Who is Joseph McCoy and what did he accomplish?
Joseph “Cowboy” McCoy (December 21, 1837 – October 19, 1915) was a 19th-century entrepreneur known for promoting the transport of Longhorn cattle from Texas to the eastern United States.
What was Joseph McCoy’s idea?
In 1867 he conceived the idea of establishing a shipping depot for cattle at some point in the west and knew that the railroad companies were interested in expanding their freight operations. He soon selected Abilene, Kansas, and opened the Abilene Trail through Indian Territory from Texas.
How did Joseph McCoy help the Texas cattle industry?
In 1861 McCoy began to work in the mule and cattle industry. He expanded his business to shipping large herds of cattle to slaughter and quickly recognized flaws in the system. One of the first cow towns, Abilene was built with extensive advertisement in Texas that encouraged cattlemen to send herds its way.
What were the three advantages of Abilene for cattle ranchers?
Abilene was the ideal location for several reasons. Firstly, there was plenty of grassland and water for the herds. Secondly, Kansas’ quarantine law allowed Texas herds to settle there as long as they were far enough away from the homesteaders to prevent disease spreading.
What cities became the destination for cattle drives from Texas?
Amarillo, Fort Worth, and Wichita Falls, all in Texas; Prescott, Arizona, Greeley, Colorado, and Las Vegas, New Mexico were regionally important. The most famous cattle towns like Abilene were railheads, where the herds were shipped to the Chicago stockyards. Many smaller towns along the way supported open range lands.
Why did Texas have a surplus of cattle?
The great Texas cattle drives started in the 1860’s because we had lots of longhorn and the rest of the country wanted beef. (We get beef from cattle.) From about 1865 to the mid-1890’s, our vaqueros and cowboys herded about 5 million cattle to markets up north while also becoming famous legends that made Texas proud.
How many miles a day did cattle drives go?
15-25 miles
A typical drive could cover 15-25 miles per day. Although it was important to arrive at their destination on time, the cattle needed time to rest and graze.
What did Joseph McCoy do for a living?
He bought lots of land, built a hotel, and built large stockyards to keep the cattle. He also spent $5,000 marketing the new cow town so cowboys would know to come. McCoy was hugely successful; between 1867 and 1872, three million cattle were driven along the Chisholm Trail.
How did Joseph McCoy get to Abilene Texas?
It was near the Chisholm Trail, which was a cattle trail that cowboys could use to drive their cattle directly from Texas to Abilene. Finally, it was near a railhead so cowboys could transport their cattle to the northern states via railroad if they wished.
Where did Joseph McCoy sell his Longhorn cattle?
McCoy advertised extensively throughout Texas to encourage cattle owners to drive their cattle to market in Abilene. By 1870 thousands of Texas longhorn cattle were being driven over the Chisholm Trail to the shipping center at Abilene.
What did Joseph McCoy get from the Kentucky sale?
The earnings from the Kentucky sale allowed McCoy to expand both the diversity and the national reach of his livestock dealings. In the 1860s, cattle ranchers in Texas faced difficulties getting their longhorn cattle to market.