When Open Range Meets Plowed Ground

By the last two decades of the 19th century, the northern range was beginning to shrink. Tens of thousands of Texas cattle had been driven north. Great cattle breeding operations had taken permanent residence on the oceans of grass. Cattle drives were fading into history. Ranches were beginning to dot the once endless expanses that were once called the great American Desert. The cattle brought the cowboys; the cattle business brought the railroad. Easier access soon brought trade, towns and settlers eager to claim the open land.

The "squatters" were bad enough, but the fencing in was reason to fight.
Cattle had been free ranged for two decades and more by men who felt they had earned the right to land by endless days of work, sweat, and even blood.

Soon farmers began to bust the sod and investors from the east sent great white waves of sheep to wander the region. The feeling of encroachment from both sides led to anger. Anger soon led to conflict and conflict erupted into killing of both men and beast.
 

Steve Miller