This article on Monroe Choate is from the July 2002 issue of "The Kansas Cowboy," an old-West history newspaper of some 20 pages that is published six times a year for $19.    Write to Publisher Jim Gray,    119 North Douglas, Ellsworth, Kansas 67439.   785-472-4703   His email is    [email protected]    Jim Gray writes at times of cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail, stampedes, wild Texas cowboys, no-nonsense Kansas lawmen, gunfights, outlaws, gamblers. Sometimes he writes of the good guys and sometimes of the bad guys. Monroe Choate was a good guy.

The Champion Of Karnes County, Texas

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Partner Jim Borroum dies.
Widow and widower are married.
Facing down the rustlers.   See also Wm.G.Butler, go to "IWillCutMyCattle" & "CattleRustlers"
Son Dunk Choate dies in Dodge City.
Son Bing Choate is killed by a Dodge City gambler.

James Monroe Choate was born January 28, 1822, in Tennessee to Prudence Dora Choate. Prudence was not married and she quietly bore the child out of wedlock. She was married to her first cousin, Stockley Choate three years later. Family tradition has held to the story that Stockley’s brother was actually James Monroe’s father.

The young boy came to be called by his middle name, Monroe. In Mississippi, Monroe married Minerva Elizabeth Adkisson on June 2, 1844. At least one child, John Henry, was born in Mississippi.

By 1854, the family had moved to Leon County Texas. About two years later they moved to Hondo Creek in Karnes County, Texas. There, they built quite a family. In all, Monroe and Minerva had nine children. Monroe actively engaged in the cattle business and tirelessly built a reputation as a cattleman who could be trusted.

Dock Burris arrived in Karnes County in 1855, and worked as a cowboy for all the local outfits. "I continued in that business without let-up until the fall of 1858, and during the time thus engaged, hunted cattle and horses with and for almost all the old settlers west of the San Antonio River." Monroe Choate was among them.

George W. Saunders was just a small boy at the time, but he also recalled those days of the "cow hunt" before anyone had thought of a chuckwagon. "Each man would bring bedding, coffee pot, tin cup, a wallet of biscuit, salt, sometimes sugar, four or five horses each, and we would work the surrounding range until all cattle belonging to the outfit were gathered and held under herd, then we would select a pack horse for our equipment and move to some other part of the range, gathering cattle as we went."

In 1861, Texas joined the Confederate cause in the great Civil War. Karnes County raised a number of militias in defense of the country. Monroe Choate raised the Escondido Rifles and served as its Captain. They were a "home guard" and served to protect the Texas settlements.

Jimmy Skaggs, author of The Cattle Trailing Industry says, "During the Civil War, Choate saw and seized the opportunity to enter the cattle trade."

In 1862, Monroe Choate and Jim Borroum joined in a partnership trailing 800 head of beef cattle to Mississippi for the Confederacy. Trail hand Bill Saunders made the trip. He recalled many events from that drive. At Sweet Home, in Lavaca County, Texas, a field was rented to bed down the trail herd for the night. The cattle were open range Texas Longhorns, as wild as deer. There happened to be a large haystack in the middle of the field and before the drovers realized it they had a problem on their hands. Those longhorns had never seen anything like that stack of hay, and the nearer they drew to it the more provoked they became. The melee turned into a full blown stampede. By daybreak the herd was eight miles away from camp and three hundred head were missing. It took several days to locate and roundup the nervous strays.

They met up with another herd of 300 head in Louisiana. The owners, Crump & Fleming, bought a half interest in the Choate and Borroum herd and threw in their 300 head, swelling the entire trail herd to 1100 head.

Near the Mississippi River, Confederate soldiers arrested the entire trail crew and took the owners to Alexandria to be interviewed. They were concerned that the cattle were in route to supply the Yankees. Once they were convinced that the herd was destined to be Confederate beef, the men were released and the herd was allowed to cross the Mississippi.

Bill Saunders was on his first big drive. "....a thousand of the beeves took the water and easily swam across, but we had to sell one hundred on this side of the river, as we could not get them across."

