Barbed Wire Fence in the Panhandle

In the latter 1880s, when fencing was needed in the treeless Texas Panhandle, the solution proved to be barbed wire. Joseph F. Glidden of Illinois devised and by 1876 was manufacturing (with I. L. Ellwood) the first really practical barbed wire on the market. H. B. Sanborn was sent to Texas as their agent, and remained to become a builder of the Panhandle. Wanting free access to water and grass, ranchers at first resisted fencing. Cowboys disliked it, as fewer range riders were needed on fenced lands. The old-timers grew bitter, because of blocked trails -- herds had to be hauled rather than driven to market. Yet, newcomers wanted fencing, in oder to have use of land purchased for ranching. Merchants and city-builders wanted fences, to assure settlement. The T-Anchor, owned by Jot Gunter and William B. Munson, real estate investors of Grayson County, built a line fence on this site in 1881, enclosing a 240,000-acre horse pasture. Also, built in this area, by popular subscription, was a "drift" fence to hold cattle back from wandering south in blue northers and blizzards. Barbed wire gradually came into general use. It saved the cattle industry, because improvements in breeding and feeding were possible on fenced ranges. (1968)

Barbed Wire Fence in the Panhandle is a historical marker in Canyon, Randall County, dedicated in 1968. It is one of 38 historical markers documented in Randall County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 49 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 34.9821, -101.9051 near Canyon. The nearest cataloged historic site is Company F, 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry, 36th Division, Texas National Guard (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Georgia O'Keeffe in Canyon, West Texas A&M University, and Buffalo Courts.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5381004921. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.