From cowboy to affluence and positions of trust and honor is the story of the life of Hon. R. H. Looney, of Colorado City, Texas. He was born in Dallas County, Arkansas, and lived amidst luxurious surroundings until his father's fortune became scattered by the devastations of the late civil war.
His father, Samuel Looney, was one of the large and prosperous planters of the State, his wealth consisting of plantations and slaves. The war set the negroes free, the plantations depreciated in value for the want of cultivation, and the once opulent planter degenerated into an ordinary farmer struggling for meat and bread. The field was substituted for the school room, and the plow and hoe took the place of books, yet young Looney did not lose sight of the importance of acquiring an education. He attended school when he could, and as soon as qualified divided his time alternately as student and teacher, and in this way completed his education. He continued in his chosen profession until 1872, when sickness and confinement had so impaired his health that his physicians prescribed, as the only remedy, change of climate and outdoor life. He came to Texas and taught school in Milam County for one season. Then he joined a party on a hunting and fishing expedition, and spent the winter at the head of Llano River, hunting, fishing and eating wild honey for which that section was noted
The second winter all the party returned to the settlements except himself, and he engaged two hunters to stay with him the balance of the season. They carried out their contract by stealing his money, deserting him, and, afterwards, playing "Indian" on him, took his horse and saddle and left him penniless, afoot, and alone in the wilderness, to get back to the settlements if he could, or, what was more probable, to fall a victim to some predatory band of Indians who would finish the work they had begun. He commenced the pedestrian feat with good courage, and walked back to Mason County.
Here he obtained employment with a surveying corps that was engaged in locating lands in that part of the State, being assigned to the position of ax-man. The fact that he had studied surveying soon became known, and he gradually worked up to the compass. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Bexar Land District, and remained in that position for ten years.
In 1877, Mr. Looney was elected surveyor of Concho County, and in 1881 moved to the projected line of the Texas & Pacific Railway in Mitchell County. In March he was elected county judge and served two years. In 1882 he was married to Miss Bettie Prude, the charming and accomplished daughter of John Prude, a stockman of McCulloch County.
During his term as county judge he studied law, and at its expiration was admitted to the bar. Since then he has given his chief attention to the practice of law, but not neglecting his cattle ranches, which he started in 1877, in Jeff Davis and Scurry Counties, where he owns about 3,000 acres of land and leases 12,000 more, on which he carries 1,200 stock cattle, twenty-five saddle horses, and thirty head of stock horses. In 1889, he leased, in Mitchell and Scurry Counties, forty-two sections, on which he pastures about 1,000 head of stock. His brand is T E.
Mr. Looney is now one of the foremost lawyers of Western Texas, and has a large and lucrative practice, which, combined with his stock interests, renders him a comparatively wealthy man. He possesses a beautiful home in Colorado City, valued at from $8,000 to $10,000. His charming wife and family of six children, Cora, Robert, H. J., Isla Bess, Aileen Juliet and Marguerite, make a domestic life as successful as has been his business career.
He is a fair type of the men who have made the Texas of today. His life, from early manhood, has been passed upon the frontier. Now, in the prime of life, surrounded by all that makes life enjoyable, possessing the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, he can look back with satisfaction on a well spent, active life, and forward to new hopes, honors and happiness. (Source: 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
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
His father, Samuel Looney, was one of the large and prosperous planters of the State, his wealth consisting of plantations and slaves. The war set the negroes free, the plantations depreciated in value for the want of cultivation, and the once opulent planter degenerated into an ordinary farmer struggling for meat and bread. The field was substituted for the school room, and the plow and hoe took the place of books, yet young Looney did not lose sight of the importance of acquiring an education. He attended school when he could, and as soon as qualified divided his time alternately as student and teacher, and in this way completed his education. He continued in his chosen profession until 1872, when sickness and confinement had so impaired his health that his physicians prescribed, as the only remedy, change of climate and outdoor life. He came to Texas and taught school in Milam County for one season. Then he joined a party on a hunting and fishing expedition, and spent the winter at the head of Llano River, hunting, fishing and eating wild honey for which that section was noted
The second winter all the party returned to the settlements except himself, and he engaged two hunters to stay with him the balance of the season. They carried out their contract by stealing his money, deserting him, and, afterwards, playing "Indian" on him, took his horse and saddle and left him penniless, afoot, and alone in the wilderness, to get back to the settlements if he could, or, what was more probable, to fall a victim to some predatory band of Indians who would finish the work they had begun. He commenced the pedestrian feat with good courage, and walked back to Mason County.