"....After we crossed the Mississippi the Confederate soldiers arrested us again, and took our men to Fort Hudson, where they kept them several days, but, as in the former case, they found nothing against us and turned us loose."

Borroum and Choate found buyers at Woodville, Mississippi. Crum and Fleming wanted to continue on, so the herd was divided to make the sale. Crum and Fleming eventually sold out in Mobile, Alabama.

Beauregard Choate Moye wrote of James Monroe Choate’s life some years after his death. Mr. Moye spent many hours in the lap of the old cattleman as a young boy. He reports that Choate took herds to the Confederacy each year following 1862. "....but the last herd was delivered to the yankies, or rather they took it and Mr. Choate and his men were lucky to get out alive."

The Choates were known to be gentle men with courtly manners in gentle company. But, the company wasn’t always gentle. One of the family stories relates an incident in the days just after the Civil War. Two unnamed members of the Choate family were returning home from the War and stopped at a farmhouse for a meal. During the conversation they were asked their names. When they replied "Choate," their host replied, "I killed a man named Choate during the war." The man laughed and nothing more was said. The men finished their meal and the next morning rode out quietly, leaving their contemptuous host hanging from a tree.

Immediately following the war Choate and Borroum ventured north in search of a new market. According to Frank J. Dobie, "In 1866, they bunched up 1000 big steers in Karnes County. Borroum took 200 of these steers to New Orleans to sell to get money to put the remainder on the northern market. Choate started up the trail with the other 800 head..." The herd crossed the Red River at Colbert’s Ferry following the old Texas or Shawnee Trail. At Fort Gibson they turned north. Borroum overtook the outfit near the Kansas Line bearing the money from the New Orleans sale.

"...they were informed by Kansas farmers that Texas cattle could not cross their ground. ‘Hell, said Borroum and Choate, ‘We will drive around their state’." After entering Kansas the herd was driven a little west of north to the uninhabited territory. By staying away from the Kansas settlements along the Kansas/Missouri state line the trail-breakers pioneered a cattle route into Iowa. They eventually marketed their cattle at Ottumawa, Iowa.

The drive north had proved to be a dangerous one. Choate and Borroum returned to the New Orleans market in 1867. But, danger could not be checked as "Good Fortune" turned her face from Choate & Borroum’s partnership to other distant horizons.

Jim Borroum became ill. The conditions were less than desirable that year. Tom Saunders had also driven a herd to New Orleans in ’67. Swimming the streams, bayous, and being exposed to the wet weather caused Saunders to suffer from rheumatism, which stayed with him throughout his life. Jim Borroum wasn’t that lucky. He contracted Yellow Fever, from which he never recovered. Death came on June 26, 1867 at the St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans. Monroe Choate brought his good friend home to be buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Goliad, Texas.

"Tragedy" was dealing the cards in 1867. Monroe’s brother-in-law, John Trimmel was killed in a fight with his own son-in-law, George G. Pinson. Apparently, Trimmel didn’t approve of his teenage daughter Sinai’s marriage. Family stories relate that Monroe then gave a gun to Sinai’s brother Jim, and told him to go avenge his father's death. Jim followed his sister and her husband to Erath County.

"Wearing the Spanish style clothes of the Mexican border, Jim was conspicuous in this community of farmers who viewed him with suspicion. The sheriff was afraid of him and one night after Jim had gone to bed, with his gun and holster hanging on the head of the bed, the sheriff burst in the door and, aiming his gun at Jim, pulled the trigger. He tried several times to shoot Jim but failed because of some defect in his gun."

Jim pulled his gun from the holster on the bedpost and shot the sheriff in the forehead. Jim was jailed for the killing, but managed to dig through the dirt floor with a sardine can. When he made his escape, family members were on hand to help him. Jim was hidden under some bedding in the back of a wagon. He was driven back to South Texas by his young cousin, John Wiley Barefoot, while an old aunt, Polly Choate, sat by him on the wagon seat with her knitting. Who would suspect an old woman and a young boy?"

