George Washington West (1851–1926) was a

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

rancher. He was one of the first cattlemen to drive longhorns to the

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

railhead In the UK, railheading refers to the practice of travelling further than necessary to reach a rail service, typically by car. The phenomenon is common among commuters seeking a more convenient journey. Reasons for railheading include, but are ...

. He was reported to have commanded one of the longest recorded cattle drives, which started at Lavaca County and ended at the Canadian border. He founded the towns of

George West, Texas George West is a city in Live Oak County, Texas, United States, and named for cattle rancher George Washington West. The population was 2,445 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Live Oak County. George West was named the "storytelling ...

, and Kittie, Texas. both in Live Oak County.

Early life

West was born in Shannonville, Tennessee, to the parents of Washington West and Mary Buckwalter Willauer. In 1854 West moved his family to Lavaca County. Their home became a main stop for stagecoaches that later would help create the community of Sweet Home. He married Catherine Elizabeth "Kittie" Searcy on 8 Jun 1874.

Career

West was one of the first to drive longhorn cattle to the Kansas railheads from 1867 until the trails closed. In 1870 he agreed to contract out with the government to deliver 14,000 head of longhorns to the

Rosebud Indian Reservation The Rosebud Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in South Dakota, United States. It is the home of the federally recognized Rosebud Sioux Tribe, who are Sicangu, a band of Lakota people. The Lakota name ''Sicangu Oyate'' translates as t ...

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

. The journey started at Lavaca County, Texas and ended 100 miles just south of the Canadian boarder. West made many drives to Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. In 1880 with his wife Kittie, West moved to Live Oak County and purchased 140,000-acre of land and 26,000 cattle. The ranch included the present site of

. In 1882 West had about 80,000 but many died due to droughts in the region, Because of the droughts West had to sell 60,000 acres to Charles Simmons, who subdivided it, held a lottery for lots, and established the town of Simmons, Texas, in 1907.

Later life

In 1912 West turned his efforts towards development by donating $100,000 and a legal right, through his ranch to San Antonio, to Uvalde and Gulf Railroad. In 1913 West founded the town of George West. He built a $75,000 courthouse. West spent $50,000 building schools, highways, bridges, public utilities, and a hotel across from the railroad depot. In 1904 George moved to

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

, Texas, where he died on February 16, 1926, at age 74.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, George Washington Ranchers from Texas 1851 births 1926 deaths