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23. 
There was lots of hard work that year for me. It was the year of the biggest drought that was ever had in that country. We spent some of the time moving cattle to Greer county. We had a hard time going there as there was hardly enoygh to keep the cattle from starving as the country was settling up with new people and fences were beginning to be built. This made it hard to get a place for the cattle to graze on the trip. When we could get them into a pasture we would then leave them there for a day or two and go hunting after wild hogs. We had dogs that would trial hogs through the mountains. This was great sport and we often had several whole days of it when we knew the cattle were safe.

From this county we journeyed on to W. W. Mann and John Stephens. Stephens now lives at Mansfield, Texas. This was in 1886. From there I went into the Greer county and was there through 1887 and then in 1888 I went to the old "Tip" ranch and on to Wichita Falls. I was on this ranch to 1890. Had a chance to get me a little farm and I did so. I settled down and went to farming. I bred fine cattle and horses. I handled jacks as well and I am sure that I did my work as best I could. That is what started me off in the horse business. I certainly learned the art to a Queen's taste. W. L. Mathias was foreman of the ranch at this time. J. B. Wheeler was wagon manager. He was also the range boss. Then he grazed the cattle out on what was known as "T" fork pasture. This was near Dundee. I stayed on the lower ranch and looked after it. The boss had a bunch of Hereford cattle. This was about the first herd that I had ever seen in Texas. I stayed there until 1892. In this year I went over to S. B. Burnett's ranch and have been a regular man there ever since. He used me as a steer handler most of the time. I was sent to Chicago and Kansas City with shipments. In 1893 I went to Chicago and took in the World's Fair. I saw Buffalo Bill in July of that year and his Wild West show. I went and took in all the sights. One fellow I saw at the fair that I knew. That was Archie Anderson of Wichita Falls. He was off of the "46" ranch. When he saw me, he says, "Hec" you want to take in every-