In fact, Rodger Huffman, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) livestock inspection and predator control programs manager, says few cattle thieves … Sat, 17 April 2021 2:00AM. In 2011, 46-year-old Lyon was a player in the North Texas cattle industry, moving livestock at a steady pace as a representative of Nebraska-based Midwestern Cattle Marketing (MCM). Today’s cattle rustlers usually aren’t as bold as the gun-slingers of the Old West; you can’t hang them from the nearest tree, either. Cattle raiding is the act of stealing cattle. He did as he pleased and ruined lives and then disappeared. The majority of thieves used a ‘running iron,’ instead of a regular stamp iron, which was a straight rod with a curve at the heated end. They would also start stampedes to drive off any cattle they couldn’t take. Good morning Phyliss- I’m a distant cousin to Bonnie Parker On my Dads side. Hi Alisa, good to hear from you. Tag: cattle rustling The Old West Lives: Tourism’s Glory Days In Tombstone, Arizona. I do not have any stories to share but vigilante justice can result in the wrong person paying the price. ALSO SEE: What’s up with all this Easterday cattle stuff? Swear I heard one of them brahmin speak. Watson had acquired homestead rights on land with water resources vital to the wealthiest rancher in the county, Albert Bothwell, when she was accused by him of cattle rustling. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Cattle Rustling in the Wild West – A Rancher’s Worst Nightmare. Bath and Body Works. The vast distances to town, hence law enforcement, often prompted ranchers to take actions of their own. The Old West Is Dead, But Cattle Rustling Lives On / Every trick in book used to pry valuable cows from ranchers Pam Belluck , New York Times … I hope you and yours have a great week and please stay safe. This caused many ranchers to stop hiring cowboys that owned their own cattle. We know approximately where it is. Cattle rustling on the rise across Africa . Maybe you can decide from the following! Rustling and horse theft were both crimes, but of different severity on the frontier. Cause a man’s gotta do, what a man’s gotta do. Livestock who forged well were called rustlers by cowmen; meaning the animals could graze or “rustle up” nourishment on marginal land. Livestock who forged well were called rustlers by cowmen; meaning the animals could graze or “rustle up” nourishment on marginal land. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Cattle rustling is as old as the West. As history has it, the sheriff had to use two blows of the hatchet before the rope broke. Probably because of their lack of experience in “structured” hangings, coupled with the lawmen misjudging Ketchum’s weight and stretching the rope during testing, he was beheaded. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Do you have a family story you’d like to share? McCanles Gang – Led by David McCanles (or by some accounts, McCandless), this group of men were allegedly wanted for robbing banks and trains, cattle rustling, murder, and horse theft in the early 1860s.. McCarty Gang (1892-1893) – The McCarty Gang was run by Tom McCarty, who was one of the first to introduce Butch Cassidy to the life of banditry. Cattle rustling. Big hugs, Phyliss. Raising cattle and living on a ranch yet he was brought up in a city with no knowledge at all of the lifestyle which he followed. In North America, especially in the Wild West cowboy culture, cattle theft is dubbed rustling, while an individual who engages in it is a rustler. For example, on 20th July, 1889, James Averell and Kate Watson were lynched on the orders of Albert J. Bothwell, a powerful cattleman in Wyoming. WA Police are cracking down on cattle rustling in the state’s Mid West, Gascoyne and Pilbara. My died suddenly at the age of 51. Rustlers would go as far as to kill the mothers, so that the calves could not return. McCanles Gang – Led by David McCanles (or by some accounts, McCandless), this group of men were allegedly wanted for robbing banks and trains, cattle rustling, murder, and horse theft in the early 1860s.. McCarty Gang (1892-1893) – The McCarty Gang was run by Tom McCarty, who was one of the first to introduce Butch Cassidy to the life of banditry. In the American Old West, rustling was considered a serious offense, and it did frequently result in lynching by vigilantes. Hugs and love back at you, my friend. But one branch of my family came to America in 1638…that’s just 16 years after Jamestown. "Obviously, with time, it's evolved into a much higher-tech business than what it was back in the Old West," he says. September 11, 2019 Marshall Trimble. In Australia, such stealing is often referred to as duffing, and the perpetrator as a duffer. I really wish I had got my dad to tell me the story again in my older adult years so I could have written it down. April 23, 2018 J W Collins. Take care of yourself and I hope all goes well with you and yours. She was abducted from her home and lynched Hi Tonya, so glad to hear from you. Steal a man's cow and you cost him some money; steal