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Born in Hardeman County in western [[Tennessee]], Chisum at the age of thirteen joined his parents, Claiborne and Lucinda Chisum, in resettling in Lamar County in the newly formed [[Republic of Texas]]. After working on his father's farm, he helped to buildthe county's first brick courthouse, and clerked in several stores. He was elected at the age of twenty-eight as county clerk but soon lost interest in a political career. Instead, he purchased steers and sold them to  butchers in Paris, the seat of LamarCounty, and other emerging locations in the area.<ref name=caprockchronicles/>

Born in Hardeman County in western [[Tennessee]], Chisum at the age of thirteen joined his parents, Claiborne and Lucinda Chisum, in resettling in Lamar County in the newly formed [[Republic of Texas]]. After working on his father's farm, he helped to buildthe county's first brick courthouse, and clerked in several stores. He was elected at the age of twenty-eight as county clerk but soon lost interest in a political career. Instead, he purchased steers and sold them to  butchers in Paris, the seat of LamarCounty, and other emerging locations in the area.<ref name=caprockchronicles/>

In 1854, Chisum met Stephen K. Fowler of [[New Orleans]], who began investing in the emerging range cattle industry. the two entered a partnership through which Chisum purchased animals as cheaply as possible and grazed them on the open range. Chisum's first ranch was in Denton County, north of [[Dallas]], Texas. Ranch expenses included a small plot for headquarters; otherwise, the cattle were cheap, grazing was free, and the drovers received only about $30 a month.  With new markets becoming available, the profitscould be significant. While ranching in Denton County during the [[American Civil War]], Chisum supplied beef to [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] troops in [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]], Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]], and [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]. By 1864, farmers hungry for the fertile land of Denton County, as well as the growing presence of Confederate deserters, prompted Chisum to move his operation southwest to the empty rangelands of Coleman and Concho counties, Texas. Within a few years he moved again, following Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving into New Mexico.<ref name=caprockchronicles/>

In 1854, Chisum met Stephen K. Fowler of [[New Orleans]], who began investing in the emerging range cattle industry. the two entered a partnership through which Chisum purchased animals as cheaply as possible and grazed them on the open range. Chisum's first ranch was in Denton County, north of [[Dallas]], Texas. Ranch expenses included a small plot for headquarters; otherwise, the cattle were cheap, grazing was free, and the drovers received only about $30 a month.  With new markets becoming available, the profitscould be significant. While ranching in Denton County during the [[American Civil War]], Chisum supplied beef to [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] troops in [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]], Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]], and [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]. By 1864, farmers hungry for the fertile land of Denton County, as well as the growing presence of Confederate deserters, prompted Chisum to move his operation southwest to the empty rangelands of Coleman and Concho counties, Texas. Within a few years he moved again, following [[Charles Goodnight]] and Oliver Loving into New Mexico.<ref name=caprockchronicles/>

In 1867, Oliver Loving was slain by a war party, and Goodnight worked as partner with Chisum for three years. Goodnight called him "a great trail man. No one had any advantage of him as an old-fashioned cowman, and he was the best counter I ever knew. He could count three grades of cattle at once and count them accurately even if they were going at a trot.”<ref name=caprockchronicles/>  

In 1867, Oliver Loving was slain by a war party, and Goodnight worked as partner with Chisum for three years. Goodnight called him "a great trail man. No one had any advantage of him as an old-fashioned cowman, and he was the best counter I ever knew. He could count three grades of cattle at once and count them accurately even if they were going at a trot.”<ref name=caprockchronicles/>