Abilene, Kansas Cattle Trail
The story of Abilene, Kansas, is inextricably linked to the great cattle drives of the late 19th century. This small Kansas town, strategically positioned along the burgeoning railway lines, became a crucial hub in the movement of vast herds of cattle from Texas to eastern markets. Its rise as a cowtown is a testament to the vision of a single entrepreneur and the hard work of countless cowboys who traversed the challenging trails.
In 1867, Joseph G. McCoy, an ambitious businessman from Illinois, recognized the immense potential of the cattle trade and saw Abilene, Kansas, as the perfect location to capitalize on it. He envisioned a place where Texas ranchers could drive their cattle northward, load them onto trains, and ship them to lucrative markets in the East. McCoy’s foresight led to the development of what became known as the Abilene, Kansas, Cattle Trail.
McCoy’s ingenuity wasn’t just about picking a spot on a map. He understood that the existing routes were inefficient. The key to Abilene, Kansas’s success was its connection to the northern end of the already-established Chisholm Trail, near Wichita. The Chisholm Trail, a well-worn path from Texas, needed a reliable railhead. Abilene, Kansas, provided that critical link. Cattle driven up the Chisholm Trail could then be easily funneled northward to Abilene, a town conveniently situated along the Union Pacific Railroad line. This rail connection allowed for the swift and efficient transportation of cattle eastward, revolutionizing the industry.
However, the initial route from the Little Arkansas River to Abilene was far from ideal. It was circuitous, adding unnecessary miles and time to the already arduous journey. To address this, and to solidify Abilene, Kansas, as the premier cattle shipping point, McCoy commissioned a survey team led by Civil Engineer T. F. Hersey. Hersey’s task was to straighten the trail, shorten the distance, and ensure that Abilene remained competitive in the face of other potential cattle-trading locations.
Hersey’s team, equipped with compasses, flags, and a dedicated crew of laborers, meticulously surveyed the land. The laborers used spades and shovels to create mounds of earth, marking the newly designated route established by the engineers. This marked trail provided a clear and direct path for the cattle drivers, guiding them toward Abilene.
The newly surveyed trail ran almost directly south from Abilene until it reached the crossing of the Arkansas River, where it connected with the existing Chisholm Trail. This new route was not only shorter but also strategically chosen for its accessibility to vital resources. It offered good water sources, abundant grazing lands, and suitable camping spots along the entire length of the trail, crucial for the well-being of both the cattle and the cowboys driving them.
Pinpointing the precise path of the combined Chisholm and Abilene, Kansas, Trails is a challenging endeavor. Several offshoots and variations existed from Texas to Kansas, making a definitive single line impossible to trace. However, historical accounts indicate that the trail generally crossed the Red River just east of Henrietta, Texas. From there, it continued northward through Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), passing through Caldwell and past Wichita and Newton, Kansas, before finally reaching Abilene.
The first herd to utilize this route belonged to O. W. Wheeler and his partners, who purchased 2,400 steers in San Antonio, Texas, in 1867. Initially, the route was known by various names: the Trail, the Kansas Trail, the Abilene Trail, or McCoy’s Trail. Over time, however, the cowboys, who spent countless hours on the dusty trail, simply referred to the entire route from the Rio Grande to Abilene as the Chisholm Trail, a testament to its significance and the collective experience of the cattle drives.
The impact of the Abilene Trail on the cattle industry and the town of Abilene itself was profound. In 1867, approximately 35,000 head of cattle were driven from Texas to Abilene. This number steadily increased in subsequent years, reaching approximately 75,000 in 1868, 300,000 in 1870, and a staggering 700,000 in 1871 – the peak year for cattle shipments from Texas.
However, the boom times in Abilene, Kansas, were not destined to last. As settlers began to populate the surrounding areas, grazing lands became increasingly scarce. Furthermore, residents started to voice concerns about the impact of the large cattle herds on the local environment and the spread of "tick fever," a disease transmitted by cattle ticks. The unruly behavior of some cowboys also contributed to the growing discontent.
By 1872, the pressure from local residents reached a tipping point. The city of Abilene officially declared that Texas cattlemen were no longer welcome in their town. This decision effectively ended Abilene’s reign as the primary cattle shipping point. The focus of the cattle trade shifted westward to other towns, such as Wichita and Ellsworth, which were more amenable to the industry.
Despite its relatively short period as the central hub of the cattle trade, Abilene’s legacy remains firmly etched in the history of the American West. From 1867 to 1871, approximately 10,000 railcars of livestock were shipped out of Abilene. In 1872, Wichita shipped about 80,000 head of cattle. However, the settlement of the Arkansas and Ninnescah River Valleys made it impractical to reach Wichita’s shipping yards after 1873. As a result, the loading of cattle was gradually transferred to points further west along the railroad line, eventually culminating in Dodge City. The year 1887 marked the definitive end of the era of the famous Abilene, Kansas, Cattle Trail.
The story of the Abilene Cattle Trail is a story of vision, ambition, and ultimately, change. Joseph McCoy’s entrepreneurial spirit transformed a small Kansas town into a thriving hub of the cattle trade, revolutionizing the industry and shaping the landscape of the American West. While Abilene’s dominance as a cattle shipping point was relatively brief, its impact on the region and the national economy was undeniable. The trail itself, a testament to the hard work and resilience of countless cowboys, became an iconic symbol of the era, forever linking Abilene to the legends of the Wild West. The rise and fall of the Abilene, Kansas, cattle trade serves as a poignant reminder of the dynamic forces that shaped the American frontier.