Cowboys in Texas History
Texas is known for its long list of famous cowboys. This list, from information in the state's record books, includes:
Francisco Garcia, who helped to organize the first cattle drive that took place in Texas in 1779.
Oliver Loving – The cowboy who loosely inspired the well known book and movie The Lonesome Dove, written by Larry McMurtry, was a pioneer in Texas in 1845. He was the first to drive cattle to the markets of Illinois in 1855, and all the way to Colorado in 1860. He and the next cowboy on our list are the namesakes for the historical Goodnight-Loving trail that ran from Texas to Wyoming and Colorado.
Charles Goodnight was Oliver Loving’s partner in the famous cattle drive from Texas to Colorado in 1860. They had a record 2,000 head of cattle and eighteen riders along. He and his wife Molly founded Goodnight College, and his life is also loosely chronicled in the famous book and movie The Lonesome Dove.
Bose Ikard was one of the riders along during the historical Goodnight-Loving trail drive, which created a lifelong friendship between him and Charles Goodnight. Originally from Mississippi, he was born into slavery and went to Texas in 1852 where he became one of the best known black cowboys in Texas history. He was inducted into The Texas Trail of Fame in 1997.
William Picket, known simply as Bill to his friends, laid his claim to fame by inventing bull-dogging. In 1905 he became the star attraction at the Wild West shows his employers, the Miller Brothers, would hold at their ranch in Oklahoma. Bill later on started a horse breaking operation near Austin with his brother. He was the first Black American inducted to the rodeo hall of fame in the year of 1971.
In Fort Worth, Texas, there is also a Cowgirl Hall of Fame to memorialize the important women in cowboy history. A lot of these women hold the dual honor of also being inducted into The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Included in the inductees, thus far, are over fifty women who claim Texas as their birthplace.
William Picket, known simply as Bill to his friends, laid his claim to fame by inventing bull-dogging. In 1905 he became the star attraction at the Wild West shows his employers, the Miller Brothers, would hold at their ranch in Oklahoma. Bill later on started a horse breaking operation near Austin with his brother. He was the first Black American inducted to the rodeo hall of fame in the year of 1971.
In Fort Worth, Texas, there is also a Cowgirl Hall of Fame to memorialize the important women in cowboy history. A lot of these women hold the dual honor of also being inducted into The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Included in the inductees, thus far, are over fifty women who claim Texas as their birthplace.
Above are extracts of an article that can be found at; http://www.essortment.com/travel/cowboystexashi_tvmk.htm
