Halsell, Ewing, 1877-1965

The Halsell family began raising cattle using the Mashed O brand in 1889 in Indian Territory. William E. Halsell founded the Halsell Cattle Company in Lamb and Bailey counties on the South Plains of Texas in 1895. His son, Ewing, continued the Halsell cattle interests in Texas and Oklahoma.

From the guide to the Ewing Halsell Photograph Collection, SWCPC 347., 1910-1982, (Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University)

A rancher whose operations spanned both Texas and Oklahoma, Ewing Halsell helped to open the Texas South Plains to farm settlement. He was born in 1877, in Jacksboro, Texas, the only son of the pioneer cattleman William Electious Halsell. He purchased Bird Creek Ranch near Vinita, Oklahoma, from his father in 1899 and assumed management of the Spring Lake (Mashed O) Ranch in Lamb and Bailey counties of Texas. On June 25, 1899, he married Lucile Fortner. Halsell contracted for the digging of the first irrigation well in Lamb County and, in the 1920s, along with a small group of other ranchers, initiated the use of milo maize as cattle feed in the arid regions of West and Southwest Texas. He built feedlots on his Oklahoma and Texas ranches in the 1930s and 1940s.

In 1923 he formed the Halsell Farms Company to facilitate land sales from the Spring Lake Ranch to settlers, and founded the Texas towns of Amherst and Earth to further promote land sales. He purchased the 100,000-acre Farias Ranch southwest of San Antonio in 1944 and moved his home and business headquarters there. A life member and former vice-president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, he was also a charter member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeder International Association and member of the Blue Stem Cattle Raisers Association. Halsell died on December 17, 1965 at his Farias Ranch.

From the guide to the Ewing Halsell Papers, S 395. 1., 1876-1977 and undated, (Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University)

Rancher whose operations spanned both Texas and Oklahoma. Helped to open the Texas South Plains to farm settlement. Born 1877, in Jacksboro, Texas. Purchased Bird Creek Ranch in Vinita, Oklahoma, from his father in 1899, and assumed management of the Spring Lake Ranch in Lamb and Bailey counties of Texas. Contracted for the digging of the first irrigation well in Lamb County, and in the 1920s, along with a small group of other ranchers, initiated the use of milo maize as cattle feed in the arid regions of West and Southwest Texas. Built feed lots on his Oklahoma and Texas ranches in the 1930s and 1940s.

Formed the Halsell Farms Company in 1923 to facilitate land sales from the Spring Lake Ranch (Mashed O) to settlers. Founded the Texas towns of Amherst, and Earth to further promote land sales. Purchased the 100,000 acre Farias Ranch southwest of San Antonio, Texas, in 1944, and moved his home and business headquarters there. Life member and former vice-president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, charter member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeder International Association, and member of the Blue Stem Cattle Raisers Association. Died at his Farias Ranch in 1965.

From the description of Papers, 1881-1977, 1904-1972. (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 24097645