J. A. (“BERT”) McCORMICK.

Looking for cattleman McCormick...

[TERRITORY NEWS: FIGHT AT WILLOW SPRINGS.]

Arkansas City Traveler, May 30, 1883.

Fight With Knives.

Two cattlemen by the name of McCormick and Weathers had a terrible set-to yesterday at Willow Springs Ranche, in which both were fearfully carved. The first fight was a knockdown, when one drew a knife and the other followed his example, and it is said did some desperate work, although the wounds of neither will not prove fatal.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1883.

Mr. McCormick, one of the parties in the cutting scrape at Weathers’s camp, was in town yesterday, and from the way which he shook hands, he was not much the worse for wear, but the other fellow, O my goodness!

Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1883.

The notice last week of a fight with knives at Willow Springs ranche was a little off in location as the scrimmage came off at Weathers’s ranche some five miles west of the Springs. The damage done was not so bad as at first supposed.

Bert McCormick. [Turns out that “Bert” is “J. A. McCormick.”...

Arkansas City Traveler, January 9, 1884.

Bert McCormick was in the city yesterday and reports a cold time in the M. I. T.

J. A. McCormick...

Arkansas City Republican, May 24, 1884.

J. A. McCormick, of Darlington, Indian Territory, a prominent stock man, was in the city Tuesday.

Arkansas City Republican, November 8, 1884.

J. A. McCormick, of Darlington, Indian Territory, was registered at the Leland the first of the week.

J. A. McCormick, Manager...

Arkansas City Traveler, April 8, 1885.

We add to our list of brand notices, that of W. B. Roberts & Son, well known and extensive stock raisers.

AD. W. B. ROBERTS & SON,

J. A. McCORMICK, Manager.

[ILLUSTRATION SHOWS STEER WITH “O I L” PRINTED ON SIDE.]

UNDERNEATH ILLUSTRATION: (Anywhere on animal.)

ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION...HORSE WITH “O I L” ON FLANK.

P. O. Darlington, Indian Territory. Range: Willow Springs, on Duck and Bodoc creeks, and Cottonwood & Campbell creeks, south of Cimarron, Indian Territory.

Ear marks: grub right ear. Road brands: [looks like 0 above bar] left shoulder; L on left loin; [looks like P inserted above bar that connects to it] on left loin.

Remarks: No stock sold in this brand.

Bert. McCormick...

Arkansas City Traveler, April 8, 1885.

Bert. McCormick, that jolliest of jolly fellows, paid the TRAVELER an appreciated call while in the city last week.

J. A. McCormick, Manager.

[BRANDS.]

Arkansas City Traveler, April 29, 1885.

W. B. ROBERTS & SON.

J. A. McCormick, Manager.

[ILLUSTRATION: O I L — Anywhere on Animal.]

P. O.: Darlington, Indian Territory. Range: Willow Springs, on Duck and Bodoc Creeks, and Cottonwood & Campbell Creeks, south of Cimarron, Indian Territory.

Ear marks: grub right ear.

“Remarks—No stock sold in this brand.”

“Bert” is J. A. McCormick, Manager for W. B. Roberts & Son...

Arkansas City Traveler, July 22, 1885.

Bert McCormick, foreman of the Oil Company’s range, was in town on Monday, and good naturedly sustained a vast amount of joshing over the report that he had been hanged by Texas cow-boys. He has been six weeks on the round up, swimming streams and meeting no end of adventure by flood and field. He has brought 700 steers to the range at Willow Springs, which are in thriving condition and will be fit for beef in early fall. The crop of calves this year he reports good.

J. A. McCormick...

Arkansas City Republican, July 25, 1885.

J. A. McCormick, the manager of Roberts & Sairs’ cattle ranch near Cheyenne Agency was in the city this week. It was reported that Mr. McCormick had been hung by a vigilance committee because he branded cattle that did not belong to him. Later on the rumor was circulated that he had been scalped by the Cheyennes. The appearance of Mr. McCormick on our streets killed both reports. He says he was riding in and around the Cheyenne camp for a month and he has seen no trouble there. He said the Cheyennes made their “medicine,” but that was all. The trouble which has been reported by the correspondents to newspapers is about all “bosh.” We suggest that the Wichita Eagle’s correspondent at Cheyenne Agency be suspended. He is the biggest newspaper liar of the age, if McCormick’s report be true.

Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.

J. A. McCormick, the manager of Roberts & Son’s cattle ranch, is no longer down at Cheyenne Agency. He is located at Willow Springs. J. A. called on us last week and made us happy as a Democrat when he has been appointed postmaster.

Arkansas City Republican, October 24, 1885.

J. A. McCormick, of the O I L Ranch, was up from Willow Springs Wednesday to see the REPUBLICAN.

Arkansas City Republican, April 3, 1886.

J. A. McCormick was up from the Willows Wednesday, and informed a representative of the REPUBLICAN that one of his hands employed on the ranch was accidentally shot through the shoulder Sunday evening last. The man’s name was John O’Neil, and he was engaged in hanging a saddle up when a revolver fell from the saddle pocket and was discharged. The ball did not fracture any bones and Mr. O’Neil is getting all “O.K.”

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 31, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

Dr. Brown was hastily summoned to the Willow Springs this morning to attend Bert McCormick. He was bitten by a rattlesnake last evening, so the messenger stated.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 31, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

Bert McCormick, the gentleman whom the REPUBLICAN reported as being bitten by a rattlesnake last Monday at Willow Springs, was able to come up to the city today. His arm is still badly swollen and he is compelled to carry it in a sling. His arm was swollen until it measured 27 inches around Tuesday. It has gone down considerably today. The snake bit “Mc” on the forefinger of his right hand, the fangs entering one on each side of the finger. He went to pick up an armful of hay and ran his fingers directly into the snake’s mouth. Fortunately Dr. Brown was soon gotten and removed the poison. Bert is recovering from the effects of the bite gradually, but still has a bad looking arm.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 7, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Bert McCormick came up from the Willows today. He has almost recovered from his snake bite.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.

J. A. McCormick, manager of the Oil Cattle Company, wants to purchase 1,000 spring calves.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.

Wanted. 1,000 head of spring calves, steers preferred. Address

J. A. McCormick, P. O. Box 123, Arkansas City, Kansas.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 20, 1886.

Bert McCormick was in from the Willows yesterday, subpoenaed as a witness at the district court at Fort Smith. He is issuing beef to Wright & Tilton’s force of graders, and is having a “lively deal with the men,” as he expresses it, because their rations are too fat. To quiet this clamor he picked out the poorest cow he could find, but when she was slaughtered there was the same cause of complaint. He attributes this adipose condition to the dry summer, which gave greater detriment to the grass. He says he never saw the cattle in so good condition to go into the winter. Bert has entirely recovered from the rattlesnake bite, but the finger where the venomous beast’s fangs were fastened is shrunken, and it still remains numbed.

Am really surprised that the Traveler goofed so badly on the next article. The case concerned “J. C. Weathers.” Paper used “Withers” throughout. MAW

Arkansas City Traveler, November 3, 1886.

J. A. McCormick returned from Fort Scott last Thursday, where he has been subpoenaed as a witness in the J. C. Weathers trespass case. This was a suit entered by the government last June to secure damages against the defendant for grazing his cattle on the Cherokee Strip, which the authorities of that nation had leased to the Oil Cattle Company. Weathers had been notified of his trespass, and Bert McCormick, on behalf of the above named company, had offered to graze his cattle at a nominal price, in order to avoid trouble. But Weathers was full of boomer notions, declared that the Cherokee had no right to the strip, and asserted his right to the use of the public domain. He was ejected, and the case came up in court to be tried by jury. A verdict was found in favor of the government, which throws the defendant in for the costs as well as the damages, which were assessed at $200. This virtually settles a question of long standing as to the right of non-citizens to graze cattle on Indian lands, and will serve as a wholesome admonition to small cattle owners.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 24, 1886.

Bert McCormick was in town on Monday as prosecuting witness in a crooked horse deal in which he was made the victim. But the case was postponed till next Monday.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 5, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.

John Young, who has been taking care of Bert McCormick’s cattle east of town, is down with an attack of the measles. Mr. Young stayed by his cattle until he was broken out and now he is having a pretty severe time.