Fence-cutting War

This area was a center of hostilities during 1880's conflict between landless cattlemen trying to keep use of free grass and open range and those erecting barbed wire fences to create permanent ranches. On L.B. Harris Ranch (3 miles west of here) posts and wire worth $6,000 were burned by anti-fence group during crisis. War was brought on by severe drought in 1880's when men without land found best waterholes fenced in. Many ranchmen owned or leased land they fenced, but some overambitious ones enclosed public lands, farms, and small ranches belonging to homesteaders recently arrived in Texas. Widespread resentment prevailed against these fencers, who, by blocking a road, had little regard for convenience of travelers. When drought pushed landless cowmen to brink of financial ruin, violence was inevitable. They blamed barbed wire fences for their predicament. At first, cutting of fences that blocked roads or waterholes occurred, but soon all fences were threatened. Armed "Nippers" cut fences in almost every Texas county. Fence cutters were then viewed as outlaws rather than crusaders. When laws were passed in Gov. John Ireland's administration to stop the war, Texas had suffered much damage to its property and reputation. (1967)

Fence-cutting War is a historical marker in Robert Lee, Coke County, dedicated in 1967. It is one of 31 historical markers documented in Coke County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 44 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.8945, -100.4858 near Robert Lee. The nearest cataloged historic site is Hayrick Lodge 696, A.F. & A.M. (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Coke, Richard, Coke County Jail, and Coke County Courthouse.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5081001588. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.