John Wiley Barefoot was the son of Monroe’s cousin, John Tipton Barefoot who had settled with his family in Bell County, Texas. Monroe always referred to his cousin as, "By Gum," a favorite expression of John’s, a mild mannered man who never used profane language. John Wiley often visited Monroe's ranch, and wanted very much to accompany his cousins to Kansas on the cattle drives. Monroe would not allow this, saying it was too dangerous. "I would never forgive myself if anything happened to John's boy."

Misfortune seldom deterred the hearty traildrivers, and Monroe Choate was typical in that way. In spite of the loss and turmoil of 1867, he returned to the New Orleans market with a trail herd in 1868. But, tragedy still followed him. On June 26, 1868, his wife Minerva died.

The mutual loss of life partners brought Monroe and the widow of his old partner, Jim Borroum, together. In 1869, Ellender Caroline Borroum and Monroe Choate were married. She had five children from her marriage to Borroum. Before the year was out, on December 26, Charles Choate was born to the new couple.

News of the great success at the new shipping point of Abilene, Kansas, spread Kansas Fever all across South Texas. William Choate was just 15 years old when he took to the trail with one of his father’s herds in 1869. The cattle were delivered to Abilene. On the way up the Chisholm Trail, buffalo attracted great attention. With long hair and beards, the Cowboys identified with the woolly beasts on the plains. Jim Byler relates that when questioned by Abilene locals on how they got there, the long-haired trail drivers would reply, "Come the Chisholm trail with the buffalo wild and woolly."

By 1870, unprecedented numbers of herds were being fitted for the trail to northern markets. Reports of encounters with Indians, stampedes, and buffalo hunts inspired every young man with eager anticipation to "take to the trail"!

Monroe Choate found new trail partners by the spring of 1870. John Milton and William Pickney "Pink" Bennett were born in Alabama. They came to Texas with their parents in 1837. they ranched in Karnes County along Escondido Creek. The Bennetts would be associated with Monroe Choate for years to come. The trailing firm of Choate & Bennett hired men who had been up the trail to Abilene before, and they evidently paid them well. E.P. Byler, who described himself as an expert cow hand, hired on at $75 per month, three times the going rate of the time. The herd was in charge of Don Pace, trail boss.

Choate and Bennett had at least three herds on the trail in 1870. W.R. Massengale reported meeting up with one of the herds below San Marcos, Texas. That herd was being bossed by John Campbell.

A bad storm was brewing and Campbell had the luxury of penning his cattle during the night. Massengale and the other outfit couldn’t pen their cattle and had to night herd through the bad thunderstorm and hard rain.

The next morning, a Mexican rode up to the men and asked for one of them by the name of Spencer. Spencer acknowledged him, asking what he wanted. The Mexican then told him that his brother Ran was dead. When they reached him, Ran was sitting against a tree. His head was drooped as though he were sleeping. Lightning had struck. Another Cowboy by the name of Fly was sprawled nearby with his head on Ran Spencer’s legs. He was alive, but he died the next day.

Monroe Choate’s former partner, Jim Borroum, was on the trail, in spirit at least, in 1870. His son, Ben Borroum, made his first trip to Kansas that year. E.B. Rutledge was boss and part owner of that particular Choate and Bennett herd. Like so many of the time, the men in the Rutledge family were all trail drivers. Choate & Bennett sent fourteen herds north to Abilene in 1870.

Monroe Choate was known for his honest dealings and was a champion amongst his neighbors. He enjoyed an almost unlimited credit with individuals and businesses from the Rio Grande to the end of the cattle trail. He would begin early to plan for the coming cattle drives. In Cuero, Texas he would collect new harness and fill out his needs for camp supplies. Because of the size of his operations, he always ordered in large quantities. Folks began to call him "Sack Choate" because he always ordered everything by the sackful.

If it couldn’t be found in Cuero, he would send wagons to Powder Horn or Indianola for needed supplies. Neighbors were always notified of the upcoming shopping trip. If they needed supplies he would purchase these and bring them back to the families. He would accept labor for trade, and often employed his neighbors to help them get through.

