Ranch Women of the Old West

Hereford Women Ranch Women of the Old West by Sandra Ostgaard Women certainly made very return to one’s hometown to find and the Jesse Evans Gang, Tunstall important contributions to a bride — or if the individual had hired individuals, including Billy America’s Western frontier. There a wife, to make arrangement to the Kid, Chavez y Chavez, Dick are some interesting stories about take her out West. This was the Brewer, Charlie Bowdre and the introduction of women in the beginning of adventure for many Doc Scurlock. The two factions West — particularly as cattlewomen a frontier woman. clashed over Tunstall’s death, with and wives of ranchers. These numerous people being killed women were not typical cowgirls. Susan McSween by both sides and culminating The frontier woman worked Susan McSween in the Battle of Lincoln, where hard in difficult settings and (Dec. 30, 1845- Susan was present. Her husband contributed in a big way to Jan. 3, 1931) was killed at the end of the civilizing the West. For the most was a prominent battle, despite being unarmed part, women married to ranchers cattlewoman of and attempting to surrender. were brought to the frontier after the 19th century. Susan struggled in the the male established himself. Once called the aftermath of the Lincoln County Conditions were rough in the “Cattle Queen of New Mexico,” War to make ends meet in the decade after the Civil War, making the widow of Alexander McSween, New Mexico Territory. She sought it difficult for men to provide who was a leading factor in the and received help from Tunstall’s suitable living conditions for Lincoln County War and was shot family in England. She served themselves, much less their wives. and killed by members of the as the executor of Tunstall’s and Most aspiring ranchers thought Murphy-Dolan faction. her husband’s estates, managing the conditions just too harsh for Susan married McSween to free herself of their accrued women. The idea at the time Aug. 23, 1873, in Atchison, Kan., debts by liquidating the estate was to establish oneself in the and settled in Eureka, Kan. assets. In 1880 she married ranching industry and then to In 1875 the couple moved to George Barber, a young law Lincoln, N.M., where McSween clerk and later attorney, who accepted a job with the company aided in her recovery. Barber’s of Lawrence Murphy. Working work as a surveyor for John alongside James Dolan, McSween Chisum resulted in Chisum soon lost his desire to work for gifting 40 head of cattle to the company and became friends Susan — worth about $400 to with John Tunstall, a wealthy start her into the cattle business. English rancher. Through Tunstall, Later the couple divorced. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS the couple met John Chisum, Susan took over 1,158 acres President – Erin Lockhart, Bryan, Texas and by 1877 the three men had of land on the west side of President elect – Sharon King, Columbia, Miss. established a rival business to the Mescalero Apache Indian Vice president – Dana Pieper, Zurich, Kan. the Murphy-Dolan businesses. Reservation in the years after the Secretary – Amy Taylor, Munford, Ky. The Murphy-Dolan faction was Lincoln County War. By 1890 she Treasurer – Karen Smith, Gatesville, Texas backed by the infamous Santa Fe ran at least 5,000 head of cattle P.O. Box 1125, Gatesville, Texas 76528 Ring. Problems soon developed, under the Three Rivers Cattle Co. Historian – Sandra Ostgaard, Dayton, Ohio and when outlaw Jesse Evans and brand in Three Rivers, N.M. In the Communications – Erin Lockhart members of the Santa Fe Ring shot mid-1890s her ranch holdings were DIRECTORS and killed Tunstall, the Lincoln some of the largest in the territory. Rhonda Eck, Putnam, Okla. (ex officio) County War began. She became extremely wealthy Trudy Nolles, Bassett, Neb. By that time, Tunstall and through cattle sales and mining a Betsy Pitstick, S. Solon, Ohio McSween had hired gunmen to small silver vein on the property. Bonnie Reed, Hampton, Minn. counter those hired by Murphy- She was also known for the fruit Nikki Rogers, Eatonville, Wash. Dolan. While the latter hired orchards she planted with trees she Shannon Worrell, Mason, Texas outlaw gangs like the Seven Rivers obtained from John Chisum. HerefordWomen.com Warriors, the John Kinney Gang 38 | July 2019 Hereford.org.

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