The 840-mile Brazos River was both friend and foe to settlers. Here, near the source of Double Mountain Fork, after XIT Ranch was sold to smaller operators about 1912, the river that had attracted settlers was found to obstruct wet-weather travel. . . . — — Map (db m151411) HM
Began in 1913 as a cattle-shipping point on Pecos and Northern Texas Railroad. Served the 300,000-acre Spring Lake Ranch, which was established in 1902 by W.E. "Colonel Bill" Halsell (1850-1934) and his son Ewing Halsell (1877-1965). According to . . . — — Map (db m167649) HM
Before white men entered this region in late 19th century, nomadic Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa Indians followed the buffalo from water hole to water hole. A favorite Indian camp was at a spring (5 miles w), near which the Springlake . . . — — Map (db m104454) HM
Dug by hand in 1902 for crops, cattle, and household use of Ewing Halsell (1877-1965), son of land promoter and settler W. E. Halsell. An irrigation ditch carried water half a mile to headquarters of Halsell's "Mashed O" Ranch. Six . . . — — Map (db m104435) HM
Comanches followed Blackwater draw to camp by spring-fed Spring Lake and hunt in the Sand Hills south of Earth
Arrow Sculptor: Charles A. Smith — — Map (db m167655) HM
Indian camp and watering place. Took its name from first sod house built in 1876 by George and John Causey and Frank Lloyd, buffalo hunters. First permanent settlement in this region. In 1882 a cow camp was established at this point by Estes . . . — — Map (db m151360) HM
Indian camp and watering place extensively used in hunting buffalo. Became cattle territory in 1882 when Tom Lynch drove his herds from New Mexico.
After acquisition by the Capitol Syndicate this became headquarters of largest division of the . . . — — Map (db m104434) HM
Opened 1908 as one-room school, Springlake became an independent district in 1924 when Halsell ranch land was sold to settlers and local population increased. Enlarged school opened 1925 in new $30,000 brick structure on site bought from J. F. . . . — — Map (db m104457) HM
Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie (1840-89) of the United States Army was ordered in the 1870s to conquer Indians of Texas frontiers. He led 240 enlisted men and eight officers in an expedition along the draw here. Heading toward New Mexico, he hoped to . . . — — Map (db m151361) HM
One of several routes used by traders dealing with Indians, primarily Comanches (hence name). Weapons, whiskey and trade goods were swapped for stolen Texas cattle, horses and captives.
Pursuit apparently begun in the 1760s, when Mexican hunters . . . — — Map (db m151356) HM
In Memory of George W. Littlefield, a pioneer plainsman, soldier and state benefactor. Founder and developer of Yellow House Ranch and the city of Littlefield. Born June 20, 1842. Died November 10, 1920. — — Map (db m151358) HM
Yellowhouse Division of 3,050,000-acre XIT Ranch built (1887) a 132-foot windmill southwest of here. Set in a canyon, it had to be tall to catch breezes and pump water. It was known as the World's Tallest Windmill until it was toppled by winds in . . . — — Map (db m121963) HM
In 1903, the Rev. J.W. Winn, a missionary with the Staked Plains Missionary Baptist Association, led a meeting at a farmhouse northeast of what became Olton. That day, the first Missionary Baptist Church in Lamb County was organized. The members . . . — — Map (db m104459) HM
When the Soash Land Company founded Olton in 1908, lots were provided for a school, church and bank. Residents of the new town erected a Union church for all denominations about 1909. Soon afterward, they purchased this 950-pound steel bell. Its . . . — — Map (db m104460) HM
In 1877, Comanches hunting for bison skirmished with buffalo hunters and retreated to sand hills S of Olton
Arrow sculptor: Charles A.Smith — — Map (db m151436) HM
Created in 1876, Lamb County was unorganized until it could muster 21 qualified voters, 1908. Citizens donated labor for first 9-room frame courthouse, which served until it burned in 1922.
First county officials were: Judge H. R. Miller; . . . — — Map (db m104521) HM
A natural landmark, this chain of sand dunes extends for 130 miles and is three to five miles wide. Archeological findings show that the area was inhabited 6,000 years ago. Comanches camped in the sand hills because of wild game, vegetation, . . . — — Map (db m151959) HM
This burial ground served the original residents of Springlake Community. The area was opened for settlement in 1908 by the George C. Wright Land Company. It was named for the nearby Springlake Ranch. D. B. Shiplet donated the first two acres for . . . — — Map (db m104458) HM
One of Sudan's oldest structures. Built 1916, when Santa Fe Railway terminus here shipped out cattle of early ranches.
Here ranchers watered herds and horses, traded, told yarns, hired hands.
Trough also served mule teams, after the farming era . . . — — Map (db m151355) HM
Comanches used lush grassland in Sudan area as waypoint for trading horses & cattle with Comancheros
Arrow sculptor: Charles A. Smith — — Map (db m167652) HM
