Historic Midland

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Above: Clay McGonagill, 1904—one
of the greatest early day cowboys,
World Champion Roper, once roped in
Madison Square Garden. He was
killed in a ranching accident in 1921.
Above, right: Main Street Midland
once was Abilene Street; south of the
RR tracks it was Main.
Right: Mules pull a wagon to the next
camping spot. This scene was
reminiscent of late 19th and early
20th century work on the cattle
ranges around Midland.
Below, left: Cattle roaming on a ranch
outside of Midland during the 1900’s.
Below, right: Home of Henry M. Halff.
His uncle, Mayer Halff, came to Texas
in 1850. They later established the
Quien Sabe Ranch in Midland County.
Mr. Halff contributed a great deal to
the progress of land development.
the TAX Ranch, 100 miles west of Midland in
New Mexico. The stock tanks assured the cattle
of ample water and made larger herds possible.
Ranchers continue to do their job much the
same as they always have. A few modern conveniences
may be the most visible signs of change
during the past century. Ranching is a way of life
in the Midland Country, and many
claim it is the one true way of life to
this land area.
The Midland Country is charred
with the indelible brand of a cattle
kingdom.
Midland—Before Time
Long before skyscrapers loomed
along the Midland horizon, before
the arrival of transplanted
Californians pushing herds of sheep
to this “promised land,” before the
Comanche and the Kiowa hunted buffalo across
this grassy plain, it was here.
Prior to the arrival in the mid-16th century of
Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, Hernando de Soto
and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, with their
dreams of shimmering cities of gold, it lay
undisturbed by mankind.
12 ✦ HISTORIC MIDLAND