Bill Saunder’s son, George W. Saunders, was just seventeen years old when he hired on to Monroe Choate in the spring of 1871. Mr. Choate told Saunders the name of each trail boss and asked him which boss he wanted to work for. Being young and full of vinegar, Saunders replied that he wanted to go with the first herd on the trail. Jim Byler had done so well in 1870 that he was the boss of the lead outfit. When asked about taking on a seventeen-year old kid, Byler remarked, "His age is all right, if he has staying qualities, but most kids are short on sleep, and generally sleep on watch." Saunders told him he... "would not sleep during stampedes or Indian fights..." That was good enough for Byler.

"We left Helena with a full chuck wagon, the necessary number of horses and men, and went to the Mays pasture on the Cibolo near Stockdale, Wilson County, and received a thousand steers. Dunk Choate, (Monroe’s son) counted the cattle and Mr. Byler pointed the herd north and Dunk said, ‘Adios, boys, I will see you in Abilene, Kansas, I must go now and start other herds.’ "

The herd traveled north by Gonzales, Texas, past Lockhart, Austin and Georgetown. A thunderstorm stampeded the cattle on the Gabriel River, just north of Georgetown. Cattle split into several bunches, and George Saunders found himself all alone with seventy-five steers. Mr. Byler finally located him about ten o’clock the next morning about ten miles down the Gabriel. Byler rode up to the young Cowboy asking, "Are you awake? Why didn’t you bring these cattle back to the herd?" Saunders was lost. He couldn’t find the trail back to the herd, and not knowing which way to go, just stayed put. It took until 4 p.m. to get the cattle back to the herd, and young George was sure that his boss was sorely mad at him. To his surprise, Byler instructed him, "Go eat and sleep all night; I will herd your relief. You deserve rest."

The trip to Abilene was one adventure after another. The cattle continued to be nervous for days but "...the boys kept strict watch on them..." The trail drivers experienced Indians, buffalo hunts, and the beginnings of a brand new town, Newton. Buildings seemed to spring up overnight. The cattle arrived about twenty miles below Abilene on July 1^st.

"Pink" Bennett brought a buyer out to meet the herd. After the deal was made, 300 head were sold, sorted out of the herd and driven to Abilene to be loaded on the train.

Babe Moye recalled Abilene as "a wide open town". There he met up with John Wesley Hardin, Buffalo Bill Thompson, and Manny & Gip Clements."...we went over to the gambling house. It did not take the gamblers long to relieve me of all the money I possessed. Wild Bill told me that the best way to beat the game was to leave it alone. I took his advice and have been beating the game ever since."

George Saunders recalled life in the Cow Camps on the prairies surrounding Abilene." ...many other herds came in and the whole prairie was covered with cattle for many miles around. I visited lots of camps and met many old friends from Texas. Buyers were plentiful, cattle sold fast, and the grangers were active among the herds asking the cattlemen to bed cattle on their respective lands. The grangers figured that 1,000 cattle would leave enough chips on the ground in one night to give them 500 pounds of fuel in a few days."

Saunders and Ben Borroum were herding cattle near a homesteader claim. The Cowboys neglected to notice that the cattle had drifted onto a newly seeded crop of corn. By the time it was noticed the cattle had "pawed and trampled the corn, crushing twenty little chickens to death, and ran all the family into the dugout. This negligence on our part cost Choate & Bennett about $100."

As the rest of the herds of Choate & Bennett cattle arrived, a surplus of men and horses necessitated a return trip home. Bill Butler’s herds also had more men than necessary, so fifty men, five chuck wagons, five cooks and about 150 horses "...hit the back trail for Texas."

That would be the normal procedure for years to come. Once enough responsible men had become associated with Choate & Bennett, the two quit the trail. Mr. Choate would take the stage from Helena to Indianola. There, he would board a vessel for New Orleans. A river steamer would take him to St. Louis, and from there he would take the train to the "end of trail" cattle town.

Babe Moye recalled trailing a herd of Choate & Bennett cattle to Great Bend in 1872. Monroe’s son, John Henry Choate, was trail boss. A severe storm in Indian Territory left a number of men "shocked by lightning."

In 1873, Dunk Choate gathered a herd from the D.C. Rachel ranch on Nueces Bay (See Kansas Cowboy, September 2001), San Patricio County, Texas. He trailed the cattle into Kansas, and after grazing them for the summer along the Ninnescah River, delivered them to Great Bend for sale.

