The Frontiersman

Wild Horses and Longhorn Cattle

By: Bill Shuey

Narrated by: Robert Cunningham

Jacob “Stumpy” Smith left Missouri at age 16 and made his way west. First on his own, then on a wagon train, and then by himself again. Stumpy Smith and Hannibal Brinks met by chance while both were searching for feral horses. They formed a friendship that led to a partnership. They rounded up feral horses, saddle-broke them, took them to Bent’s New Fort, and sold them.

Once they amassed enough money to go into the cattle ranching business, they headed for Northwest Texas and the Neutral Strip to round up feral cattle. After putting together a large herd of Texas longhorn cattle, Hannibal and Stumpy headed the herd for California. Comancheros kidnapped Hannibal’s wife, Morning Star, to sell in Mexico. Hannibal set out alone to find and return her. Once they had secured Morning Star and other girls' release, Stumpy and Hannibal sold the cattle as planned and headed back to Kansas Territory. Now it was time to build a ranching operation.

©2023 Bill Shuey (P)2023 Bill Shuey