Cattleman’s Barn

Cattleman’s Barn. . For the Florida pioneers, barns were used to protect valuable riding gear, farm equipment, animal food, and at times, the animals themselves. Horses, oxen, and meat cattle were generally kept outdoors. Small or young animals may have been kept inside the barn during harsh weather. This drive-through style barn belonged to cattleman Henry O. Partin of Kissimmee and was used for decades., Horse Power , Animal power, including Cracker horses and cattle, was important in early transportation and labor. The pioneers depended on animals to haul wagons or drive farm equipment. Oxen were especially powerful, known for moving felled trees or loaded wagons through muck and sand. The horses were nimble and hearty enough to work through the swamps and prairies during cattle roundups., Valuable Assets , To a farmer or cattleman, tools and livestock were often the most valuable things they owned. Isaac Lanier, who ran hundreds of cattle over the years, supplemented his earnings by farming. His horse-drawn tools included plows, a tooth harrow, one-horse cutter discs, corn planters, and cultivators. As for livestock, the family owned hogs, chickens, and dairy cows that were kept near the house., (captions ) , Osceola County Farm , Barn structures are utilitarian and their designs remained basically the same for centuries. They were used to store feed, saddles, bridles, blankets, and other items used for the animals and home operations. Courtesy Osceola County Historical Society, Stephen Clay Partin , Father of legendary Osceola County cowman, Henry O. Partin, is seen here in front of his homestead barn with a cracker cow. Courtesy Osceola County Historical Society