Tarrant County TXGenWeb - Burk Burnett obit

S. B. Burnett, 74, Texas pioneer cowman, died Tuesday. He had been ill for a number of years, but seemed much better at Christmas, spending some time in Mineral Wells, but sustained a second stroke on Christmas Day. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon, with burial in East Oakwood Cemetery. Rev. L. D. Anderson, pastor of the First Christian Church, of which Captain Burnett was a member, will officiate. Early Tuesday morning men who had helped Burnett in his many endeavors began passing before his bier in a steady stream and telegrams of condolence have been received from all parts of the state.

Samuel Burk Burnett was born in Bates County, Mo. Jan. 1, 1849, son of Jeremiah Burnett and Nancy Turner. In the late 1850's the jayhawkers and ruffians of the Kansas border became a great menace to life and property. After his home was burned, Jerry Burnett sold what he had left and emigrated southward. He had intended stopping in the area which later became the Indian Territory, but decided to continue his journey, settling on Denton Creek, within 45 or 50 miles of Fort Worth. Samuel Burk Burnett spent his early life on the frontier and at age 16, went to school for two or three years at a little place now called Prairie Point. He met W. T. Waggoner there and the two formed a friendship that lasted for half a century.

When Burk Burnett left school, he returned home and took up management of his father's ranch. In 1871, he took a herd of about 1200 cattle to Abilene, Kansas, heading the outfit of eight or ten men, the youngest man in charge of a herd on the Chisholm Trail at the time. The same year he married Ruth Loyd, daughter of M. B. Loyd, late president of the First National Bank of Fort Worth. Three children were born to them: Thomas L., (half owner of the ranch at Burk Station); Frances, (died age 18 months) and Annie (married Charles A. Johnson of Denver and died a few years ago).

In 1873, Burnett started to Kansas with another herd in which he had half interest. He used his "6666" brand on these cattle - it later became one of the most famous in Texas. The profit from this sale was the real beginning of the young cattleman's fortune. In the following years he made a study of the cattle business and did as much as any one man to make it a science. He was a pioneer in the work of grading the native Texas long-horned steer and was perhaps the first man to adopt the plan of buying steers and holding them for the market - a plan so good that other ranchmen soon followed.

After family trouble caused a separation and divorce from his wife, Burnett and his father-in-law dissolved partnership in the cattle business, but still held jointly the land at Burk Station, comprising the "6666" Ranch. They continued to be friends until Loyd's death some years later.

When the time came to give up his Indian land pastures, Burnett managed to obtain a stay of several months (thus avoiding a heavy monetary loss) by obtaining the intercession of President Theodore Roosevelt. This was the beginning of a lasting friendship with the "Rough Rider" and afterwards, Burnett was host to the President when he took his famous wolf hunt in Texas.

In 1892, Burnett married the widow of Dr. Claude Barradal, a daughter of J. R. Couts of Weatherford. A son of this union, Burk Jr., died in 1916 just before reaching maturity. His death was a hard blow for the young man was the idol of his father who had planned great things for this son of his old age.

In 1904, Burnett bought what was known as the "8 Ranch" in King County comprising 141,000 acres and 15,000 head of stock. He then began to buy up adjoining lands in that county and has more than 200,000 acres under fence. The name was later changed to "6666" Ranch. [the famous four sixes]

About five years ago, Burnett donated to the City of Fort Worth the tract of land at Seventh and Lamar Streets known as Burk Burnett Park, razing several structures to clear it for park purposes.

At the time of his death, Burnett was considered one of the wealthiest men in the southwest, owning more than 260,000 acres of land, several thousand head of cattle, the Burk Burnett office building in Fort Worth, bank stock in several cities, in addition to personal and real holdings. Oil strikes further increased his wealth.

Immediate survivors of Captain Burnett are son, Tom Burnett of Wichita Falls; granddaughter, Miss Anne Burnett of Fort Worth; two sisters, Mrs. J. M. Barkley and Mrs. John Roberts of Wichita Falls and brother, T. G. Burnett of Benjamin, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Quoting a friend associated with the National Stockyards in Illinois, "Fort Worth and the State of Texas has lost a good and worthy man. To have enjoyed the friendship of Capt. Burnett I hold one of the greatest privileges of my life."

J. L. Kemp of Wichita Falls: "I have always regarded him as one of the most forceful characters I ever knew... I am proud to have had a part in naming the now prosperous little city that bears his name (Burk Burnett) which is located on the old headquarters ranch in this county."

The final chapter was written in the life of Capt. Burnett when his body was buried in East Oakwood near his son, Burk Jr. Hundreds of friends gathered for the services, many of whom had come hundreds of miles. Some were young but many were old - those who had known Burnett since his early years. The funeral procession, more than a mile long, was led by a squad of motorcycle policemen in ranks of four. Flowers at the cemetery were in greater profusion than at the home. At the head of the grave was placed the flower woven "6666" which was made of blossoms resembling those found on Texas ranges.

