Page 19 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021- Online Magazine

LOCAL HISTORY

Burk built the Four
Sixes Supply House, so
cowboys could purchase
basic provisions not
otherwise found in such
a remote location. Oil
was discovered on the
Dixon Creek Ranch in
1921, and a major oil
field was discovered on
the Four Sixes in 1969.
To house the ranch
manager and entertain
guests, in 1917, Burk
Samuel Burk Burnett made his first
cattle drive from North Texas along the Burk Burnett decided to build “the finest ranch house in West decided to build “the
Chisholm Trail to Kansas in 1866. By Texas” as his headquarters in 1917. Today ranch foreman Joe finest ranch house
1871 he had begun to build the famous Leathers and his family live in one wing of “The Big House,” and
Four Sixes Ranch that became one of the the Burnett descendants have 11 bedrooms and the rest of the in West Texas.” This
largest cattle empires in the world. house for themselves and their guests. beautiful three-
story rock home
brand. Realizing that the “open 6” Burnett. He big heart, rich man, cow still dominates the headquarters
design would be easy to fashion into man. Help my people a good deal. compound. Historically, the ranch
irons but difficult to alter by thieves, You see some big men hold tight to manager and his family live in one
Burk purchased the rights to the money. Afraid to die. Burnett help portion of the house, and Burnett
brand. anybody.” descendants and their guests utilize a
With the help of his father-in-law in Burk was running 10,000 head of separate area.
the mid-1870s, Burk moved his cattle cattle on the Big Pasture when he The 13,280-square-foot home is
on land he purchased in Wichita began looking for other land after known as “The Big House” and
County, between the Red and Congress ordered cattlemen to vacate contains 13 bedrooms, 13 baths,
Wichita Rivers. He established his their leases and turn the land back to 3 powder rooms, 2 kitchens, a
first ranch headquarters near the site the tribes. At the turn of the century, dining room and 3 fireplaces. Early
of present-day Wichita Falls. In the Burk bought the 140,000-acre Old day visitors to the home included
1880s, when much of the land was Eight Ranch near Guthrie and moved President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Will
still open range, he found another his 6666 Ranch headquarters to King Rogers, and Chief Quanah Parker.
place to graze his cattle north of the County. The purchase came with
Red River in Indian Territory. 1,500 head of cattle already on the Burk and his wife, Ruth Loyd,
ranch. Burk also bought the Dixon had three children, but only their
The government had reserved Creek Ranch
488,000 acres for grazing use by the near Borger in
Kiowa, Comanche and Apache tribes. 1902; these two Monty Edwards
Known as the Big Pasture, the area ranches, plus Broker/Owner
was open prairie land with good later additions, REALTREE Land Pro
grass. Burk worked out a deal with amounted to M. Edwards Realty & Land
legendary Comanche Chief Quanah one-third of a
Parker to lease some of the land. As a million acres. Cell: 806.786.5426
Office: 806.686.6371
result, the two men developed a close
relationship. “I got one good friend,” With his Monty@MEdwardsLand.com
the Comanche chief told a crowd at headquarters www.TheTexasLandPro.com
the 1910 State Fair of Texas. “Burk relocated Texas office locations in
to Guthrie, Turkey, Sudan, and Brownfield
A Division of United Country Real Estate

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