Forty years spent on the cattle ranges of Northwestern Texas has given C. A. Dalton an opportunity to learn all that experience can teach about stock raising.

Four years subsequent to his birth, which occurred in Fannin County, Texas, February 27, 1851, he was taken direct to the Palo Pinto hills, and his first recollections are connected with the rugged scenery of that picturesque region. At the age when children of the cultured East are trundling hoops or playing marbles in the gutter, his playthings were the spurs, quirt and lariat of the Texas stockman. Instead of a rocking- horse, he bestrode the wholly wild colts in his father's corral, and, in consequence, he learned to ride almost as rapidly as he learned to talk.

C. A. Dalton was one of a family of ten brothers and sisters, all born in Texas , and reared amid the vicissitudes of the frontier. Their father, Marcus Dalton, was one of the early settlers of the State, locating with his brothers, Sam and Jim, in the Eastern counties. He was married in Fannin County to Miss Lucinda Gamble, a Kentuckian by birth, and, in 1855, he moved to the frontier, making his home in Palo Pinto County . He brought with him some fifteen or twenty horses, purchased a few cattle and sheep, and with this small stock embarked in business. His horses were soon stolen by the Indians, but he purchased others to replace them, and in course of time became quite prosperous. On two occasions be drove large herds of cattle to Mexico and, later, two herds to Kansas markets. But, while returning from the last of these trips, he and his two companions were waylaid by Indians, and all three of them killed, the tragedy occurring in Loving's Valley.

Of the children - John, Will, Jim, Charles, Bob, Lee, George, Jane, Sarah and Mary - five are now living and are interested in the cattle industry. Jane married I. P. Valentine; Sarah, A. L. Denton, and Mary, F. Heron. Bob and Lee Dalton and the mother, who is still living, own ranches containing 5,000, 4,000 and 9,000 acres respectively, located on the Brazos and adjoining that belonging to the subject of this sketch.

His father's success had to some extent smoothed matters for C. A. Dalton's start in life, and he was enabled to begin business on a larger scale than would otherwise have been possible. While his father was living he had entrusted C. A. Dalton with the management of his ranch during his frequent absences from home, and our subject had, naturally, become conversant with everything pertaining to the ranch stock and its care.

After Marcus Dalton's death, which occurred in 1870, the cattle belonging to his estate were sold to J. C. Loving for $15,000; but afterward, as Mr. Loving was not able to pay the cash, C. A. Dalton, as his mother's agent, took 1,200 head of cattle for the remainder of the debt. Mr. Dalton held these cattle, with about 1,000 of his own, in Palo Pinto County for some years; but in 1879 all of the cattle were moved to Crosby County. Four of Mr. Dalton's brothers, Will, Bob, Lee and George, assisted him in holding the herd in Crosby County for five years, and then the cattle were all disposed of to Lomaz & Britton, of Fort Worth, for $235,000. Quite a considerable share of this amount came to C. A. Dalton personally, and, in consequence, he was enabled to return to Palo Pinto County possessed of ample means for carrying out his plans of future advancement. Since quitting the range he has been engaged in stock raising upon his 4,000 acre ranch in the Brazos Valley.

In February, 1878, Mr. Dalton was married, at Fort Worth, to Miss Mary Brannan, a most estimable young lady of Georgian birth. They have an interesting family of four girls now living, having lost three children, two boys and one girl. Their eldest, Ettie, a beautiful little miss of ten years, is a typical Texan fairy, dearly loving the hills and valleys of her native home, and as much at ease on her pony as in a rocking-chair.

After running the gauntlet of pioneer perils and privations, Mr. Dalton is now pursuing his chosen occupation among more peaceful and promising surroundings. His prospects are as bright as he could wish, but amid the prosperity of the present he can find time to recall with pleasure the days when a camp on the prairies was his only shelter, and his time was largely spent in guarding his cattle from thievish redskins.
--Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry and the Cattlemen of Texas by James Cox, Published by Woodward & Tiernan Printing Co, St Louis, 1895