Facts
The partnership between Charles Goodnight and John Adair was sparked when Charles Goodnight told him about the Palo Duro Canyon in Texas during a buffalo hunt in Colorado in 1874. In 1876, Adair formed a five year partnership with Goodnight, forming the JA Ranch, which was the first ranch in the panhandle. The ranch spread over six counties. The first 12,000 acres were bought for $.75 per acre. After Goodnight's first cattle drive, he made a treaty with Quanah Parker, which was two beeves (cows or steers fattened for their meat) every other day in exchange for the Comanche leaving the JA herd alone. The ranch made $512,000, so John Adair decided to make another five year contract. Charles even introduced the Hereford bull, which is the source of some of the finest beef in America, and the first practical side saddle.
Even though Goodnight ran and took care of the ranch, he got 2/3 of the income and a salary of 2,500 dollars.
JA was noted for their pure Hereford and Angus bulls. They even maintained a small buffalo herd, which he used to cross cattle and buffalo, making 'Cattalo'. On purebred cattle Goodnight used a 'JJ' brand to separate the purebreds from cross breeds. John Adair only visited the ranch three times before he died in 1885, which was also the year the ranch's land was at it's highest peak at 1,325,000 acres, when his wife continued the partnership with Goodnight. Horses from JA ranch were used by New York police. In 1891 a school was opened for the kids of ranch employees and neighboring settlers. in 1990, some commercial deer and buffalo hunting was allowed. The ranch is still owned by descendants of the Adair's.
Even though Goodnight ran and took care of the ranch, he got 2/3 of the income and a salary of 2,500 dollars.
JA was noted for their pure Hereford and Angus bulls. They even maintained a small buffalo herd, which he used to cross cattle and buffalo, making 'Cattalo'. On purebred cattle Goodnight used a 'JJ' brand to separate the purebreds from cross breeds. John Adair only visited the ranch three times before he died in 1885, which was also the year the ranch's land was at it's highest peak at 1,325,000 acres, when his wife continued the partnership with Goodnight. Horses from JA ranch were used by New York police. In 1891 a school was opened for the kids of ranch employees and neighboring settlers. in 1990, some commercial deer and buffalo hunting was allowed. The ranch is still owned by descendants of the Adair's.