Changes

In 1871, D. B. Gardner arrived in Texas as a well-educated 21-year-old [[cowboy]]. He went on trail drives to Kansas and joined surveying parties for a couple of years to locate land grants authorized to the Texas and Pacific Railway. After working for D. W. and J. S. Godwin as a cowhand and eventually as ranch boss, Gardner became a partner with the brothers in the ranch. D. W. Godwin later withdrew from the partnership, and a new arrangement was formed between Gardner and J. S. Godwin. The pair moved into King and Dickens counties to purchase the Pitchfork brand, cattle, and range rights. Gardner, meanwhile, had become acquainted with Eugene F. Williams, a representative of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company. Their families had known each other in [[Alabama]], and a warm friendship developed between the two. In 1881, Williams bought J. S. Godwin’s interest in the company to become Gardner’s partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westernheritageclassic.com/p/events/ranch-rodeo/qualifications-and-ranches/218|title=Pitchfork Land & Cattle Company: Western Heritage Classic|publisher=Western Heritage Classic|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttusw/00068/tsw-00068.html|title=Pitchfork Land and Title Company: An Inventory of  its Records|publisher=Southwest Collection at [[Texas Tech University]]|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>​

In 1871, D. B. Gardner arrived in Texas as a well-educated 21-year-old [[cowboy]]. He went on trail drives to Kansas and joined surveying parties for a couple of years to locate land grants authorized to the Texas and Pacific Railway. After working for D. W. and J. S. Godwin as a cowhand and eventually as ranch boss, Gardner became a partner with the brothers in the ranch. D. W. Godwin later withdrew from the partnership, and a new arrangement was formed between Gardner and J. S. Godwin. The pair moved into King and Dickens counties to purchase the Pitchfork brand, cattle, and range rights. Gardner, meanwhile, had become acquainted with Eugene F. Williams, a representative of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company. Their families had known each other in [[Alabama]], and a warm friendship developed between the two. In 1881, Williams bought J. S. Godwin’s interest in the company to become Gardner’s partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westernheritageclassic.com/p/events/ranch-rodeo/qualifications-and-ranches/218|title=Pitchfork Land & Cattle Company: Western Heritage Classic|publisher=Western Heritage Classic|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttusw/00068/tsw-00068.html|title=Pitchfork Land and Title Company: An Inventory of  its Records|publisher=Southwest Collection at [[Texas Tech University]]|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>​

Unlike most ranches established during the great cattle boom of the 1880s, the Pitchfork over the years survived [[drought]] and the depression of cattle prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/people/article_e4fd2718-ae3a-11e9-aeb4-4f552895b4cc.html|title=Tour of historic Pitchfork Ranch Saturday|publisher=Cody Enterprise|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

Unlike most ranches established during the great cattle boom of the 1880s, the Pitchfork over the years survived [[drought]] and the depression of cattle prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/people/article_e4fd2718-ae3a-11e9-aeb4-4f552895b4cc.html|title=Tour of historic Pitchfork Ranch Saturday|publisher=Cody Enterprise|date=July 24, 2019|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

For forty-six years, Gardner augmented and managed the ranch, adding more range land and cattle, fencing the property, and fighting business panics and blizzards. No matter the obstacle, Gardner made the Pitchfork pay an annual dividend. He paid $45 for good bulls, a considerable amount in the early 20th century. Most of his management years were spent at ranch headquarters on the Wichita, where the literary-inclined Gardner established an impressive library. Gardner was married in 1889 to the former Sula Pope Ellison. She lived only two years after the marriage. A son, Sula Gardner, died in [[Fort Worth]] in the late 1930s.​<ref name=farrington/>

For forty-six years, Gardner augmented and managed the ranch, adding more range land and cattle, fencing the property, and fighting business panics and blizzards. No matter the obstacle, Gardner made the Pitchfork pay an annual dividend. He paid $45 for good bulls, a considerable amount in the early 20th century. Most of his management years were spent at ranch headquarters on the Wichita, where the literary-inclined Gardner established an impressive library. Gardner was married in 1889 to the former Sula Pope Ellison. She lived only two years after the marriage. A son, Sula Gardner, died in [[Fort Worth]] in the late 1930s.​<ref name=farrington/>