Memorials › John Green Ussery

John Green Ussery

22 Nov 1855 – Jul 1935

Birth22 Nov 1855
DeathJul 1935
CemeteryCarlsbad Cemetery
Carlsbad , Eddy County , New Mexico , USA
Added byDebbie D. on 13 May 2011
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65126355

Bio

Mother: Mary Harmon of Texas J. G. USSERY'S ranch is in El Paso County, on the line of . New Mexico, about forty miles west of the Pecos River, and in what is perhaps the wildest and least-known region in Texas. He is a native Texan, and a cattleman by birth and training, and his father before him passed his entire life in the business of stock-growing. The latter, J. M. Ussery, was of English and German blood, and was born in Louisiana about the year 1832. When he moved to Texas, in 1851, he brought a herd of choice cattle with him, placing them on the range in Live Oak County, where he selected his future location. He served in the Confederate army during the war, and after his return, when the cattle trade with the Northern markets sprang up, he made many drives to Dodge City and Coffeyville, Kansas, usually taking from 2,000 to 3,000 head each season. He was phenomenally successful as a cattle grower, and at one time was among the largest handlers of stock in his portion of the State. He commenced fencing pasturage at an early day, enclosing about 7,000 acres, and at the same time was running a great many cattle on the open range. As fencing became more general, however, he reduced his herds and began giving more attention to grading up his cattle. During the last years of his life he was associated in business with J. B. Ammons, of Oakville.who is still living. J. M. Ussery died in 1885, at his home near Pettus, Bee County, where he had moved a short time before, after disposing of his ranch in Live Oak. He was twice married. His first wife, formerly Miss Mary Harmon, of Texas, was the mother of three children, our subject being the eldest, while the others were: Pimey, who married J. D. Moore and is now dead, and S. H.,at present with his brother in El Paso Countv. The second wife was Miss Amanda Robinson, who now resides in Kerrville, Texas. There were four children: Mat. and Monroe, twins, Myrtle and Pearl, all of whom are still living with their mother, except the daughter last named, who married Nat. Malone. Reared on the ranch, J. G. Ussery learned to ride wild mustangs and handle cattle herds as naturally as the birds learn to fly. There was but little in the way of other occupations to detract from his enjoyment of this outdoor life, for there were no schools to attend for many years after the date of his birth, which occurred in Live Oak County, November 22, 1855. When seven years old he began to assist his father regularly in the management of his cattle, and though his help at first must have been of small importance, as he grew in years he rapidly began to fill a man's place around the herd. When eighteen years of age he began working for Mr. Ammons, afterward his father's partner, receiving, as compensation, his clothing and a certain number of calves annually. He was with Mr. Ammons for ten years, and at the end of this time found himself the owner of 800 cattle of his own, wearing the "7 L" brand, which has since become so well known west of the Pecos. At about this time, however, the Southwest was annoyed by the presence of a lawless element, and the wholesale theft of cattle was of frequent occurrence. Mr. Usserv suffered with his neighbors, and as a result, before he left Live Oak County his herd had dwindled to not more than 400 head. Since the selection of his present ranch, in 1885, Mr. Ussery has made no further moves, but has been fully occupied with building up his business and improving his herd. He has exercised care in weeding out all inferior specimens from his herd, and though it contains a good many native cattle, it will average in general excellence with any similar "bunch" of cattle in the State. He is using Durham and Hereford bulls principally in the work of improvement. The range is open, and the character of its grasses unsurpassed. Buying and selling a good many beeves annually, he usually has from 1,000 to 1,500 head of cattle, all told, on his ranch, but his range is amply large to accommodate many more, and he proposes to extend his business as rapidly as possible, believing that the cattle industry has yet to see its days of greatest prosperity. (Source: Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry and the Cattlemen of Texas by James Cox, Published by Woodward & Tiernan Printing Co, St Louis, 1895 - )

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