E. Joe Brown

I hope all of you were able to attend and maybe participate in a Day of the Cowboy celebration in your area on July 26^th. It’s one of my favorite days every year. 

I was invited for the third year in a row to be a featured presenter at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center (CTHC) in Duncan, Oklahoma, as part of their Day of the Cowboy celebration. I gave two presentations about my Kelly Can Saga Series historical fiction novels and also sang a few songs. The CTHC is a wonderful museum dedicated to preserving the stories of when Jesse Chisholm and his peers were driving cattle up from Texas to places like Abilene, Kansas, primarily after the Civil War. 

 What we think of today as the iconic "cowboy" emerged during this timeframe, driving large herds of cattle long distances. After the Civil War, especially Texas ranchers found themselves with large herds of longhorn cattle and few, if any, markets. The war had disrupted previous markets, and cattle were left to roam freely. Northern and eastern cities like New York and Chicago were growing rapidly and needed a reliable source of beef. At first, there was no efficient way to transport the cattle long distances. Cattle drives to railroad depots became the solution. 

Here's a little about the major trails and routes:

Chisholm Trail:
Of course, it was one of, if not the most famous, stretching from southern Texas around San Antonio to Kansas, particularly Abilene. 

Goodnight-Loving Trail:
This was a longer trail that extended to Colorado and New Mexico, opening up new markets. It passed near Fort Sumner, NM, where some of the Kelly Can Saga events took place years later.

Shawnee Trail:
A trail used in the 1840s and 50s, but after the Civil War, many farmers were concerned about Texas fever and fought to have the cattle drives avoid the more populated cities. 

Now I think you may see why I love it that I have been able to participate in a celebration of the cowboy. My Granddaddy Kelly loved to discuss the history of Oklahoma and his days as a cowboy, and now I love to do what I can to preserve that piece of Americana.

Like I said earlier, I hope you were able to find a place to celebrate the Day of the Cowboy.

Happy Trails,

Joe