Here he obtained employment with a surveying corps that was engaged in locating lands in that part of the State, being assigned to the position of ax-man. The fact that he had studied surveying soon became known, and he gradually worked up to the compass. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Bexar Land District, and remained in that position for ten years.
In 1877, Mr. Looney was elected surveyor of Concho County, and in 1881 moved to the projected line of the Texas & Pacific Railway in Mitchell County. In March he was elected county judge and served two years. In 1882 he was married to Miss Bettie Prude, the charming and accomplished daughter of John Prude, a stockman of McCulloch County.
During his term as county judge he studied law, and at its expiration was admitted to the bar. Since then he has given his chief attention to the practice of law, but not neglecting his cattle ranches, which he started in 1877, in Jeff Davis and Scurry Counties, where he owns about 3,000 acres of land and leases 12,000 more, on which he carries 1,200 stock cattle, twenty-five saddle horses, and thirty head of stock horses. In 1889, he leased, in Mitchell and Scurry Counties, forty-two sections, on which he pastures about 1,000 head of stock. His brand is T E.
Mr. Looney is now one of the foremost lawyers of Western Texas, and has a large and lucrative practice, which, combined with his stock interests, renders him a comparatively wealthy man. He possesses a beautiful home in Colorado City, valued at from $8,000 to $10,000. His charming wife and family of six children, Cora, Robert, H. J., Isla Bess, Aileen Juliet and Marguerite, make a domestic life as successful as has been his business career.
He is a fair type of the men who have made the Texas of today. His life, from early manhood, has been passed upon the frontier. Now, in the prime of life, surrounded by all that makes life enjoyable, possessing the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, he can look back with satisfaction on a well spent, active life, and forward to new hopes, honors and happiness. (Source: 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
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
From cowboy to affluence and positions of trust and honor is the story of the life of Hon. R. H. Looney, of Colorado City, Texas. He was born in Dallas County, Arkansas, and lived amidst luxurious surroundings until his father's fortune became scattered by the devastations of the late civil war.
His father, Samuel Looney, was one of the large and prosperous planters of the State, his wealth consisting of plantations and slaves. The war set the negroes free, the plantations depreciated in value for the want of cultivation, and the once opulent planter degenerated into an ordinary farmer struggling for meat and bread. The field was substituted for the school room, and the plow and hoe took the place of books, yet young Looney did not lose sight of the importance of acquiring an education. He attended school when he could, and as soon as qualified divided his time alternately as student and teacher, and in this way completed his education. He continued in his chosen profession until 1872, when sickness and confinement had so impaired his health that his physicians prescribed, as the only remedy, change of climate and outdoor life. He came to Texas and taught school in Milam County for one season. Then he joined a party on a hunting and fishing expedition, and spent the winter at the head of Llano River, hunting, fishing and eating wild honey for which that section was noted
The second winter all the party returned to the settlements except himself, and he engaged two hunters to stay with him the balance of the season. They carried out their contract by stealing his money, deserting him, and, afterwards, playing "Indian" on him, took his horse and saddle and left him penniless, afoot, and alone in the wilderness, to get back to the settlements if he could, or, what was more probable, to fall a victim to some predatory band of Indians who would finish the work they had begun. He commenced the pedestrian feat with good courage, and walked back to Mason County.
Here he obtained employment with a surveying corps that was engaged in locating lands in that part of the State, being assigned to the position of ax-man. The fact that he had studied surveying soon became known, and he gradually worked up to the compass. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Bexar Land District, and remained in that position for ten years.
In 1877, Mr. Looney was elected surveyor of Concho County, and in 1881 moved to the projected line of the Texas & Pacific Railway in Mitchell County. In March he was elected county judge and served two years. In 1882 he was married to Miss Bettie Prude, the charming and accomplished daughter of John Prude, a stockman of McCulloch County.