his horse and you may be killing him. Of course cattle thefts by Indians were a common hazard for early settlers in the Old West. Hi Miss Quilt Lady. Cattle rustlers from Texas would go into Mexico and swim large herds of ‘wet stock’ across the Rio Grande at night, leading them to the markets. Point of terminology: "Rustling" applies specifically to theft of cattle. My father was the oldest of 6. One left to go out west and is well known where he settled many years later. Yikes. I’m totally like you about wishing both my parents and grandmother had told me more when I was an adult. Chad Parker, based in California, runs the Western States Livestock Rule Enforcement Association, a national industry … Mama was crusty and Daddy a total gentleman! The dates all coincide with what my great grandfather had told my dad. NOT! His only brother who was much younger, he tried to advise about life and love but the brother was the baby of the family and spoiled. the great florida range wars the legendary old west had died by the late 1800s, but for cowboys in the wild, wild east, cattle rustling and gunfights were still a way of life One of the major problems with this was the calf escaping and returning to their mothers, even over long distances. 'Moo, I say,' or somesuch.Ed Brahmin or brahma are mutated cattle with two heads and giant udders. He built himself a good life in America. Please stay safe. Hi Cathy, glad you read my blog and liked it. Like horse thieves, cattle rustlers could be hanged without benefit of trial, judge or jury. Bush and ‘Burbs: Ex-Sydney, West Coast player Mitch Morton to pull on boots for old club Lake Grace-Pingrup. Nothing exciting at all. A horse wrangler or camp cook was also a rustler, but the most widespread and notorious use of the word referred to a cattle thief. Mine raised us to be boring! In April 1892, he led the Regulators to the KC Ranch, where Nate Champion and Nick Ray, small-time ranchers who had been falsely accused of cattle rustling, were holed up. This article is available to subscribers who have digital access included in their subscription. Miss them terribly. Posted 39 m minutes ago Wed Wednesday 17 Mar March 2021 at 9:53am. Rustlers were very rarely arrested but it was still considered a serious offence, and vigilantes took matters into their own hands normally lynching the accused. Cattle rustling. I’m bettin’ you’ll find some interesting stories one of these days. So, his widow killed a few men in return. They thought an apology was good enough. At its peak, one of the largest ranches in the Texas Panhandle had over 150,000 head of cattle and a thousand horses. My daddy was a fly boy here at the AFB and from Ohio. Saddle skirts or skirts – the broad piece of leather that fringes a saddle. And a recent $225 million alleged cattle heist involving Easterday Ranches and Tyson Fresh Meats in Washington is one of the largest cases in U.S. history.. And that case, like others nowadays, happened on paper, not on the range. Cattle Rustling in the Wild West – A Rancher’s Worst Nightmare. West Pokot leaders have condemned the arrest of maize traders in the county. ( Log Out /  We seem to have been going backwards in race relations for around 14 years or so and that is a sad thing. I can’t think of any infamous family stories but I wish I knew some of them now that I’m older. Cattle Rustling In The Old West Back then, the Old West was a no nonsense place and rustling was considered a serious offense which frequently resulted in a lynching by vigilantes. Many years have transpired. Of course we moved from New York to Texas when I was 10, so I didn’t really see them much after that except a few times when we went back to visit them. Bet as time goes by, you’ll learn more about your family. Spanish police said their investigation began after a COVID-19 outbreak at the company where the 40-year-old man worked on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. Many ranchers would wait until their calves had been weaned to brand them, which caused rustlers to begin targeting the younger animals. Belle Starr, pictured sitting side saddle on her horse wearing a single loop holster with a pearl-handled revolver, c.… The new brand would identify the thief and he would be in danger of being lynched. If you need a real man ... "Give Me a Texas Ranger", https://www.