Tarrant County TXGenWeb

John B. Slaughter
Pioneer Texas Cattleman and Indian Fighter

Fort Worth Record-Telegram
Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 11 and 12, 1928
Contributed by Rita Martin

 

    

John B. Slaughter died suddenly at the age of 70 at his ranch near Post where he had been in the cattle business for nearly thirty years. Cause of death was attributed to heart disease following an acute attack of indigestion.

Slaughter was born in Sabine County, Texas Dec. 10, 1858 and began his long career as a cattleman as soon as he was old enough to ride a horse. In his early life the saddle was his home and the range his field of activity.

While John was still in his ‘teens, his father moved to Palo Pinto County at a time when outlaw and Indian raids were prevalent - necessitating expert marksmanship on the part of the rancher. During one of the numerous Indian raids, the ponies had been corralled for safety and young Slaughter took it upon himself to check on them. He was shot but the redskin escaped. He had many other encounters with Indians. Once in Montague County, the cattle stampeded in a storm and scattered all over the countryside. Slaughter and his men split into groups and set out to round them up. Two riders failed to return that night and three days later, Slaughter found their bodies scalped and mutilated, victims of Indians.

In 1877 he entered the cattle business in partnership with W. B. Slaughter which continued until 1890 when he bought a ranch on the Catfish River in Blanco County. After selling out to an English syndicate, he moved on to Utah, established a ranch and lived there two years. In 1899 he sold his ranches in Garza and Borden Counties and moved to Fort Worth where he built a beautiful home. He and his wife moved back to Garza County in 1905 and the next year sold 50,000 acres to the late C. W. Post who was building a town and colonizing huge tracts in that county.

One of Slaughter's achievements was the crossing of the buffalo and Brahma cows and he also succeeded in a second cross resulting in a larger animal. Up until a very short time ago, Slaughter could be seen riding over the range, inspecting his cattle, fences, windmills and tanks.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at his ranch in Post after which the body will be sent to Fort Worth for burial. Services will be conducted in East Oakwood Cemetery.




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