upon him at a very early age. He took his place at herding cattle when quite young and has been engaged in the stock business throughout his entire life. He made trips over the old Chisholm trail soon after it was first opened, and became thoroughly familiar with all the cattle country from the Rio Grande to the Canadian border, and has passed through all the hardships of the cattleman's life of the early days although owing to his conservative business qualities and careful management he has escaped the difficulties which usually confronted the stockman's career. He made altogether seven trips over the trail to the north, and on his return trip in 1875, he located a ranch at Seymour, in Baylor county, where he placed 7,000 head of cattle during the winter. He remained in that district about five years, and then returned to the southwestern part of the state, establishing what is known as the Irvin ranch in La Salle county, this ranch embracing 60,000 acres of land, lying east of Cotulla and almost bordering the limits of the town, although the house stands twenty miles from that place. During the last few years there has been a great influx of settlers to this region so that the land has become very valuable and perhaps in due time the ranch will be divided into farms for it is becoming too valuable to retain as pasture land. Mr. Irvin has sold 10,000 acres for cultivation.

Mr. Irvin has become one of the wealthiest stockmen of this state. He has spent a busy, active and useful life and through his careful business management and sound judgment and has now acquired a competence that enables him to leave the more arduous duties of a business career to others, while he spends a portion of his time in his home in San Antonio, while his ranch is managed by his two sons.

Mr. Irvin was married in Seguin to Miss Medina Dewees, a representative of a prominent pioneer family of this state. Their family numbers two sons and four

daughters: Jourdan J. and Eugene, who conduct the ranch; Mrs. Mabel Wilson; Grace; Mrs. S. T. Lowry, and Clara Irvin.

LEE L. RUSSELL

LEE L. RUSSELL

The subject of this sketch is one of the successful cattlemen, commission merchants, and bankers of Texas. He was born in Dawson, Ga., December 6, 1867, and came to Texas with his parents when he was four years old, settling at Menardville. Mr. Russell started in the cattle business when he was fifteen years old, his first venture being in connection with the driving of a herd into New Mexico. Later he became an employee of the Nathan Hall Cattle Company of New Mexico, at a salary of $35.00 per month, which was shortly afterward increased to $65.00 per month upon his promotion to the foremanship of the Western Ranch. He remained in that position one year, when a second promotion installed him as beef manager, his duties including a safe delivery of the company's cattle in Oklahoma, Colorado and Montana. In 1889 he became affiliated with the Russell-Bevans Co. as their beef manager, in which position he had the opportunity and right to operate on his own account, and in three years his personal business had grown to such proportions that he then started in business for himself. He later admitted his brother, W. W. Russell, and T. P. Kyger into business as his partners, and the firm continued until 1910, when he purchased the interest of

his brother for $125,000 and continued with Mr. Kyger. Mr. Russell has many other interest, among them being

the Stock Yards Loan Co. of Kansas City of which he is vice-president, the Cassidy-Southwestern Commission. Co. of which he is vice-president, director and assistant

general manager. He is also vice-president of the Fort Worth State Bank, president, Bank of Hardy, Okla., and vice-president of the Citizens National Bank of Pawhuska, Okla. He is a stockholder in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Ballinger, Texas; a stockholder in the Co-operative Realty Co. of Fort Worth. He is interested in several large cattle companies, and controls large ranch holdings in Texas and Oklahoma, as well as being interested in mining properties. He is vice-president of the Metropolitan Hotel Co., and other investments.

On October 14, 1895, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Mary Callan, a member of a prominent Texas family. He is a member of several fraternal organizations, among them the Shriners, Elks, Woodmen of the World, Eagles and Odd Fellows.

THOMAS B. SAUNDERS

Thomas B. Saunders, senior member of the firm of T. B. Saunders & Co., noted live stock brokers of Fort Worth, Texas, was born in Goliad county, Texas, September 23, 1872. He is the son of W. D. H. and Ann (New) Saunders. Mr. Saunders attended school in this locality until he was seventeen years old, when, in common with other youths of that era, he assumed the sterner activities that called for attention. In 1889 he began working in the cattle business in which he acquired considerable valuable knowledge that equipped him for his chosen line of business. For a time he worked for his father, then his uncle, George W. Saunders, employed him in the commission business in San Antonio for three years. In 1893 he went to Houston where he worked in the commission business for several months, and when he attained the age of 21 years he determined to engage in business on his own account, and under the name of Saunders & Hotchkiss the firm that he established became

a potent factor in the commission live stock trade for

THOS. B. SAUNDERS

seven years of its existence. When the packing houses located plants in Fort Worth in 1900, Mr. Saunders immediately perceived the field for wider operations that he had constantly sought, and he moved to Fort Worth where he remains today. He was the first trader to do business on that market, and soon became a familiar figure until now he is acknowledged one of the heaviest buyers and strongest traders frequenting that market. His business has prospered steadily and his transactions on the market alone aggregate an average of 100,000 head of cattle handled annually. Mr. Saunders is also an extensive operator in ranches. He, together with C. L. Brown and Lee Russell, control large ranch interests near Avant, Okla., where they pasture more than 7,000 cattle. He also has ranch interests in Texas. Mr. Saunders married Miss Hattie Straw in San Antonio in 1899. They have two children, Thomas B. Jr., and Miss Venita Saunders. No man enjoys higher esteem among his contemporaries, or is more universally respected.

ATE TERRAPIN AND DOG MEAT, AND WAS GLAD TO GET IT

Ben Drake, South San Antonio, Texas

On the 3rd day of January, 1855, I first saw the light of day, on Wilbarger Creek, twenty miles below Austin, in Travis county, Texas. Lived there until I was twelve years old, then mother sold the place and moved to Bas