PAXTON'S OGALLALA COMPANY -- HALL'S FAMOUS DRIVE TO PINE RIDGE DICK BEAN'S DEATH -- GUN MEN AND FRANTZ'S COMICAL EPISODE

The organization of the Ogallala Cattle Company, was contemporaneous with that of the Two-Bar and the Bay State, and while Alex Swan was buying the big herds of Wyoming, and G. W. Simpson, at Antelopeville, W. A. Paxton was buying those from Sidney to Ogallala. Among his lieutenants in Nebraska were Eugene A. Hall, Mac. Radcliffe, and Dick Bean.

Paxton's Keystone ranch was the first, and the nucleus of the Ogallala company's holdings. Shortly after the Shiedley ranches were acquired, and then began negotiations for the much desired Bosler herds ; George Bosler, the leading spirit in that organization knew that

the brothers' many cattle had suffered less loss during the preceding winters, and that there was a large number of marketable steers. Paxton knew this also, but was not able .o make a satisfactory offer to the Boslers.

He then took up negotiations with Dennis Sheedy, who had bought the Seven-U from Powers Brothers a few years before. Mr. Sheedy's books showed that he had thirty-five thousand cattle, but the Ogallala boys had been over the range and had found large quantities of dead cattle of that brand. 'Gene Hall estimated the survivors at not to exceed one-half of the book number. Paxton made two offers on this basis : one at twenty-eight dollars per

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

head on actual count, or about half that amount if accepted on book account.