage in the business of stock raising.” In November: “Something like twenty-five hundred head of cattle are now on Snake River, to the west of us, where they will winter. The range is unlimited and the grass excellent.”

By the spring of 1872: ”Wintering cattle on the Snake: Mr. Wm. Stockton lost 13 out of 16 oxen turned out last fall. Mendenhall and Conant each lost about half of oxen turned out. Other freighters lost in proportion.” (Oxen were raised to pull wagons, not for their beef.)

“TEXAS CATTLE. Con Shea started last Sunday for Texas after another drove of beef cattle. We understand that Jack Stoddard has also gone to Texas.”

In March 1874: “Uncle Johnny White told the Statesman there were 4800 head of cattle in Bruneau Valley and all doing well. There had been no snow since January. There were about 10 families, 20 ranches, and over 30 men in the valley. A year later N. Record, Esq. of Indian Creek told the Idaho Statesman he was one of those who went crazy after cattle, and had succeeded in accumulating a band of 200 last fall; while he gave considerable attention to milking cows and making butter, his principal effort was to increase his band. His cattle have wintered on Snake River, near Bruneau ferry, and he will lose one half his band and his cows will be so poor he don’t expect to succeed as well this season in butter making.”

In May 1875, a newly formed Live Stock Association held a meeting in Boise. “The principal business done was the adoption and signing of a constitution and by-laws and the admission of several new members. Considerable good is likely to come out of this association. The stock men associate themselves for the mutual protection of each other’s stock. The intention is to furnish each member with all the brands of stock of the other members, and in case of loss by theft, straying or otherwise help each other returning stock to the proper owners and the capture and conviction of cattle and horse thieves.

“Hides, Leather. Every day, or about every day, at least, we see a load or part of a load, sent out of our city to the railroad. No account of the number shipped has ever been kept, but it is safe to estimate from the number of cattle slaughtered in Ada, Boise, Alturas and Owyhee Counties, the amount will aggregate between two and three thousand.”