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

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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).

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Mooar, John Wesley, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmo17.html (accessed June 3, 2010).

From the guide to the Mooar, Josiah Wright and John Wesley Papers 1948., 1838-1934, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Sharps Rifle Company (Bridgeport, Conn.). Records, 1874-1884. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Biography -- Mooar, J. Wright. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn John Wesley Mooar Papers, S 720. 1., 1871-1917 and undated Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
referencedIn Scurry County Historical Survey Committee. Collection, 1899-1969, 1937-1969. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Mooar, Josiah Wright and John Wesley Papers 1948., 1838-1934 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Mooar, Josiah Wright. Mooar, Josiah Wright and John Wesley Papers, 1838-1934 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Lydia Louise Mooar Papers, S 722. 1., 1876-1971 and undated Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University
creatorOf Mooar, Josiah Wright and John Wesley Papers 1948., 1838-1934 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Gray, George W. (George William), 1886- person
associatedWith Mooar, John Wesley, 1846-1918 person
associatedWith Mooar, Josiah Wright person
associatedWith Mooar, J. Wright (Josiah Wright), 1851-1940 person
associatedWith Mooar, Lydia Louise, b. 1887 person
associatedWith Mooar, Margaret McCollum person
associatedWith Scurry County Historical Survey Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Shannon, Charles Hazelwood, 1863-1937 person
associatedWith Sharps Rifle Company (Bridgeport, Conn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Smith, Royall person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Colorado City (Tex.)
Texas Panhandle (Tex.)
Mitchell County (Tex.)
Chicago (Ill.)
Fisher County (Tex.)
Snyder (Tex.)
Rochelle (Ill.)
Subject
American bison
Buffalo
Hides and skins
Hunting
Tanning
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1851-08-10

Death 1940-05-01

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