Slaughter, Colonel C. C.

First native-born cattle king of Texas. Eldest of several rancher brothers. At age 12 "made a hand" on East Texas ranch of father, Rev. Geo. W. Slaughter. By 17 made his own trades in lumber, wheat, cattle. In 1856 moved his cattle to Palo Pinto County, on his first West Texas ranch. During the Civil War, he supplied beef to Confederacy and served in frontier regiment, to prevent Indian attacks. After the war he led cattlemen in aiding economy of bankrupt Texas by securing cattle markets. A fat steer bought for $6-8 in Texas by middleman was sold for $30-40 at shipping point. In 1867 he sold 300 head at record $35 and led the way to rancher marketing. Kept his love for trailing, even after he became millionaire. He also pioneered improvement of Texas Longhorns by use of champion Shorthorn and Hereford bulls. In Eastern speeches, he advocated beef on daily diet. To curb rustlers and establish efficient roundups, he helped organize first cattle raisers association. His 89,000-acre "Running Water" spread in Hale and Lamb counties was part of 1,000,000 acres ranched. He was a banker, active churchman, philanthropist. His descendants have erected a memorial center bearing his name on the campus of Wayland College here. 1965

Slaughter, Colonel C. C. is a historical marker in Plainview, Hale County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 39 historical markers documented in Hale County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 43 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 34.1870, -101.7037 near Plainview. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mackenzie, Gen. Ranald Slidell & The Old McKenzie Trail (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Montgomery Ward Building, Texas Land & Development Company, Former Office Site of, and Hale County Courthouse.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5189000959. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.