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Archive/Story-Article-View/Article/477774/the-last-ride-of-jesse-james-infamous-outlaws-last-crime-was-robbing-the-us-arm/. I don’t have any family stories like that! I lost my dad to cancer at the age of 62, but I had my mother and three sisters for a lot of years. What are your thoughts on vigilante justice of the 1800’s and earlier? While West Virginia and Kentucky had the famous Hatfield and McCoy feud, Texas had the Sutton-Taylor feud.Starting in 1868 and lasting 8 years the feud claimed at least 35 lives and involved Deputy Sheriffs, family members of Texas Rangers, cattle rustling and even infamous Texas gunman John Wesley Hardin was involved … [ 6 ] One cause of tensions between Mexico and the United States in the years leading up to the Mexican-American War was the frequent raiding of cattle by Native Americans from north of the border. However, on a Gunsmoke rerun the other day, the hung the wrong man for cattle rustling. From what I’ve researched this wasn’t uncommon. I’m sure plenty of my family members have gotten in to lots of trouble. Take care of yourself and your family. ( Log Out /  OMG, I bet you read everything on Bonnie Parker. They also targeted other ranchers on the plains. Livestock who forged well were called rustlers by cowmen; meaning the animals could graze or “rustle up” nourishment on marginal land. Because her father was Clayton’s mayor, she witnessed the reburial. No longer is a single head of beef stolen for food or an occasional Native American slipping off the reservation to provide for his family… it is big business. Cattle rustling is a crime as old as the American West and today's thieves are taking full advantage of modern day tools to ply their old trade. Jessie James came by to visit my Great Grandfather he held in high Regard and highly respected my Grandfather. It was also easy to register a brand, with a few animals, and then add to their stock with those that they stole. 2017-11-23. To one person who leaves a comment, I will give you a choice of an eBook copy of Out of a Texas Night or a gift card to Cattle Rustling In The Old West, My In-laws And Outlaws. His execution turned into a big town event, with the lawmen actually selling tickets to the hangin’. Many times, “vigilante justice,” hang ‘um first…ask questions later, was handed down by organized stockmen. Convicted of murder in 1887, Bogan was sentenced to death but … Plus, although I don’t know how old you are, but when I was growing up stories weren’t shared as they are now. I don’t remember when or how I discovered he wrote a couple of books under the pen name of Lee Sage. They ride high in the saddle in Tombstone. My great-great-great grandfather was killed by Rebel Bushwackers during the Civil War. A large part of the population of the Old West made their living based on the cattle trade, either directly or indirectly. During this time, there were many instances of cattle theft which could take place for different reasons. I’m sure in those days a casket did not weather well. Obviously, thieves could drive stolen livestock miles away before a rancher learned he had animals missing. Cattle rustling is as old as the West. I have family stories galore. . I’m Amid warnings that cattle rustling is on the rise in Texas, recently the state Senate passed a measure that would stiffen penalties for stealing farm animals, making theft of even one head of livestock a third-degree felony drawing up to a ten year prison sentence and a fine. I learned most of mine from my grandmother and my mother-in-law. And a recent $225 million alleged cattle heist involving Easterday Ranches and Tyson Fresh Meats in Washington is one of the largest cases in U.S. history. I know they’ll be a lot of our readers today who will want to check it out. Stay safe in these very uncertain and difficult times. 100 Best Historical Photos American Old West - The arrival of the daguerreotype in the 1840s could not have come at a more fortuitous time for the American West. The crime is also transnational in that cattle are moved across borders. I bet your family honors him regularly with or without an official gravesite. . In 2015, there were 758 livestock-related theft cases investigated, according to data from the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Back when Georgia was a penal colony, one of my ancestors was shipped over for “stealing something he could not return” from the lord of the manor’s daughter. I haven’t been out very much for nearly two months now, but feel safe and take precautions when I do go out. Married into a family of five boys, so we’ve had a big family. Hugs, Phyliss. Jordan McArdle. I can’t imagine buying tickets to a hanging. Mexican rustlers were a major issue during the American Civil War, with the Mexican government being accused of supporting … Site Hosted and Maintained by Indies On the Web, https://petticoatsandpistols.com/author/phyliss/, © 2021 Petticoats and Pistols & Licensors. I love her stories. My mama was from Louisiana and they met and married here, so there was little they agreed on especially when it came to food! He initially came to Alabama because he was going to rob the train that came thru the town where my Great Grandfather lived and decided to visit him. Confronted by the owner, the man bowed his head and said, “My family was hungry.”. In the first part of the 19th century, opponents of slavery, cattle rustlers, horse thieves, gamblers and other “desperadoes” in the South and the Old West were the most common targets of those who were not of African American descent. Native Americans would often steal a few cattle to feed their tribe, during times of shortage. One of her favorite tales was about the outlaw Black Jack Ketchum, the first man hanged in the town. Meanwhile, hangings, burnings, and whippings continued to kill slaves with common regularity. Cattle rustling – wild west style? I can only imagine being an only child of two only children and knowing the family stories. Sawbuck – a type of pack saddle with crossed pieces of wood, on which the panniers are hung. Take care and big hugs, Phyliss. My family is not very exciting.I have very few relatives. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Bothwell responded by organizing a mob to lynch Averell and Watson for rustling… No rustlers I know of. Investigator Shawn Harvey says cattle rustling is fairly common. In the Old West, the terms rustling, and rustler had several meanings. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Anyone with information on cattle theft is urged to contact the Livestock Section of the RCMP at 403-701-1462, or their local police. My dad told me when I growing that our last name was Younger instead of Young. No family stories that I know in my family. Their success at cattle rustling came from their skills as cowboys, such as roping, branding and trailing the beasts. Modern day rustlers often sneak onto rural ranches at night, or on weekends when the owners are away, steal and sell cattle. Court convictions for rustling were difficult because of the animosity of small ranchers and settlers toward big cattle outfits. His life was one of hardship and difficulties but he succeeded in making a success of himself. A native Texan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Phyliss Miranda still believes in the Code of the Old West and loves to share her love for antiques, the lost art of quilting, and the Wild West. Take care of you and yours. Averell and Watson had become involved in a dispute with Bothwell over land. Big hugs, Phyliss. During and shortly after the Civil War, Mexican rustlers were also a major problem, along the border. During this time, there were many instances of cattle theft which could take place for different reasons. Gives me the shivers. Yes, I totally agree about buying tickets to a hanging! There were brothers who all went their separate ways. The operation is ongoing and will continue until all known Criminal Networks are disbanded. Great blog, Phyllis. The term cattle rustling is derived from the cowboy culture of the Old West, and is used in America in regards to the raiding of ranches. Cattle rustling is as old as the West. A story teller, she was reared in Clayton, New Mexico. One of the stories you will discover is that of the Sutton-Taylor feud. In fact I don’t ever remember them talking about much of anything. In a SHTF situation anybody caught rustling livestock (which is what you would be doing if you kill somebody’s property) would be shot on sight… and country boys and girls can shoot a long, long way with their scoped bolt actions. I was an only child. Mom’s were Spanish. Thank you precious lady for dropping by and reading my post. Greatly enjoyed your post today Mrs Phyliss! Tom Rynning, Captain, Arizona Rangers – True West Magazine. Comments. She stayed in England, since he was beneath her station, but it wasn’t all bad for this ancestor. We must be a boring family. A large part of the population of the Old West made their living based on the cattle trade, either directly or indirectly. Today, even with detailed brands logged in books, registering with state officials, inspectors, and the meticulous paperwork involving transportation, not to mention a new era of branding technology to keep track of animals, ranches still face cattle rustlers…those dishonest people who want to profit from selling cattle without the bother of raising them. They would cut pasture fences and drive the calves to their own corral, before stamping them with their brand. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. My grandmother LaVerda Nelson Orrock had two brothers. My Great Grandfather tried to talk to Jessie about Jesus and asked him please to not rob the train well Jessie didn’t rob the train. My maiden name was changed, too, but for different reasons. ... currently most of the people who were engaging in cattle rustling are now engaging in business. He did however go to North Alabama to steal payroll for laborers in the Blue Water Camp at the Muscle Shoals Canal Project on the Tennessee River. Three decades later, when she was in grade school, Ketchum’s grave was moved to the new cemetery. More daring rustlers would begin stampedes with entire herds on the northern trails, defending themselves with rifles if pursued. Shootouts. This was soon outlawed, and they switched to using a piece of heavy wire that could be carried easily and bent into any shape. The differences they had with the settlers meant that many of them also stole cattle as a form of revenge or to chase ranchers away from their hunting grounds. In the American Old West, rustling was considered a serious offense, and it did frequently result in lynching by vigilantes. Great read. They are found all over the post-War United States. You have some interesting family history. During this time, there were many instances of