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Hldory of the old wattern oatti Kingdoms it written in Dranoing irons. Left photo, a typloal branding ocene, was snapped by William Jeffery on the Qulen Sabe ranch of Mr. and
Mrs. Ramon Somavla, 8an Benito County, Cal. The roper on the left ia the late Will Rogers, while Mrs. Lola Galll holds the other rope. Above, Irons from the colleotlon of John
P. Hale. Front row, a rake, spectacles, Will Rogers' "Dog Iron," so-called because It resembles an andiron or Are-dog; bow and arrow and rocking ohalr. Back row, hoof prints,
hearts, 8-wrench (famous on the Coast through use In branding thousands of Miller and Lux cattle), tha rising sun. The drawn brands above are, top, "Turkey Trot," Oliver Lor-
Ing and Son, Texas; right and lower, old Mexican brande. Right ia a page of registered branda from the Arlxona state archives.
By Margaret Phelpt
THE branding iron Greeks marked slaves with
I it; Romans marked robbers, English seared
vagabonds. But in the West it's the coat of arms
around which a mighty cow empire was built!
Branding irons used by famous men of the West
tell the story of a teeming locality conceived and
materialized upon odd symbols burned on the hide
of millions of cattle.
"If branding irons could speak, there would be
tales of hardship, adventure, heartbreak and suc
cess," says John P. Hale, Mesa, Arizona, collector
of these unique gadgets.
Hale's collection, gathered over a number of
years, is regarded as one of the most comprehen
sive in the country. He is connected with the Mesa
Union High School. A real collector, one you like
to remember because he's the man who makes
stiff iron rods with twisted metal endings come
alive when he talks. Looking at his collection and
hearing his brisk voice, one is Immediately trans
planted, to the days of the Old West.
"Every branding iron has an interesting his
tory," Hale said, selecting a long handle, at one
end of which was a rounded piece of iron with
two small, squatty legs. "This branding iron be
longed to Will Rogers. While Will was not an ex
tensive producer of beef cattle, he contributed a
colorful figure to the cattle industry. In 1890 Will
designed this brand, known as the 'Dog-Iron,' be
cause it resembles an old-fashioned andiron. The
brand is still in use on the Rogers ranch in Oola
gah, Oklahoma."
INCLUDED In Hale's collection are branding irons
from many of the WeBt's largest, best-known and
most historic ranches.
The famous "Running W," a sprinting bit of
History Of Cattle Empire Told In
Branding Irons, West's Coats-of-Arms
Collection of Mesa, Arizona Man Recalls Famous Cattlemen of Early Days Will Rogers' Iron,
The "Dog Iron" Still Used On Oolagah, Oaklahoma Ranch
metal attached to a long handle with a hand loop,
tells the story of King Ranch, Texas, the world's
largest range domain. Today this ranch embraces
more than 1,250,000 acres and requires 350 cow
boys to handle its 100,000 cattle.
Branding in other countries is seldom mentioned
in books except with reference to the branding of
man. Greeks branded their slaves with a Delta;
Romans branded robbers with the letter "F" (fugi
tivus) ; galley slaves were branded "T F" (traux
forces) in France until 1832; under Edward VI,
the Statute of Vagabonds (1547) ordered vaga
bonds, gypsies and brawlers branded, the first two
with a large "V" on the breast, the last, "F" for
fraymaker. This was repealed in 1636. From the
time of Henry VTJ, branding was inflicted for all
offenses which received the benefit of clergy, but
was abolished in 1822.
The cattle brand is the cowman's escutcheon.
He places it, not only on his livestock, but also
on all his accoutrements, such as his saddle, chaps,
chuck wagon and in late years on his automobile
and stationery.
BRANDING, in the United States, came out of
the East.
At one time, a thin population in the Alleghanies
permitted its cattle to run at large. At the full
of each spring, all the owners held a round-up
and calves were branded. The immigrants from
Cumberlands County into Texas brought knowl
edge of this institution with them. But until after
the Civil War there was little call to improve on
the aimless system of the Mexican vaquero, who
rode out on the range with a branding iron strapped
to his saddle. Once among the cattle he proceeded
to brand such as he could catch until he was tired
and rode back to the ranch.
In time, cattle in the West became more valuable
and cowmen became more numerous.
The need to establish ownership of herds be
came important. Brands were permanently estab
lished among cattlemen, later being legally regis
tered. "At one time," remarked Hale, "Arizona alone
had 29,000 brands. This almost unbelievable num
ber covered the insignias of many owners who ran
their cattle in other states."
Western cowmen today are organized in a closely
knit group known as the American National Live
stock Association. In this vast "cow-circle," brands
are as familiar and well established as many highly
publicized industrial trade-marks.
HALE recently exhibited a number of his brand
ing irons at a meeting of the national associa
tion In Phoenix, Arizona. Throughout the entire
convention cowmen could be found huddled over
Five Brothers Serve In Navy Aboard Same Ship
Proud Mother to Give Sixth Boy to "Uncle Sam's" Javy Jext Tear
By Herbert Stalling!'
CANADA may have the Dionne quintuplets, but
the United States Navy has the five Cowdrey t
brothers. Unique in the annals of naval history,
at any time in any country, the five brothers, Paul,
Burnem, Harry, Charlie and Manley, are all serv
ing their country aboard the same ship, the U. S. S.
Pennsylvania. Giving them tho "edge" on Canada's
famous five, a Blxth brother, Orvllle, now a Junior
in high school, plnns to join his brothers upon
graduation, which will make them the Navy's "sex
tette." Sons of an fllinois coal miner, C. C. Cowdrey
of Vlrden, Illinois, tho flvo youths now in the serv
ice are all high school graduates. The brothers
average 180 pounds in weight, each is over six
feet tall, and all have perfect records for conduct
and ability. They are reported by their superior
officers as "exceptional young men whom the
Navy is pleased to have within Its ranks."
