Colonel Wm. Edgar Hughes of the Mill Iron

Ranch tradition says the Mill Iron brand began when a cowboy found an unbranded calf, had no iron with him and borrowed one from a nearby mill. Hughes's company kept a feeding ranch on the Powder River in Montana, where herds were driven each spring for summer fattening, and the Montana horses gave the outfit its name for big horses and big men. When glanders broke out, a veterinarian shot thirty-five Mill Iron horses in Brewster Canyon, and the cowboys avoided the canyon afterward. Hughes, who had become a Unitarian, wrote a memoir, Journal of a Grandfather, in 1912.

What the plaque says

Colonel Wm. Edgar Hughes of the Mill Iron = [Mill Iron brand] Born 1840. Came from Illinois to Texas, 1859. During Civil War rose from private, 1st Texas Artillery, to Colonel in 16th Cavalry. Was in bloody battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Nashville, Richmond. After war, when "didn't have 2 pairs of pants", taught school and read law in Weatherford. As lawyer, took many land cases. In 7 years became organizer and president, City Bank of Dallas (now 1st National, Dallas). Later, an officer in Exchange Bank, Dallas; Union Trust Co., St. Louis; Continental Trust Co., Denver. In 1880, bought half interest in Mill Iron Ranch. Purchased small holdings from Pease to Red River -- Bridle Bits, DV's, Diamond D's and others. Range lay in Childress, Cottle, Hall, Motley counties. In 1885 added windmills, wells, to run larger herds-up to 50,000. In early years used dugouts, chuckwagons for headquarters. First small ranch house was built at Windmill 62, near Estelline. Bought out Rocking Chair Ranch, Collingsworth County, 1896. Until 1898, ran only longhorns. Was said to have had the largest men, most practical jokers, longest cattle drives, biggest horses in Texas. He sold off the last Mill Iron herd in 1918 -- year of his death. (1965)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Childress County Heritage Museum — 0.3 mi
  A railroad division town's museum in its 1935 Spanish Colonial post office, in the town that won its county seat by renaming a rival and once employed Walter P. Chrysler.

More markers nearby

• Childress County — steps away
• Goodnight Trail — 0.4 mi
• Childress Army Air Field — 4.4 mi
• Hall County — 28 mi