The Fort Scott Daily Monitor published some interesting statistics related to the cattle business in their Nov. 21, 1869, edition. The information illustrates why the demand for beef in the eastern United States drew so many Texas cattl up the long trail to the cattle depots along Kansas railroads.

Across the country there were approximately 80 head of cattle per 100 people. That number had remained steady for decades, having been documented from 1840 to the present year of 1869.

When broken down to regions there were 30 head of cattle to 100 people in the heavier populated “Eastern States.”

The “Middle States” reported a ratio of 50 to 100; “Western States” proved to have an equal number of cattle to people, while in the Southwestern States including Kansas and Texas, 400-500 head of cattle per 100 people showed a great surplus of cattle.

The evident deficiency of cattle in the east revealed the motivation of Texas cattlemen to move their surplus cattle over hundreds of miles to reach emerging urban markets in eastern states. The editor of the Daily Monitor, George A. Crawford, saw an opportunity in the numbers for “young men — young men without means or experience, but overflowing with energy; young men, looking with an eager, hungry longing, for independence and family joys; young men, the sinews of our nations, and our hopes for the future.” Crawford quoted a

Kansas letter published in the New York Tribune. “For several years young men in the East with no means ... have been trying to ascertain in what way they could go West and do well; but the answer has been discouraging ...” The Tribune piece explained that in so many cases those young men were not in a position to take advantage of the Homestead Act. In exchange for 160 acres of land the government required “improvements,” the cost of which was all too often beyond reach. The required dwelling would cost several hundred dollars, “and to fence 40 acres, stock proof, will alone cost $400.”

One answer to the homesteading dilemma was to instead rent the land. Renting required a certain amount of investigation to find land to rent while patiently building wealth. Returning to the profitability of cattle generated by eastern demand the writer noted that an enterprising young man could find success in the stock business even if he began with one cow. With patience and perseverance a few years increase could give him quite a herd.

Crawford noted that he had the pleasure of knowing several young men who had come to Fort Scott “in much the same way” as was mentioned in the Tribune letter.

To reinforce his case for building wealth from humble beginnings Crawford offered a letter from Mr. George D. Lockwood, a successful young stockman in the county.

Just how long Lockwood had been in Kansas was not stated although his words indicated that he had few assets when he arrived.

“The truth is, that humble as our home is, it is very much better than I expected to have when I left Ohio.”

Lockwood produced approximately 20 tons of hay during the summer to feed cattle in the winter. Another 25 tons had been purchased. He expected to buy 75 head of cattle before winter and, “if everything is favorable, [will] get hold of more in the winter...I am satisfied that investments here, either in land or cattle, will bring large returns.”

As anyone who makes his living from the land knows, nothing stays the same. Some will prosper and some will fail. Drought, flood, hail, unstable market prices or any number of disasters await. Farming or in this case, stock raising can be rewarding, but many a good manager has fallen victim to circumstances beyond his control.

Editor Crawford failed to mention the threat of Texas fever that had plagued Missouri and south east Kansas since drovers began bringing longhorn cattle up the Shawnee Trail to lucrative markets beyond the Texas border. Interesting to note: Texas fever was not always brought in by the great Texas trail herds. Only weeks before, in the Aug. 30, 1870, Fort Scott Monitor, Crawford had reported that William Hoptonstall had lost two cows, his entire herd, to Texas fever. His loss meant starting over if that was at all possible. The source of the fever was possibly from ox teams made up of longhorns pulling freight wagons through the country, and not from a passing trail herd. The Monitor tendered, “We would advise all teamsters and others who employ Texas cattle, to avoid the border counties during the next two or three months ...”

In spite of potential pitfalls, excitement ran high as the Missouri River, Fort Scott, and Gulf Railroad reached Fort Scott on Dec. 7, 1869. Soon Texas cattle would be loaded on waiting cattle cars returning east. At the same time expectant young men would be arriving, overflowing with energy, seeking independence, and dreams of family joys waiting to be found on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray is author of the book Desperate Seed: Ellsworth Kansas on the Violent Frontier, Ellsworth, KS. Contact Kansas Cowboy, 220 21st RD, Geneseo, KS. Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.