Tree
History
By Kay Magruder Hawklee
The
tree at the Old Headquarters of the Cowden Lazy
H Ranch is approximately 150 years old, and
is the only remaining one of at least two others
that were planted around the same time. Burr
Williams of the Sibley Center saw the tree in
the spring of 2004 and believed it was a Mulberry
planted by George Causey, who was a buffalo
hunter in the area. I describe him as "the
first land developer" in our area. Burr
believed that in the 1850s Mr. Causey dressed
up properties by building stone houses and planting
trees, then selling the land to settlers. There
still needs to be further research to verify
these facts. And to find out if that is indeed
who my great grandfather, John M. Cowden, purchased
the ranch from. My father, Ed Magruder, believes
he purchased that land in approximately the
1880s.
The tree has a giant base trunk that branches
out into five huge branches. The house at Old
Headquarters burned down twice in my Grandfather's,
R. B. (Bum) Cowden, lifetime. Needless to say,
the next house he built wasn't at Old Headquarters.
The tree obviously survived both of those fires.
On a twelve section ranch that only has 5 large
trees, every tree is precious! This tree holds
a special place in our hearts. It will always
be considered to be the very essence of the
Old Headquarter's location.
My special thanks goes out to Kenn Hill for
preserving this piece of the legacy that was
left to our grandfather--R. B. Cowden; then
to my mother--Barbara June Cowden Magruder;
and now to my sisters--Fran Sherpa, Elaine Magruder--
and myself, Kay Magruder Hawklee.