	Tarrant County TXGenWeb Samuel Burk Burnett Fort Worth Star-Telegram June 29, 1922 Contributed by Rita Martin
	S. B. Burnett, 74, Texas pioneer cowman, died Tuesday. He had been ill for a number of years, but seemed much better at Christmas, spending some time in Mineral Wells, but sustained a second stroke on Christmas Day. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon, with burial in East Oakwood Cemetery. Rev. L. D. Anderson, pastor of the First Christian Church, of which Captain Burnett was a member, will officiate. Early Tuesday morning men who had helped Burnett in his many endeavors began passing before his bier in a steady stream and telegrams of condolence have been received from all parts of the state. Samuel Burk Burnett was born in Bates County, Mo. Jan. 1, 1849, son of Jeremiah Burnett and Nancy Turner. In the late 1850's the jayhawkers and ruffians of the Kansas border became a great menace to life and property. After his home was burned, Jerry Burnett sold what he had left and emigrated southward. He had intended stopping in the area which later became the Indian Territory, but decided to continue his journey, settling on Denton Creek, within 45 or 50 miles of Fort Worth. Samuel Burk Burnett spent his early life on the frontier and at age 16, went to school for two or three years at a little place now called Prairie Point. He met W. T. Waggoner there and the two formed a friendship that lasted for half a century. When Burk Burnett left school, he returned home and took up management of his father's ranch. In 1871, he took a herd of about 1200 cattle to Abilene, Kansas, heading the outfit of eight or ten men, the youngest man in charge of a herd on the Chisholm Trail at the time. The same year he married Ruth Loyd, daughter of M. B. Loyd, late president of the First National Bank of Fort Worth. Three children were born to them: Thomas L., (half owner of the ranch at Burk Station); Frances, (died age 18 months) and Annie (married Charles A. Johnson of Denver and died a few years ago). In 1873, Burnett started to Kansas with another herd in which he had half interest. He used his "6666" brand on these cattle - it later became one of the most famous in Texas. The profit from this sale was the real beginning of the young cattleman's fortune. In the following years he made a study of the cattle business and did as much as any one man to make it a science. He was a pioneer in the work of grading the native Texas long-horned steer and was perhaps the first man to adopt the plan of buying steers and holding them for the market - a plan so good that other ranchmen soon followed. After family trouble caused a separation and divorce from his wife, Burnett and his father-in-law dissolved partnership in the cattle business, but still held jointly the land at Burk Station, comprising the "6666" Ranch. They continued to be friends until Loyd's death some years later. When the time came to give up his Indian land pastures, Burnett managed to obtain a stay of several months (thus avoiding a heavy monetary loss) by obtaining the intercession of President Theodore Roosevelt. This was the beginning of a lasting friendship with the "Rough Rider" and afterwards, Burnett was host to the President when he took his famous wolf hunt in Texas. In 1892, Burnett married the widow of Dr. Claude Barradal, a daughter of J. R. Couts of Weatherford. A son of this union, Burk Jr., died in 1916 just before reaching maturity. His death was a hard blow for the young man was the idol of his father who had planned great things for this son of his old age. In 1904, Burnett bought what was known as the "8 Ranch" in King County comprising 141,000 acres and 15,000 head of stock. He then began to buy up adjoining lands in that county and has more than 200,000 acres under fence. The name was later changed to "6666" Ranch. [the famous four sixes] About five years ago, Burnett donated to the City of Fort Worth the tract of land at Seventh and Lamar Streets known as Burk Burnett Park, razing several structures to clear it for park purposes. At the time of his death, Burnett was considered one of the wealthiest men in the southwest, owning more than 260,000 acres of land, several thousand head of cattle, the Burk Burnett office building in Fort Worth, bank stock in several cities, in addition to personal and real holdings. Oil strikes further increased his wealth. Immediate survivors of Captain Burnett are son, Tom Burnett of Wichita Falls; granddaughter, Miss Anne Burnett of Fort Worth; two sisters, Mrs. J. M. Barkley and Mrs. John Roberts of Wichita Falls and brother, T. G. Burnett of Benjamin, as well as several nieces and nephews. Quoting a friend associated with the National Stockyards in Illinois, "Fort Worth and the State of Texas has lost a good and worthy man. To have enjoyed the friendship of Capt. Burnett I hold one of the greatest privileges of my life." J. L. Kemp of Wichita Falls: "I have always regarded him as one of the most forceful characters I ever knew... I am proud to have had a part in naming the now prosperous little city that bears his name (Burk Burnett) which is located on the old headquarters ranch in this county." The final chapter was written in the life of Capt. Burnett when his body was buried in East Oakwood near his son, Burk Jr. Hundreds of friends gathered for the services, many of whom had come hundreds of miles. Some were young but many were old - those who had known Burnett since his early years. The funeral procession, more than a mile long, was led by a squad of motorcycle policemen in ranks of four. Flowers at the cemetery were in greater profusion than at the home. At the head of the grave was placed the flower woven "6666" which was made of blossoms resembling those found on Texas ranges.
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