Page 44 - 2020 Remuda Catalog

continued until the early 1900s at which time the federal govern-
ment ordered the land turned back to the tribes.
By the end of the 19th century, the open range was coming to an
end. Independent ranchers in Texas found it increasingly difficult
to profit from agriculture as corporations. While individual land
holdings fell, the Burnett Ranches grew steadily. A purchase of the
8 Ranch near Guthrie, Texas and the Dixon Creek Ranch marked
the beginning of an empire.
Burk Burnett’s son, Tom, followed in his father’s footsteps. Start-
ing as a ranch hand, he had learned the cattle business in the
1880s and 1890s. At age 16, he began moving cattle and worked
as a wagon hand drawing the same wages as other cowboys. As he
approached the age of 21, Tom was made wagon boss of the Nation
(Indian Territory) Wagon.
By the turn of the century, Tom had already established himself
as a respected cowboy and was on his way to becoming a cattle
baron. In 1910, he acquired the 26,000-acre Triangle Ranch. He
continued to expand his Triangle holdings, buying five ranches in
the next 15 years, which were consolidated into one vast range of
more than 100,000 acres.
Tom Burnett died in 1938, leaving his estate to his only daughter,
Anne Valliant Burnett. “Miss Anne” was known for her knowl-
edge of cattle, horses and fine art. She was instrumental in the es-
tablishment of the American Quarter Horse Association, a found-
er of the Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and an avid supporter of the
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Under, “Miss Anne,” the most important change, other than the
discovery of oil, for the Four Sixes Ranch was the addition of an
equine breeding program in the 1960s. The ranch was very soon

( 42 )