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Ranch History Display at Wings Over Willcox
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| The Chiricahua Cattle Company Pack and Chuck near Dos Cabezas in 1911 |
In 1877 the White brothers, Theodore, Jarrett and Thomas, established El Dorado Ranch on Turkey Creek near the base of the Chiricahua Mountains; others followed and within a few years many small ranches existed in the Sulphur Springs Valley. In 1883 John V. and Sumner Vickers began running cattle on the open range in the valley. John, a wealthy Pennsylvanian residing in Tombstone, was involved in the brokerage of cattle range, real estate and mining. Later that year he bought the interests of Thomas and Jarrett White in the El Dorado Ranch. Vickers loaned money for the purchase of cattle and acted as sales agent for the El Dorado and other area ranches. El Dorado prospered and by 1885 had over 6,000 head of cattle.
Theodore White and John Vickers were not only cattlemen, they were speculators with a vision of creating a cattle empire. To make their dream a reality, they needed a large number of cattle and a lot of land. In the spring of 1885, White, Vickers, and several small ranchers combined land, cattle and water rights and formed the Chiricahua Cattle Company. The CCC brand was registered and a cattle empire of 1,685,880 acres of public domain with about 15,000 head of cattle and 300 horses was created. The CCC, run by daring men, prospered and by 1889 the herd had increased to 19,520 head of cattle and 375 horses. The CCC dominated the valley from Willcox to Elfrida and soon extended its range into Graham County and other areas of southeastern Arizona. The CCC seemed to be everywhere; it had become one of the largest and best run cattle companies in Arizona Territory.
Visit the Willcox Cowbelles' booth at the Wings Over Willcox Trade Fair Jan. 18 through the 20th and learn more about historic ranches in this valley.
Theodore White and John Vickers were not only cattlemen, they were speculators with a vision of creating a cattle empire. To make their dream a reality, they needed a large number of cattle and a lot of land. In the spring of 1885, White, Vickers, and several small ranchers combined land, cattle and water rights and formed the Chiricahua Cattle Company. The CCC brand was registered and a cattle empire of 1,685,880 acres of public domain with about 15,000 head of cattle and 300 horses was created. The CCC, run by daring men, prospered and by 1889 the herd had increased to 19,520 head of cattle and 375 horses. The CCC dominated the valley from Willcox to Elfrida and soon extended its range into Graham County and other areas of southeastern Arizona. The CCC seemed to be everywhere; it had become one of the largest and best run cattle companies in Arizona Territory.
Visit the Willcox Cowbelles' booth at the Wings Over Willcox Trade Fair Jan. 18 through the 20th and learn more about historic ranches in this valley.
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