Truscott, Texas...about 100 miles north of Abilene in north central Knox County... founded in 1880, the community was originally known as China Lake, after a small nearby lake bordered by numerous chinaberry trees. When the county was organized in 1886, however, the community applied for a post office, submitting the name Truscott in honor of J. J. Truscott, a local pioneer. In 1907, much of the town burned down. The town was then moved a mile to its present site to take advantage of the newly constructed Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.
The Wichita Divide (this area of Texas) was once a part of the Permian Sea of Texas. Indians (Kiowa, Apache and Comanche) lived along the Wichita Rivers about 10,000 b.c.. Texas was under Spanish Rule until 1821, Then under Mexico until 1836. The Wichita Rivers were known only to Indians and Fur Traders. Reports mentioned huge prairie dog towns and immense rattlesnakes near the South Wichita between present Truscott and King County. The buffalo were pushed west saving the grass for the cattle, In the 1870's , Indians swarmed frontier counties then retreated up the Wichitas and Brazos beyond reach.
Family roots, in this area, reach as deep into the red clay land as do the hardy mesquites. The Moorhouses called this pasture "The Big Thicket"...
Circle Bar Ranch (est. 1982)- Truscott, Texas
As I crossed the Pease River one early school day morning, I received a call from Luanne that she and Susie were headed to Truscott the next morning to gather cattle with the Circle Bar. As our conversation came to a close, I soon realized that consuming my mind was my mission to submit a request for a substitute teacher for the following day. It was a done deal...
We met at Susie's house the next morning at 6:00, loaded Shorty and made our way west and then south to Truscott. I had only been there one other time and that was for a street dance last summer! We were supossed to meet Eugenie at her barn around 7:15. We pulled in to the ranch and it was 34 degrees on the truck thermometer. Eugenie was cleaning a couple stalls, fed some horses and then we were off. We followed them way out in the middle of no where to pick up another horse, a saddle and met up with the cowboys that had been camping and gathering cattle for a week.
Following Jerry Bob and Eugenie to the pens.
Jerry Bob and Eugenie Daniel - owners of the Circle Bar Ranch
Heading out...Once we left the pens, we wound our way east through the cedars and rocky breaks at a long trot. I used one of their amazing gray geldings. He was so steady and sure-footed!
Topping one of the rocky points, Jerry Bob showed us where the cattle were and where we would be driving them back to the pens.
It's thick cedar country with lots of rocks, sand and rugged terrain. We went up and down some pretty crazy stuff! It we didn't have to pay attention negotiating the terrain as we went, I would have snapped a few "en route" pics...It was wild!
Several species of cacti grow out there, so we were glad to have our chinks on!
ON THE LOOKOUT...
We waited at the base of this ridge, so we wouldn't get a head of the cowboys who were driving the herd toward us.
Jerry Bob scouted from above...Perfect vantage point!
Bringing 'um in
At the pens...
Eugenie took us over to see one of their studs and the upcoming colt crop.
The original bank in Truscott.
The newly remodeled bank building, that is now the headquarters of the Circle Bar Ranch. This was where the street dance was held this past summer. Circle Bar has purchased the buildings that remain as the center of the Truscott community. The old church was totally overhauled and made into a spectacular lodge for hunters and guests. 
THE CHURCH...PRE-RENOVATION
The side of one of the old Truscott buildings.
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