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The subject of this sketch, since early manhood, was identified with the cattle interests of Texas. He was born in Sabine county, Texas, February 9, 1837. Under the leadership of his father, George Webb Slaughter, he made a success of the cattle business and became a leader in his chosen lifework. He became an Indian fighter of note and was captain of the State Rangers for several
years. His record in this respect stands high in the annals of the state, and his courageous leadership had much to do with forcing the Comanches into paths , of peace, and in carving out a new home in the wilderness for the settlers that were to come later.
In 1861 Colonel Slaughter was married to Miss Cynthia Anne Jowell, of Palo Pinto, and to them were born five children. Mrs. Slaughter died in Dallas in 1876, and in 1878 Colonel Slaughter was married to Miss Carrie Aberill, from which union there were four children. In 1877 Colonel Slaughter established the Lazy S Ranch, and for years grazed his cattle on the public domain in the Plains country of West Texas. At one time he claimed a section of the Plains 200 miles square or a total of 24,000,000 acres. Later he purchased ranch land, fenced it and improved it and at one time owned in fee simple more than 1,000,000 acres of land and was for years the largest individual taxpayer in Texas. There was probably more cattle bearing the Lazy S brand marketed than those of any other ranch in the world.