Big History on a Small Town Farm and Ranch of Texas.
Family Lines
Carl Guelker- Born to J and Ester Guelker, Carl lived with 3 other siblings, and helped his dad in the family's electrical business alongside his brother Tommy. While J Guelker had an agricultural background, his service in the Navy taught him skills in the electrical field, and when he returned home, he started Colorado Electric. When Carl and Sue began dating, Carl began working with Sue's Granddad, "Dick" Thompson, and learned his way with a plow. While Carl and his brother had both worked with their dad with the electrical business, it would be Tommy that would continue the family business, and Carl would continue farming and ranching.
Sue Guelker-Born to Janie and Jimmy Henderson, Sue was an only child that found her passion on a horse. From an early age, Sue would find that she loved to be out on the farm with her grandparents. Between cooking with her Granny, and working out on the farm with her Granddad, Preston "Dick" Thompson, Sue would become a independent horsewoman with a desire to learn what others knew.
Cheyenne Guelker- Born in Amarillo, Texas; and adopted to Carl and Sue Guelker, Cheyenne started her life on the backroads, and on a horse, early in life. From good ol' ranch horses, to World Champions; Cheyenne doesn't care what they are as long as they are good at their job. She was lucky enough to start her show career on a oldtimer who had seen it all, and quickly took to teaching her the ways of the horse world. "Skippy" was a 20 year old Palamino gelding who had raised more kids than good vegetables, and taught them more than just show ring lessons as well. Cheyenne was the last to be added to the Graduating class of Skippy, and still gives him the most credit on lessons in showing, and life that anyone has taught her. After Skippy's retirement, she then went on to another young, but talented horse named Jose. Jose was inexperienced, and extreamly limited on what he did; and Cheyenne was limited on what she knew. These two grew together in skills, and age, and became a great team wheather winning a class in Horsemanship, or playing around and gathering cows on the ranch. Susan Bruner was the biggest part in both of these young one's lives when it came to learning new things. Susan was brought a large 7 year old black gelding that had only done Hunter Under Saddle, and Equitation, and a tiny red haired girl with a lot of dreams. Through long hours and many years, Susan made this team into a gorgeous, and talented All Around horse that wasn't afraid of very much, and a still tiny, but somewhat taller redhaired girl that was accomplishing her dreams. Although not all days were good days, Jose was still an excellent horse for Cheyenne as she matured, and because of him, she found her niche in life. He made her look good at it. Nowadays, Jose is still being shown, although with a new rider. Cheyenne then moved onto a younger set of horses she purchased, including a gelding named Parker for the all around events, and a mare named Roxie for reining cowhorse. Parker proved that the horse that everyone else seemsed to pass up was worth it when he was Reserve World Champion Junior Trail horse when he was 4, and World Champion Junior Trail horse when he was 5. Parker was then purchased by a youth who planned on showing him in the all around. Cheyenne cannot seem to get enough of what horses have to offer either, considering she has even expanded into the reining, roping, and cowhorse arenas. Roxie is proving to be both a challenge, and a new form of enjoyment in these arenas. Cheyenne now has a 4 year old gelding named Valentino that she hopes will be another All Around Horse. She has completed her degree from Texas Tech University in Animal Science, and is now back at home taking care of the cattle division.
Cotton Farming, Cattle, and Good Horses
A true family farm, everyone works to make each part of this business work. Carl has the Cotton and Wheat, Sue works on the books and oversees all aspects of the farm, and Cheyenne works the barns and breeding program. Of course, its not uncommon to see Cheyenne marking and covering cotton modules, Carl fixing a water leak in the barn, or Sue working horses when Cheyenne is gone.
The Tradition Grows
Although Cheyenne is not planning on continuing her life on the tractor, she is going to continue breeding, raising, and selling horses and cattle; and utilizing the land towards helping her do that. In 2013 she finished studying for a Animal Production Degree at Texas Tech University. Most likely Wheat will be her number one crop; although she plans on leasing land if she wishes to keep it in cotton. Either way, the farm is staying in the family, and will continue to bear the Diamond G.
Generations of Success, Years of Practice
You'll have to forgive me for having such a choppy story here...I know some of it, but I'm having to fill in the blanks with the Abstracts, Mom and Dad, my Grandmother, and other family members...eventually I hope I do our story justice. Our farm has been in the family for over 105 years now, and in that time, it's done some pretty amazing things.
There are several parts of the farm and ranch that are part of the original homestead that John and Mary "Molly" Erwin marked for their own. They came to Texas in 1882, but didn't make way for west Texas until August of 1892. In 1906, 105 years ago, they marked lines for their home in the Northwest part of Mitchell County. Back North, John had been a pharmacist. When they finished the boundaries, cowboys from one of the large Ranches nearby rode down to intimidate the Erwins because they were homesteaders. They rode over the dugout house, and shot thier guns in an attempt to scare and run the Erwins off the land. John Erwin simply stated he wasn't going anywhere. We won out. This would prove the start to the Frying Pan Ranch.
