Mooar, J. Wright (Josiah Wright), 1851-1940

John Wesley Mooar (1846-1918) and his brother Josiah Wright Mooar (1851-1940) were buffalo hunters and businessmen, credited with the beginning of the American buffalo-hide industry. Josiah Wright Mooar, who was also a freighter and a rancher, had sent buffalo hides to his brother in New York City in 1871, and John Wesley sold them to a tanning firm. In 1872 John Wesley moved to Dodge City, Texas, to partner with his brother in the business, and they moved to the Texas Panhandle in 1873, where they were among the first to hunt buffalo. Josiah Wright Mooar was known for opening the Texas Panhandle for hunting and settling, as the location had previously been thought to be for Indians only. The brothers stayed in the Panhandle until 1876, when the herds were close to being vanquished there. They moved to Fort Griffin, and remained in business until the destruction of the buffalo in 1905. John Wesley went on to freight for ranchers in West Texas and finally own land and a carriage agency in Colorado City, and Josiah Wright established a ranch ten miles northwest of Snyder.

Sources : Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Mooar, Josiah Wright, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmo16.html (accessed June 3, 2010).

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