however, and even ahead of them. Thirty years ago he commenced his work of solving a most serious problem of the Texas cattle raiser, the tick on cattle. He observed that the Brahma breed did not have ticks on them; that they were more prolific, hardy and matured better than the other breeds of cattle. He bought a herd of Brahma cattle. There were not many of these in proportion to the cattle owned by him, but it was a start. At the World's Fair in St. Louis he saw in Hagenbeck's menagerie a magnificent Brahma bull and cow. This was his opportunity. He made a number of visits to the menagerie. The manager was attracted by the genial disposition of Mr. McFaddin, and they became fast friends. Very soon they agreed that Mr. McFaddin ought to have these Brahma cattle, and the tick problem was finally solved. The Hagenbeck bull, "Prince," became the head of his herd. Today the thousands of cattle owned by J. A. McFaddin are graded Brahmin cattle, immune from ticks, and he has several hundred head of practically purebred Brahma cattle, the offspring of "Prince" and two other bulls imported from India by the estate of H. A. Pierce and Thomas O'Connor. He had at the time of his death a breed of cattle second to none for the combination of the qualities of prolific breeding, early maturing, beef producing, hardiness and immunity from ticks.

About fifteen years ago this far-sighted man saw that the old range cattle business would in time cease to be profitable, and he prepared himself accordingly. He had seen land in this section of the state go from ten cents an acre to seventy-five dollars an acre. Cattle raising on high priced land does not pay. The time was coming for a change from the old range style of cattle raising to the stock farming proposition. He had always done some farming. He had several thousand acres of land that had been swamp, and which had been thrown in with his purchase at from $1.00 to $1.50 per acre. It was not suitable for grazing. He reclaimed this land by leveeing

it and cleared it, all at a large expense. It is now fully protected from overflow, and is a magnificent field. On this land, in 1912, his corn crop averaged seventy bushels per acre, his cotton about three-fourths of a bale to the acre-most of the tracts growing a bale to the acre; some more. He constructed a levee along the Guadalupe River and across to the high lands, over twelve miles in length. This has reclaimed more than five thousand acres of overflow land. He estimated that the cost of building the levee, clearing and putting the land in shape for cultivation, building tenant houses, barns and other improvements would be about $100,000. But there has been over five thousand acres reclaimed of alluvial soil as a farming proposition. The cattle raiser is fast becoming a stock farmer.

This ranch, which is being converted into a vast farm, aggregates about forty-two thousand acres. In addition he had about twelve thousand acres of land eight miles north of the city of Victoria. Besides these, he had other lands which made him a comfortable living.

Mr. McFaddin did not ask aid from the county or the state. He built his own levees and roads, digging ditches, and building school houses. He did not ask for issuance of road bonds, drainage bonds, school bonds nor levee bonds. In other words, no other man's lands were taxed to put improvements on the McFaddin lands.

In his home life, Mr. McFaddin was as successful as in his business career. For nearly fifty years, he and his wife lived happily and contentedly together. Mrs. McFaddin assisted him greatly in achieving success. One of the most charitable women ever in that section of the state, she was loved by all who knew her. No strangers passed by their ranch house without being invited to partake of their hospitality.

Mr. McFaddin has indelibly impressed upon that section of the state his mark as a genius in executive and business ability. Mrs. McFaddin died in June, 1911, but

she left the impress of her character upon the social life of the community, and she will be remembered with love and affection for generations. These two sturdy Texas pioneers have helped the people of this state to change from a wilderness to a great commonwealth, and they will go down in the history of this state as promoters of law and order, of peace and happiness. On June 25, 1916, Colonel McFaddin died very suddenly at his home in Victoria, aged seventy-six years.

AN OLD COW HAND

By John Pat Ryan, Skidmore, Texas

I was born near Sweet Home, in Lavaca county, Texas, October 10, 1850. I came to what is now Bee county in 1856 with my parents, Henry and Regena Ryan. My mother died in 1862, and father died in 1902. Working horses and cattle has been my occupation the most of my life. I farmed about twelve years.

My first trip to Kansas was in 1871, with H. T. Clare as boss. He drove beef steers for Jim Reed and Tom O'Connor. I remember well our first night in Indian Territory, for we did not sleep much. Five herds crossed Red River that day, in charge of H. T. Clare, D. Rachal, Buck Gravis, John Henry Choate, John Booth and Rutledge and Bill Gentry. I think every herd stampeded. I know when our herd was stopped several miles from the starting point. I was the only man that stayed with them and when the sun came up it rose in the west for two mornings before it rose in the east with me. Fortunately I never got turned around any more. Bud May of Yoakum, John Holland, John Stewart, Monroe Stewart, Bud Clare and myself brought the horses and wagon back to Texas. That fall and winter I drove cattle to the Rockport packery, and later worked in a cow outfit for Pat Burke. Made two trips to Colorado with horses for myself.

In 1873 H. T. Clare, Tom Marsden, Gus and Hillary Clare and myself drove horses and mules to Red River, Lamar county, and there we held them in camp for seven weeks on account of yellow fever. We made no sales. In 1875 I worked in a cow crowd with Hugh O'Riley,

Jack Hughs, and John M. Corrigan. In 1876 and 1877 J. I. Clare and myself ran a cow outfit. In 1878 I took charge of a herd for J. I. Clare, J. E. Little and P. S. Clare and went to Fort Worth. There I sold some fine springer cows for them. I got hurt in a stampede and had to quit and come home. Bill Raglan came up with a herd for Jim Scott and they put both herds together and

he and Hillary Clare took them on to Dodge City, Kansas.

In 1879 I took a herd to Northwest Texas, and in 1880 I drove a herd for D. C. Jordan of Montague county to Indian Territory. Buck Pettus, Jim Reed and Jim Ray put up the cattle on the range.

I am still running and working cattle and never feel tired or wearied.

WILLIAM C. IRVIN

The following sketch was taken from the "History of Southwest Texas," published in 1907: William C. Irvin was born at Seguin, Texas, in 1846, a son of J. A. and Sarah (Tom) Irvin. The father was a native of Alabama and located in Texas in 1838. His death occurred in 1865. The mother represented an old family of Tennessee, some of its members having become distinguished in the early history of Texas, particularly in Indian fighting. Her brother, Captain J. F. Tom, was numbered among the early pioneers of this state and had command of a company of rangers during the Civil War and took active part in subduing the redman both prior and subsequent to the war.

W. C. IRVIN

William C. Irvin has two sisters, Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Dewees and Miss Tommie Irvin, who make their home in San Antonio. Mr. Irvin was reared in Guadalupe county. He was quite young at the time of his father's death, and later lost his elder brother so that the responsibility of caring for his mother and sisters was thrown