Molly Saunders Taylor was born 6-19-1862 in Lincoln County, Tennessee.
John Curtis Erwin was born 10-26-1855 in Huntsville, Tennessee.
Erwins were originally from Ireland, and Taylors were mostly of Brittish extraction of Virginia.
They were married August 6, 1882 in Ovilla of Ellis County, Texas.
They had 14 children, 12 of which lived to adulthood.
Emmett was the oldest son, and second child.
Synthia (misspelled Cynthia on her tombstone) died from snakebite out on the homestead.
Robbert died of whooping cough in Garland, Texas.
Mary and the kids stayed on the homestead, and John went back to the pharmacy, and sent money to them.
They hauled ceder posts from Colorado, Texas (at the time, Colorado City was simply Colorado) by wagon for fencing.
All of the farm and ranch families in the area would get together, move their furniture, and have dances.
Emmett and Celia Bynum met, but her family didn't think he was good enough for her. In their eye's, he was a "cad". The result was the couple elopeing and getting married in a buggy. Emmett and Celia had 2 children; Cecil born in 1908, and Ethel born in 1910.
Emmet brought the first Shorthorn bull to the Colorado City area. "Lassies Lord" rode the rail line to the Iatan Flats Pens in Colorado City, Texas, and Emmet Walked him the rest of the way for the Bush and Tiller Ranch. Emmett had commercial Herefords, which he shipped to Ft. Worth on railcars to sell. Pat Neff had a trucking co. and he hauled cattle for them to Ft. Worth after the railcars began to wayne in use.
Emmett and Lawn McGuire also had a Ford Delership in Snyder, Texas.
D.L. Thompson and his wife came from Pennsylvania to Weatherford, Texas by a wagon train, where they had 2 children; D.W. and Agatha. D.W. Thompson and Martha Elizabeth Lawrence married in 1891, and had 12 children. One of which was Preston "Dick" Thompson, who would later marry Ethel Erwin. Preston left home at 12 to work in the Ranger oil feild, and hauled boilers with team of horses. Preston met Ethel while working for Ethel's Uncle in the oilfield. Preston and Ethel's brother Cecil became partners in the farm and ranch. They raised Hereford cattle, and farmed cotton, a little milo,and a little hay to bundle. They ginned cotton at Cuthbert, Texas. Dick and Cecil had the first John Deere Tractor in Mitchell County, with a "Poppin' Johnny". Eventually Preston would cross a few of the Hereford cows with Angus bulls for a black and white-faced cross. Cecil and Preston would have many adventures, inclucing Preston roping a bobcat one day. Cuthbert had a Fastpitch Softball Team, which Dick and Cecil were on. They played in the Mitchell County League alongside many other local teams, one of which was the Refinery Team. The Refinery actually began recruiting members for their team, while everyone else that played was just a farm boy or a cow hand. While quite a bit of fun was had, Preston was also a Board of Directors Member for rodeo association for Colorado Frontier Days. Ethel attended the ground breaking for Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. little would she know her great granddaughter would eventually attend there.
Preston and Ethel would eventually have 1 daughter born; Janie in 1923. Janie became a victim of the Polio epiemic, but she survived. Janie went to school in Vincent, Cohoma, Ira, and Colorado City, where she graduated from CHS in 1946. Shortly after she graduated, their house was victim to a fire in 1947. She would marry and have one daughter as well in Sue.
Sue would Marry Carl Guelker of Colorado City, in 1973.
There used to be a Blacksmiths shop near their house.
Frying Pan Brand: Emmett; Cecil and Preston
O-
Spindle S Brand- When the 2 families began to split, Preston made the Spindle S for Janie and Sue
Diamond G- Replaced the Spindle S after a few years when it was found the S was prone to smudging, and very hard to read.
Members of the Family that hold original pieces: The Guelker's, The Erwin's, The Oliver's, The Terry's***
Pieces of Original Homestead
Whitcraft Section
Wellfield seciton
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John and Mary Erwin
-Emmett Erwin and Celia Bynum
-Ethel
-Cecil
D.W. Thompson and Martha Lawrence
-Preston "Dick" Thompson, and Ethel Erwin Thompson
-Janie Henderson
-Carl and Sue Guelker
-Cheyenne Guelker
-Cecil Erwin and Edna Carpentar
-Joe Oliver and Donna Erwin
-Wiley Oliver and Brenda Hull
-Brandy Oliver
-Audra Oliver and Justin Herrington
-Mayce
-Parker
-Randy Welsh and Sonya Oliver
-Lana Oliver and Gary Burton
-James Williams and Emma Erwin
-Edwin Williams
-Sherilyn Williams and Randy Wright
-Larry Williams and Sandra
-Bob Terry and Neta Erwin