Great Plains Cattle Empire: Thatcher Brothers and Associates (1875-1945)

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Summary: The real Colorado Cattle Barons
Review: A cattle ranching history of the Thatcher Brothers and their brother in law Frank Bloom is long overdue. These businessmen were real people with the entreprenuerial spirt to recognize opportunities and the ability to act on their instincts. Their business acumen and ability to diversify their finances enabled them to promote the Hereford cattle industry despite numerous obstacles...limited water, the elements of weather, and vast rangelands amounting to 11 million acres. Patterson and Poole have done their homework and provided us with an authentic, well researched story on these early cattle ranches who rivalled other more well known operations such as the Prairie Land and Cattle Company from the Panhandle area. It is remarkable that Charlie Russell worked for the circle Diamond prior to becoming a western artist. The Thatcher and Bloom associations with Goodnight, Cresswell, Tony Day, Cap Mossman and the Iliff family of Denver are all indicative of their far reaching influence and successful longevity. Patterson's ability to turn a phrase which is filled with western jargon and cattle ranching terms reinforces his first hand knowledge of cattle ranching. The true history of these early cattle companies is a fascinating story of real people who worked hard to settle the American West.