Goodbye, Old Paint LbNA #44898 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Boots Tex  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Dec 7, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Seymour |
| County: | Baylor |
| State: | Texas |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | garuda1 |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jul 3, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFa |
| Last edited: | Dec 7, 2008 |
***Say Goodbye to Old Paint, for he is missing***
In 1874 Captain John T. Lytle and several cowboys left South Texas with 3,500 head of longhorn cattle and a remuda of saddle horses. Five years later, the route Lytle cut out of the prairie to Ft. Robinson, Nebraska, had become the most significant cattle trail in history – the Great Western Cattle Trail. Though less well known than the Chisholm Trail, the Great Western Cattle Trail was longer in length and carried cattle for two years longer than the Chisholm. The Great Western saw over seven million cattle and horses pass through Texas and Oklahoma to the railheads in Kansas and Nebraska, therefore, developing the cattle industry as far north as Wyoming and Montana. A typical head would move 10 -12 miles a day and included the trail boss, a wrangler, and a cook. The drive from South Texas to Kansas took about two months at a cost of $1000 in wages and provisions. At the end of the trail, cattle sold for $1.00 to $1.50 per head. In Texas, feeder trails from the Rio Grande led to the trailhead near Bandera and the Great Western passed through, Kerrville, Junction, Brady, Coleman, Baird, Albany and Fort Griffin. It is believed that the main streets of Throckmorton, Seymour, and Vernon run north and south because of the trail. Cowboys would sing along the trail, either to calm the cattle while watching over them at night, or just around the campfire, for entertainment or something to do. One of the classic old trail drive songs was “Goodbye, Old Paint”, written by Charley Willis, and it has endured. Charley Willis was born a slave in Milam County. Milam County, at the time, was as big as half of Texas, so it’s no telling exactly where he was born, but he, at some point, gained his freedom and worked as a cowboy on the Morris Ranch. He participated in the cattle drives from Texas to points north. The song endured because, in 1878, he taught the seven-year-old son of the ranch owner, Jesse Morris, how to play it on the fiddle, which he had learned to play from another black cowboy on the ranch, Jerry Neely. Jesse Morris became an expert fiddler and, in 1928, was heard playing “Goodbye, Old Paint” at a fiddling contest in Amarillo. He became identified with the song and the unique way he played it, and he was accredited with its writing. But Jesse Morris always gave credit to the old black cowboy, Charley Willis.
Directions:
Seymour is located in Baylor County, Texas. Going north on Highway 283, look for the sign to City Park and turn right (east) on McLain Street. After a few blocks, you’ll see the entrance to the park angle off to the left (Memorial Drive). When you drive into the park look to the left where you will see a large circular brick wall. Park here.
To the box.
The circular structure is a fountain, although it wasn’t working when we were here. Walk to the fountain, then to the fence near McLain St. Turn left and walk down to an opening in the fence. There will be two large trees on your left. Old Paint is in the crotch of the second tree, covered with rocks.
In 1874 Captain John T. Lytle and several cowboys left South Texas with 3,500 head of longhorn cattle and a remuda of saddle horses. Five years later, the route Lytle cut out of the prairie to Ft. Robinson, Nebraska, had become the most significant cattle trail in history – the Great Western Cattle Trail. Though less well known than the Chisholm Trail, the Great Western Cattle Trail was longer in length and carried cattle for two years longer than the Chisholm. The Great Western saw over seven million cattle and horses pass through Texas and Oklahoma to the railheads in Kansas and Nebraska, therefore, developing the cattle industry as far north as Wyoming and Montana. A typical head would move 10 -12 miles a day and included the trail boss, a wrangler, and a cook. The drive from South Texas to Kansas took about two months at a cost of $1000 in wages and provisions. At the end of the trail, cattle sold for $1.00 to $1.50 per head. In Texas, feeder trails from the Rio Grande led to the trailhead near Bandera and the Great Western passed through, Kerrville, Junction, Brady, Coleman, Baird, Albany and Fort Griffin. It is believed that the main streets of Throckmorton, Seymour, and Vernon run north and south because of the trail. Cowboys would sing along the trail, either to calm the cattle while watching over them at night, or just around the campfire, for entertainment or something to do. One of the classic old trail drive songs was “Goodbye, Old Paint”, written by Charley Willis, and it has endured. Charley Willis was born a slave in Milam County. Milam County, at the time, was as big as half of Texas, so it’s no telling exactly where he was born, but he, at some point, gained his freedom and worked as a cowboy on the Morris Ranch. He participated in the cattle drives from Texas to points north. The song endured because, in 1878, he taught the seven-year-old son of the ranch owner, Jesse Morris, how to play it on the fiddle, which he had learned to play from another black cowboy on the ranch, Jerry Neely. Jesse Morris became an expert fiddler and, in 1928, was heard playing “Goodbye, Old Paint” at a fiddling contest in Amarillo. He became identified with the song and the unique way he played it, and he was accredited with its writing. But Jesse Morris always gave credit to the old black cowboy, Charley Willis.
Directions:
Seymour is located in Baylor County, Texas. Going north on Highway 283, look for the sign to City Park and turn right (east) on McLain Street. After a few blocks, you’ll see the entrance to the park angle off to the left (Memorial Drive). When you drive into the park look to the left where you will see a large circular brick wall. Park here.
To the box.
The circular structure is a fountain, although it wasn’t working when we were here. Walk to the fountain, then to the fence near McLain St. Turn left and walk down to an opening in the fence. There will be two large trees on your left. Old Paint is in the crotch of the second tree, covered with rocks.