STATIONED at San Pedro aboard the fleet flag
ship, which enrries Admiral Joseph Mason
Reeves, the brothers are referred to as the "Cow
drey unit" and the Admiral and Captain Russell
Willson, commander of the Pennsylvania, are
hardly less proud of the boys than are their par
ents. Mrs. Cowdrey has been congratulated by Sec
retary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson, for giving
five sons to the service. Commenting upon their
Navy training, the boys' mother said:
"There are many things our Navy gives young
men that are fine and worth while. I know that
the discipline is good for strengthening their char
acter, and the specializing in certain linos will not
only better prepare them to serve their country,
but will be splendid for them should they ever-
PAGE TWO S
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From lop to bottom are Charlie, Burnem, Harry. Paul
and Manlry Cowdrey. five brothers serving aboard the
U. S. S. Pennsylvania. At rlgnt Is Capt. Russell Willson,
their commanding officer.
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decide to re-enter civilian life again. I am very
proud to give my five sons to the service, and shall
be even more proud next year when my sixth son
joins his brothers."
It all started when Burnem, the second oldest
boy, now 23, decided to see the world and serve
his country at the same time. He enlisted at
Springfield, Illinois, in April, 1032. His letters about
life in the service caused Paul, the fourth brother,
. now 20, to enlist in February, 1934. The follow
ing month saw Harry, the third brother, now 21,
off for the training station at San Diego. In De
cember, 1934, Charlie, the oldest, now 25, suc
cumbed to the call of the sea. When Manley had
finished high school and had reached the required
age, he followed in his brothers' footsteps. He is
now 18. He enlisted in May, 1935, and joined his
brothers on the Pennsylvania on August 23 at San
Diego. Burnem is a fireman second class, Paul and
. Harry are firemen third class, Charlie is a seaman
second class, and Manley is an apprentice seaman.
ALL the boys Intend to make the Navy their
career. They are happy to be stationed aboard
the flagship of the fleet and are proud of their
distinction.
Orville, the youngest brother, still in high school
in Virden, Illinois, is looking forward with great
anticipation to joining his brothers in 1937. He
hopes to be stationed aboard the same ship with
them, and it's a "cinch" the Navy won't pass up
the chance of having six brothers in the service
aboard one ship, which is a record in any country
or any language, so young Orville's chances are
excellent.
Canada may be proud of her "quints." but the
United States needn't "give up the ship" as long
as the Cowdrey brothers arc on deck.
Hale's collection. Voices rose and fell as young
and old men talked and fondled such irons as the
old Spanish iron of Stephen A. Austin, "Father of
Texas," active 101 years; Double H and S Wrench,
Miller-Lux, California, largest ranch of the Pacific
Coast; O Running W and Pitchfork of Wyoming.
Hale smiled on being told of this incident. "I
have observed," he said, "that boys coming from
a cow locality are proud of their ranch brands, so
proud that they often carve their family brands 4
instead of their initials. Brands mean much to
people on the range."
When asked which he considered the most in
teresting iron in his collection from point of story, ,
Hale said, "It would be difficult to select just one
branding iron to qualify for that particular place.
Every branding iron has its particular point of
interest. This one, for instance, is the iron of Sam-
uel Maverick, the man from whose name the term '
'maverick' somehow originated. The brand is now
owned by Rep. Maury Maverick of Texas. To the
collector this branding iron is unique because of
its wooden handle."
The numerous stories told in the flickering light
of camp fires of the origin of the term "maverick"
have developed into a folk-tale a legend with
many variations.
It is said a popular explanation spread from
Kansas a man named Maverick, according to
the story, moved into Texas shortly after the
province Decame a repuDiic. ne was astonished to
find everyone's stock branded, which had not been
the custom in his state. Maverick was a "chicken
hearted old rooster" and thought branding cruel,
so he chose to let his cattle run unmarked. They
. would be known as Maverick's, because cattle be
longing to anyone else would bear a brand. His
neighbors soon furnished brands for these loose
cattle, and in a few years Maverick was a cowman
without cattle.
BUT authorities say the facts are these: M. A.
Maverick, a citizen of San Antonio, left a herd
out on the range for another man to tend. But no
round-up was held, no branding irons heated.
Maverick's cattle became scattered over the vast
range of South Texas. When the cowboys of that
section discovered an unbranded cow, they knew
they had probably found a "Maverick" and usually
settled the question of ownership by burning their
own brands on the animal. Ever since that time
the term "maverick" has been applied on the range
to an unmarked calf or cow.
"But," opined Hale, "good cowboys don't brand
stray cattle any more. It's modernly unlawful."
Every cow carries its own life history In signs
burned deep into its hide with irons such as are
found in Hale's collection.
"If a cow passes its days uneventfully on the
range of one outfit, it goes under the block or dies
in happy old age, bearing only one brand," Hale
explained. "In early cattle days much bartering
was done among cattlemen. Cows, sold from one
ranch to another were seared with many brands."
COWBOYS described these many-times-branded
beasts in a jargon as Incisive as the brands
themselves. Story has it that one cow in particu
lar, the last one at a round-up held on the "Light
ning Rod Ranch near Cayo," was read off by "Old
Nigger Add" as:
"SHE'S COT O BLOCK an' LIGHTSIS'G ROD
XISETY FORTY SIX an' A BAR E LEV EX '
T TERRAPIX an' XIXETY-SEVEX.
RAFTER CROSS an' dc DOUBLE PROD
HALF CIRCLE A an' DIAMOXD C.
FOUR CROSS L an' THREE P Z,
B, IV. . .Y V V,
BAR X CROSS an' A LC."
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