The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-26

to Br0WnSvlle, Texas on 4 government
vessel At Brownsville he kept saloon
and dance house for a year or two, but didn't
like the business, and, selling out, Joined
a boatman named Kennedy in contract for
carrying Government freight to the military
posts on the upper Rio Grande. There
was a large profit in the business, which he
and Kennedy invested in cattle and lands,
so that in 1857, when they retired from the
river, they had fine ranch and large
herd of stock, 49,. ics.. 3 ..5f... ...,,l.
Two years later the partnership was dis
solved, the land and cattle divided, and the
men occupied ranches side byside in Nueces
county. Last year Kennedy sold his orig
inal ranch for 81, 5000 to party of
Dundee (ScotlanD capitalists, and bought
smaller one in the same neighborhood
He is plain, uncultured and unpreteding
man, seldom goes anywhere, and has a
limited acquaintance. 1t is said that he
has not been east of the Mississippi River
since 1916, and doesn't know soul in "the
States.a .nan 80 o h7 aHa
But Col. King is different sort of fel-
low, and has travelled the world over.
Princes and dukes have been his guests at
the Santa Gertrude ranch,7a and there is a
i legend that once upon time he impaired
to the Gar of Russia the secrets of the
cattle trade. In Summer he goes to Long
Branch and Saratoga, and in winter enter
tains at Santa Gertrude the friends he
makes in the North.
King has two ranches, lying about fifty
miles apart. In the one upon which he lives
he has 160, 900 acres under fence, and in
the other 100000 acres The ranch has
recently been enclosed by several train loaIs
of barbed wire. He doesn't know how
much stock he owns, and lets the tax as
SCISSOR make rough guess at it; but we'll
posted men estimate his cattle at from u.s.
600 to 100000, his sheep at 10000, and
his horses at 10000. He employs between
300 and 400 cowboys and herders, and
usually drives about 10000 head of steers
to market each year, and 5000 or 1000
horses and as many sheep. Not long ago
he received an offer of S4,OOO,OOO for his
property by Il Scotch company, but de-
clined to SELL
COL Kings residence at Santa Gertrude
is one of the finest in Texas, and a prince
could not entertain more royalty than he
does His house is surrounded by a circle
of pretty cottages, in which his guests are
lodged. Each visitor has cottage to
himself, unless the company happens to be
large, and well trained colored servant is
constantly at call to minister to his wants.
The cottages are luxuriantly furnished, and
each a sideboard laden with the richest
wines and the choicest cigars, Carriages
and saddled horses are at the bidding of
the guests and every attention that hOspi-
tality can suggest is offered. Col. King
purchases all his supplies at New Orleans,
and every steamer that lands at Corpus
Christi brings him car load.
Texas has genuine cattle queen, who
is well known all over the State, aud is a
woman of large wealth, Her name is
Rogers, and her ranch adjoins that of Col.
King. Her first husband was a cowman
named Rabb. A distinction must be made
between the terms cowbow and cowman.
The latter is an owner of cattle, while the
cowboy is the hired man who herds them.
CpWlpaa aud ranchmen are Synonymous
Rabb was one of the early settlers, and
accumulated a fortune in cattle. When
he died childless, few years ago, his
widow, woman of strong mind and vigor-
Gus physique, took charge of the ranch,
and, the neighbors say, proved to be even
better manager than her late husband
She lives alone in the ranch house. She
was over so when her husband died, and
not remarkable for personal attractions,
Wooers came, but the widows heart was
stone. She was an ardent Methodist, and
used to ride twelve miles on broncho ev-
cry Sunday to meeting. The preacher,
Rogers by name, was a widower, young and
handsome, with reputation for oratoEy,
and seven children. The widow Rabb took
pity on the motheyless Rogerses, and gave
her heart and hand to the Domino, But
she kept the late Rabhs property in her
own name, and told Rogers she needed no
assistance in the management of the ranch
He quilted preaching and took to politics
in which he has been quite successful, be
ing now Democratic member Of the Texas
Legislature, and an aspirant for Congress.
Mrs Rogers has about 10000 cattle on
pasturage of 100000 acres, and is said
to be worth round million. She is de
voted to her business, and never goes into
society. Every week she rides twelve
miles on horseback into town to purchase
supplies, and generally wears an old water
proof cloak for riding habit, She has nc
taste for dress, and notwithstanding hel
wealth lives with the greatest economy.
State Senator Collins of Duval county is
another wealthy ranchman who has taker
up ppolitics Hecame to Texas after the wal
with only $500 capital, but now has 3d.
600 cattle and quite bunch of sheep,
Henry Seeligson, merchant of Calves
ton, is one of the largest cattle owners III
the southern part of the State, having {
ranch in Bee, and another in Nueces ooun
ty, with about 1000 head of stock
Ex-senator Lane of Ontario is a con
spicuous figure in all the cattle conventions
and enjoys distinction because of his per
sonal appearance, as wei! as his wealth anC
intellectual abilities He is nearly sever
feet tall, straight and slim as rail, darl
as an Indian, and can talk like tornado
He began life as cowbow, but is worth
more than million now owning about 30,
600 cattle and employing about sixty COW.
, boys. He is a great temperance advocat'
and moral reformer, and he has rule
which is decidedly exceptional, that no cow
boy OF other person in his employ shal
drink whiskey, play cards, use profanc Ian
guage, or carry revolver. Any man oil
his ranch violating this rule is discharged
without notice,
Another noted character in this country
Is Tom O'Conner, whose life has been
romance. He is native of the north O
Ireland, and was educated to the saddler.
trade. Emigrating to this country in 1886
he worked at harness making for more thai
. ,,,,o,.+ar Of n oent,ru and was the inyento,