In 1875, Choate’s neighbor, Bill Butler, uncovered a band of cattle thieves. (See January 2002, Kansas Cowboy). An army of 100 Karnes County men including Monroe and his son, Bing, headed out to rid the country of cow-thieves. As they rode onto the Main Plaza at San Antonio, the self-appointed protectors of the range created quite a stir. At the Hord Hotel they found some of the men they were looking for. Monroe Choate proceeded to lay down the law to the suspected thieves. He concluded his oration by saying that "...if any of his auditors ever drove off another cow belonging to a man in Bee, Goliad, or Karnes County their bones would be found bleaching on the hillsides- -even if the thieves had to be followed clean to Montana." Tobe Wood and Darius Rachel then stepped out on the Plaza (See September 2001 Kansas Cowboy) and emptied their six-shooters in the air. No one needed killing. The message was clear. (See Wm.G.Butler, go to "CattleRustlers")

By 1878, Choate & Bennett were trailing to Dodge City. Monroe’s son, Dunk, had set up a camp north of Dodge. He was a frequent visitor in town and was well liked in the community. On August 6, 1878, the Ford County Globe, reported, "Choate bought a new light spring wagon from M. Collar and started for his camp on the upper Pawnee yesterday. "

A year later tragedy returned to the Choate family. Again, the Ford County Globe, August 26, 1879, "Mr. D.C. Choate who has been lying sick at the City Hotel for several weeks past, died this morning. The funeral will take place from the Union Church tomorrow at 10 a.m."

One week later the Ford County Globe released more details of Dunk’s death, September 2, 1879, "Mr. Choate, the cattleman, whose death we mentioned last week, was buried in Prairie Grove cemetery. Although he was away from home at the time of his death, he was not without sympathizing friends to attend him in his sickness and show respect to his remains, prominent among whom was our fellow townsman, Judge Beverley. The cause of Mr. Choate’s death was consumption."

There is no record of any of his family attending. Judge Beverley was the well-known partner in the mercantile firm of Wright & Beverley. He was a Texas cowboy who had first become involved with the business houses of Ellsworth. He was a trusted friend to all from Texas, and went the extra mile for his friends.

Worthy of note is an obscure report in the Dodge City Daily Globe of April 14, 1924. "The other grave marker unearthed by the street grading crews was erected over the grave of D.C. Choate who, the lettering says, was born on February 17, 1851, and died on August 26, 1879..." Dunk is evidently buried near the street in the area of the Prairie Grove Cemetery. The fate of the stone today is unknown.

The following year, 1880, John Young recalled Dunk’s brother, Bing, on the trail to Dodge City. At the Colorado River south of Austin, Texas, water spread out over the bottom land, causing several herds to congregate close together waiting for the flood to subside. Young recalled helping Bing’s outfit get their cattle to swim the river. The men stripped off their clothes and rode into the deep water. "No man should ever ride into deep water with a bridle on his horse, for if the reins are pulled the horse will sink, and then if the rider quits him the horse will more than likely get his feet tangled in the slack reins and drown. The way to turn a horse in swimming water is to slap him on the side of the head. Generally, but not always, a horse will veer around from the slap."

The cattle were being crossed one small bunch at a time. Young remained in the river, turning back to meet each new bunch as they attempted to cross. By the fourth bunch his horse refused to turn. "I suppose he was getting tired of swimming. While I was slapping him hard, trying to force him, a floating tree top that I had not seen brushed me from the saddle and sent me to the bottom. As I was naked, the brush scratched me considerably and I must have been thinking of my skin rather than of the water, for I strangled badly."

Gus Clare dashed his horse into the water. The current had already carried Young several hundred yards downstream. As Clare passed, Young caught hold of the horse’s tail. They continued to drift with the current for quite a spell, finally making the shore. Young concluded, "No feature of nature is more pitiless or fearful than a dark, silent, swirling, swollen river."