During his term as county judge he studied law, and at its expiration was admitted to the bar. Since then he has given his chief attention to the practice of law, but not neglecting his cattle ranches, which he started in 1877, in Jeff Davis and Scurry Counties, where he owns about 3,000 acres of land and leases 12,000 more, on which he carries 1,200 stock cattle, twenty-five saddle horses, and thirty head of stock horses. In 1889, he leased, in Mitchell and Scurry Counties, forty-two sections, on which he pastures about 1,000 head of stock. His brand is T E.
Mr. Looney is now one of the foremost lawyers of Western Texas, and has a large and lucrative practice, which, combined with his stock interests, renders him a comparatively wealthy man. He possesses a beautiful home in Colorado City, valued at from $8,000 to $10,000. His charming wife and family of six children, Cora, Robert, H. J., Isla Bess, Aileen Juliet and Marguerite, make a domestic life as successful as has been his business career.
He is a fair type of the men who have made the Texas of today. His life, from early manhood, has been passed upon the frontier. Now, in the prime of life, surrounded by all that makes life enjoyable, possessing the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, he can look back with satisfaction on a well spent, active life, and forward to new hopes, honors and happiness. (Source: 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
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
His father, Samuel Looney, was one of the large and prosperous planters of the State, his wealth consisting of plantations and slaves. The war set the negroes free, the plantations depreciated in value for the want of cultivation, and the once opulent planter degenerated into an ordinary farmer struggling for meat and bread. The field was substituted for the school room, and the plow and hoe took the place of books, yet young Looney did not lose sight of the importance of acquiring an education. He attended school when he could, and as soon as qualified divided his time alternately as student and teacher, and in this way completed his education. He continued in his chosen profession until 1872, when sickness and confinement had so impaired his health that his physicians prescribed, as the only remedy, change of climate and outdoor life. He came to Texas and taught school in Milam County for one season. Then he joined a party on a hunting and fishing expedition, and spent the winter at the head of Llano River, hunting, fishing and eating wild honey for which that section was noted
The second winter all the party returned to the settlements except himself, and he engaged two hunters to stay with him the balance of the season. They carried out their contract by stealing his money, deserting him, and, afterwards, playing "Indian" on him, took his horse and saddle and left him penniless, afoot, and alone in the wilderness, to get back to the settlements if he could, or, what was more probable, to fall a victim to some predatory band of Indians who would finish the work they had begun. He commenced the pedestrian feat with good courage, and walked back to Mason County.
Here he obtained employment with a surveying corps that was engaged in locating lands in that part of the State, being assigned to the position of ax-man. The fact that he had studied surveying soon became known, and he gradually worked up to the compass. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Bexar Land District, and remained in that position for ten years.
In 1877, Mr. Looney was elected surveyor of Concho County, and in 1881 moved to the projected line of the Texas & Pacific Railway in Mitchell County. In March he was elected county judge and served two years. In 1882 he was married to Miss Bettie Prude, the charming and accomplished daughter of John Prude, a stockman of McCulloch County.
During his term as county judge he studied law, and at its expiration was admitted to the bar. Since then he has given his chief attention to the practice of law, but not neglecting his cattle ranches, which he started in 1877, in Jeff Davis and Scurry Counties, where he owns about 3,000 acres of land and leases 12,000 more, on which he carries 1,200 stock cattle, twenty-five saddle horses, and thirty head of stock horses. In 1889, he leased, in Mitchell and Scurry Counties, forty-two sections, on which he pastures about 1,000 head of stock. His brand is T E.
Mr. Looney is now one of the foremost lawyers of Western Texas, and has a large and lucrative practice, which, combined with his stock interests, renders him a comparatively wealthy man. He possesses a beautiful home in Colorado City, valued at from $8,000 to $10,000. His charming wife and family of six children, Cora, Robert, H. J., Isla Bess, Aileen Juliet and Marguerite, make a domestic life as successful as has been his business career.
He is a fair type of the men who have made the Texas of today. His life, from early manhood, has been passed upon the frontier. Now, in the prime of life, surrounded by all that makes life enjoyable, possessing the esteem and confidence of his fellow men, he can look back with satisfaction on a well spent, active life, and forward to new hopes, honors and happiness. (Source: 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
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
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