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.
See
The Tsumani Memorial Sculpture
At Kay's
Web Site:
www.hawkleecreations.com
