Polled Herefords originated in Texas! So says a 1915 magazine article by Welton Winn of Santa Anna, Texas. Mr. Winn told of buying a Hereford bull in Missouri in 1886, and breeding him to "large, beefy cows, good milkers, and natural muleys, of many colors." The polled white-faced offspring of this cross were retained to form a herd of grade Polled Herefords. This was several years before the date found in most Hereford history books for the first grade polls in the Midwest. The American Polled Hereford Cattle Club was organized in 1901 and at that time began the registration of "Double Standard" or purebred Polled Herefords. First Double Standard Polled Hereford to make an impression on the breed in Texas was Polled Assurance 11, calved in 1906, and bred by E.W. Gammon of St. Charles, Iowa, nephew of the breed's founder. This bull was brought to Texas by J.E. Boog-Scott, of Coleman, an early-day horned breeder. He then went to Welton Winn, who bought a group of registered horned heifers to breed to him.
The late Sam Swann told me that his father brought in a registered Polled bull about 1905, but did not use him on registered females. His pioneer registered herd was started several years later.
Two more very active pioneers started during the 1908-1910 period. George Epperson of Valley Spring was one of these. He was the grandfather of the late Cliff Martin, and some of the cattle in the Martin dispersal traced back to the Epperson cattle. J.T. Warnock of Talpa also started about 1908, and his herd has passed into the ownership of C.E. Kingsbery of Santa Anna. The year 1910 still showed no APHA registrations in Texas, but by 1920 registrations were up to 261.
The period from 1910 to 1920 saw more big breeders getting into the business. Bill and Lewis Johnson, operating as Johnson Bros., of Jacksboro, began their operation publicized as "The World's Largest Herd." For many years they ran well over a thousand head. This herd continued as the W.R. Johnson Ranch.
Burleson and John's Steiner Valley Ranch at Whitney, under the longtime management of Albert Kyle, grew to about 500 brood cows.
Phil Kendrick of Whitey started his herd in 1919. In 1920 he bought 10 cows and a bull in the National Sale at Des Moines. He was elected president of the APHA in 1925--the first person outside of the corn-belt to hold that position.
Lester Carter of Jacksboro founded a real top herd in the early days that have now been divided and is still in operation by his daughters and their husbands. George Keith, a top early day horned breeder, built a Polled unit, which he sold to his neighbor, R.O. Harvey of Wichita Falls. J.H. Crawford of Menard started a herd in 1915 that has been continued since his death by his son, Vernon.
The 1920s saw a sizable increase in numbers, along with the start of a lot of top herds. Hugh White made quite a record as a breeder and as an exhibitor. In the early '30s, Hugh won a hatful of trophies in the National and campaigned his show string widely and successfully in strong horned shows. His Pawnee Rollo 10th was sold to Parker Ranch in Hawaii. His Prince Rollo 1 was the first Polled bull to win a class in the horned show in Fort Worth.
The '20s saw the start of a group of very strong breeders in West Texas. The Halbert and Hoggett herd -- later divided into the R.A. Halbert herd at Sonora and the Mans Hoggert herd at Mertzon -- became a No. 1 source of Domestic Mischief and Woodrow cattle in the U.S. and abroad, and were most successful on the range and the show ring.
George Trenfield of Follett, whose ranch is still going strong in the hands of his sons and grandsons, became a top source of F.L. Robinson background cattle.
Joe Weedon of Grosvenor bought his first Polled Herefords in the early '20s. He showed widely and successfully, and his Bonny B Domino cattle were know worldwide. In the 1944 National Sale, Joe sold a bull for the then record price of $5,025. Joe sold most of his cattle to Valdina Farms of Sabinal and held the post of TPHA secretary for many years. His son, Joe Dan, is back in the business and is president of a very active West Texas Association.
M.E. Fry, J.H. Fry, and E.W. Gill, all of the Brownwood area, started good large herds in the early '20s that have since been carried on by their heirs. Carl Sheffield of Brookesmith is still in the business after about 50 years, while the N.M. Mitchell herd of Sanderson and the NM Barnett herd of Melvin have passed to children of the original owners.
Polled Herefords got an early and enthusiastic start in South Texas, especially in the San Antonio area. John G. Classen started in 1914. E.E. Voigt, whom I talked with at the recent San Antonio show, said he got his first in 1919. A number of San Antonio families such as the Schucarts and Steubings, started early and in substantial numbers.
Kallison ranch came into being a little later with a good big Polled Hereford operation and with the added bonus of Perry's "Old Trader" radio program.
A little further south a couple of pioneers were H.D. Miller of Mathis, whose herd is being carried on by Mrs. Miller and daughter, Happy Sanguinett, and Hartley Howard of Devine, who is still going strong.
Hall of Fame breeder W.R. Gollihar of Whitney was one of the good early-day Central Texas breeders. With a foundation of tops of the Burleson and Johns herd, he took the proven herd sire Mesa Domino and made his name a household word worldwide.
The Martin brothers around Morgan started early, ran sizable herds and furnished the start for many new breeders. EE Hill & Co., of Fairfield, under management of sons Suel and Richard, operated a large herd, with individual sales and an active show herd. S & S Cattle Co., of Teague, started early and is still in operation. Hackney Bros. of McGregor, with Ollie Newman as manager, were small in numbers but hit the show ring successfully. John Golightly of Hico had a good early day herd that is still operated by Mrs. Golightly. Pioneer breeder Sam Radde is joined in the Radde Ranch by sons Kenneth and Leonard.
The late W.A. Ford of Mount Pleasant may have been the earliest breeder in the Northeast Texas area. His herd was carried on until fairly recent years by his son-in-law, CE Gaddis.
So many pioneer breeders have contributed to Texas Polled Hereford progress it is impossible to try to mention all of them, especially since 1930, when the number has grown rapidly.
About 1924 the Fort Worth Sale was started, sponsored by the APHA, and with most of the entries northern cattle, which were sold to Texas pioneers as foundation stock. I remember one Texas bull, Woodrow 29 , sold by Joe Laroe of Kaufman to Halbert & Hoggert, whose get has become famous all over the world.
In 1933 and 1934, depression years, the APHA was not able to hold the usual National Show and Sale in Des Moines, so the Fort Worth Show and Sale became National for that period. Texan Hugh White dominated these events, with George Trenfield and Burleson and Johns furnishing sale toppers.
The time was right for a state association, and at Morgan in 1935, the Texas Polled Hereford Association was officially organized. Hugh White was elected president and Dewey Martin secretary, a position he held until 1944. The Fort Worth Sale and the State show and Sale have been TPHA sponsored regularly. Polled classes in the Texas shows were represented until the APHA was able to take them over.
Texas Polled Hereford breeders have made a great record for many years through efficient production of the kind of cattle the industry needs. Many of the pioneers have passed from the picture but we have a newer generation of breeders including a number of the most progressive, forward looking people in the purebred industry. Prospects look good for the Texas Polled Herefords to continue the pattern of leadership established by these pioneers.