1884 in Dodge City was sight to behold. July 4^th was celebrated with racing and shooting contests, but, foremost in the celebration was the bull fight. The sporting crowd from all over the nation descended on Dodge City for the anticipated revelry. Bing Choate found himself taking in the festivities which continued past the 4^th.

The evening of the 5^th of July had slipped past midnight in Webster’s Old House Saloon. It was 1 a.m., the beginning of a very early Sunday morning. Bing was drinking at the bar with friends. His right elbow rested on the counter with a six-shooter waving precariously about. "I am the fastest son-of-a-bitch in town."He then pounded the pistol on the counter several times before handing it over the counter to the bar tender. Choate’s two friends then left the saloon. They later returned. One unnamed man wore black chin whiskers. The whiskered fellow called to gambler Dave St. Clair. They were standing talking when Bing approached them holding his pistol at his side. Bing called St. Clair a cowardly cur and began poking him with a cane. "I’ll teach you a lesson. I’ll kill you, you son-of-a-bitch." St. Clair held his arms folded, "Let me explain."

They then moved along the bar. Bing had stuck the pistol in his pants. About 8 feet from the door Bing turned and faced St. Clair. The whiskered fellow was nearby leaning on the bar with both elbows. St. Clair declared, "You have been punching my neck and stomach with that cane, and you have been shaking your gun pretty freely. If ever I had a break with you I would take the pistol from you and shove it ....."

"You will, will you?" demanded Choate as he put his hand on his pistol.
Someone cried, "Look out Dave!"

St. Clair drew his pistol and fired. Choate whirled toward the door, reaching for his gun as he fell. He staggered to his knees raising his cocked pistol when Deputy Ben Bowles entered the door and knocked the gun from his hand. Bing Choate collapsed and breathed his last.

St. Clair was arrested and released. He quickly left town. Bing’s body was transported and buried at Goliad, Texas.

The Ford County Globe called for enforcement of the no-gun law. Bing’s death was referred to as an "unfortunate killing" that could have been prevented.

Monroe Choate had lost two sons to the trail. In one more year, 1885, trailing into Kansas was outlawed by the State Legislature. The era of the long trail was nearing an end.

Monroe had seen the writing on the wall. In Texas, he was turning his interests to farming and raising horses and mules.

Monroe’s home place was known as the H Cross Ranch. The ranch house had a wide hall that ran the full length of the house. The draft thus created a pleasant cool atmosphere, and it was a natural gathering place during the summer. A five gallon jug of whiskey was ever present, "free to all comers." Beauregard Choate Moye reported that Monroe Choate drank only occasionally.

Monroe always wore a "Belly Nutra" hat, a grayish-white. It was low-crowned, small-brimmed and crushed in around the edges, to sit flat on his head. A high-crown broad-brim hat would blow off in the wind, and get knocked off in the brush.

It was the habit of stockmen to put spurs on their new boots and never take them off until one or the other wore out. In later years when it hurt him to put on and take off his boots, the boots, spurs and a boot-jack were always by his bed.

Trail’s end came for James Monroe Choate on August 9, 1899. He was buried in the Runge Cemetery. The Champion of Karnes County left behind a wealth of friends and fellow countrymen who had carved a future from an unforgiving land.

Information for this article comes from :

James Monroe Choate, Southwest’s Benefactor,   Beauregard Choate Moye;
The Trail Drivers of Texas,   J. Marvin Hunter;
Great Gunfighters of the Kansas Cowtowns, 1867-1886,   Miller & Snell;
Dodge City, Up Through A Century In Story And Pictures,   Frederic R. Young;
Interviews with Marc Ferguson,   C.O.W.B.O.Y. #209, Boot Hill Museum;
Interview with Ellen Choate,   Karnes County Historical Society;
Karnes County Texas Gunfights,   Archie B. Ammons, C.O.W.B.O.Y. #818;
The Chisholm Trail,   Wayne Gard;
A Vaquero of the Brush Country,   John D. Young & J. Frank Dobie;
Barefoot and Withrow Family,   Anne and Vivian Daugherty;
Phone interviews and genealogical information,   Charlotte Nichols, C.O.W.B.O.Y. #820, Kenedy, Texas.

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