cattle theft which could take place for different reasons. ... Legend says the Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid—cattle rustler, gunslinger, murderer, escape artist—killed 21 people before he turned 21 years old… I have heard of cattle being stolen using big rigs here in FL, and a few horses being killed for the “fun” of it. Rural Crime Squad commenced Operation Topography to combat an Established Criminal Network involved in the theft and subsequent sale of cattle from the Mid-West Gascoyne and Pilbara Districts. Ellen Liddy Watson (July 2, 1860 – July 20, 1889) was a pioneer of Wyoming who became known as Cattle Kate, an outlaw of the Old West, although the characterization is a dubious one, as subsequent research has tended to see her as a much maligned victim of a self styled land baron. Their main targets were South Texas ranches, and it is estimated that they stole 145,000+ heads of cattle between 1859 and 1872. With outrage people would have today over things its hard to believe that families used to picnic at hangings and gather like it was social hour. I delved into the subject of cattle rustling and the methods of rustlers while researching for one of our anthologies where my Pinkerton Agent comes to the Panhandle to break up an outfit of rustlers. The rustlers would hide the herds on the western ranges, in box canyons, until they could be rebranded. No one ever knew what happened and where he went. In the Wild West, rustling was a serious offence and frequently resulted in lynching from a group of vigilantes. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! . You made some very accurate and noteworthy observations. Many from when I was very young and concerning my parents lives before they arrived in the US. Champion had been a friend of Canton’s, but this did not prevent Canton from setting the house on fire after a gun battle that had lasted most of the day. So sad!! I remember the first time my mother told me that story as a young teen and being equal measures scandalized and amused (the only reason he didn’t face a harsher punishment was the daughter pled for his life, leading me to believe this was a consensual act). At certain times in the West where cattle rustling was prevalent, a man could be hung for carrying a running iron.. Saddle bum – a drifter. Hugs, P. Awesome story Glenda, thanks for sharing! We were related to Cole Younger but that our family was law abiding citizens anyway the story goes the Pinkertons were continuously harassing them so bad that they dropped the ER off their names and moved south down here to Alabama. According to her, they opened the grave and she and her cousin touched the bones of Ketchum’s little finger. I pray you and yours stay safe, also. But my mother-in-law’s story only began there. Big hugs, Phyiss. We’ve done a lot of family research and…by WE…I mean not ME. In the early days of the unsettled West, stampeding cattle away from their range was the most popular way to purloin stock. Wow, I’m so impressed and thanks for the link. I bet your family wasn’t as boring as you thought. I honestly don’t know a lot about my family or the things they did or went through. The vast majority of the cattle stolen during this period was taken by other ranchers, or cowboys, however. A large part of the population of the Old West made their living based on the cattle trade, either directly or indirectly. But my family roots are DEEP. One poor homesteader in Eastern Montana stole two of cattle baron Conrad Kohrs’ steers. Cattle rustling is a crime associated with outlaws of the Old West, but it's also part of the new South. He began rustling cattle for a living and quickly gained a reputation as a deadly gunman. Hi Debra, glad to hear from you. In this lesson, we will learn more about Pearl Hart and Cattle Kate, as well as Cattle Annie and Little Britches, two young women accused of cattle rustling. My cousins and I have become closer since all of our parents have passed, so we are able to share what we know. Cattle Rustling. Jordan McArdle The West Australian. Ketchum was buried at Clayton’s Boot Hill on April 26, 1901. An average calf can bring thousands of dollars on the open market; so multiply that by a trailer, or even a truck load, of cattle and you can see why it’s a profitable business for thieves. I hope you have a great rest of the week. The youngest was Glen Nelson. My dad and mom were only children. My dads grandmother and Bonnie’s mom were 1/2 sisters. Even my baby sister and I differ on some of the facts, as we remember them. Hi Glenda, what a great family story and history. Hi Stephanie, good to hear from you. The camera may have missed Lewis and Clark’s explorations in the early part of the century, but it preserved many of the frontier’s moments in time. Cattle rustling in Africa has, in recent years, grown both in scale and violence and is increasingly linked to organised criminal and terrorist groups as a source of income. ( Log Out /  I thought twice about posting this blog, but since we were talking about the 1800’s and earlier, I went ahead with it.