Panhandle Pioneer: Henry C. Hitch, His Ranch, and His Family - Softcover

Green, Prof. Donald E

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0806146737 ISBN 13: 9780806146737

Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press, 1979

Synopsis

In the history of the tristate Panhandle region—the three corners of Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas—the saga of Henry C. Hitch and his ranch is also the story of the social, cultural, and economic fortunes of the region.

Late in the nineteenth century James Kerrick Hitch left his home in Tennessee for the High Plains and fortune. After ten years spent working as a cowboy, he rode in to the Coldwater Creek region of No Man's Land, the fertile subirrigated valley that was to be his Promised Land. It was Henry Charles Hitch, James's son, who was to turn the valley and its uplands into an empire—raising cattle, borrowing money, going broke several times, then flourishing. Henry's genius and hard work paid off, and in time the family owned 30,000 acres of land in three states.

After building their cattle empire, the Hitches moved into farming. By 1930 they had become the largest wheat producer in Oklahoma. After World War II they drilled irrigation wells and by the 1950s they had one of the first large feedlots in the region. Always willing to adopt new technology, the Henry C. Hitch Ranch became an agribusiness empire.

This book is economic history—and more:  it is also the absorbing story of a pioneer family. Today, Hitch Enterprises is owned and operated by the Hitch Family of Guymon, Oklahoma—the fifth generation of a family that made indelible tracks across the Panhandle.

About this title

About the Author:

Donald E. Green, who grew up on a Texas Panhandle ranch, retired as Professor of History and Geography at Central State University, (now the University of Central Oklahoma), Edmond. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the Panhandle-Plains region.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Publication date: 1979
• ISBN 10: 0806146737
• ISBN 13: 9780806146737
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 316