Fall in ranching country is roundup time to gather cattle for sale. Until fencing became more prevalent in the 1920s cattle roamed freely on the open range. As a result, roundups were cooperative affairs where ranchers worked together to gather and ultimately sort cattle by brands. The full text of the ‘Border Vidette’ articles quoted below can be found in the Library of Congress database, “Chronicling America.”
Roundups were announced in the local newspapers and no doubt by word of mouth. “At a meeting of cowmen recently held in Nogales, it was decided to start the fall Rodeo at San Javier on September 1, 1909, working up the Santa Cruz River to Alamo Bonito. The Arivaca Cattle Company will work up the Sopori; Vail & Gates to the White House; Sabino Otero up the Santa Cruz; Calabasas continuing the round-up.” (The Border Vidette, 8/21/1909). “The upper Santa Cruz roundup will end tomorrow or Monday at Sanford’s ranch on the Sonoita. Steers are being corralled by owners for market. It is estimated that 1,000 head will be shipped, and that it will bring in the neighborhood of $l5,000 cash to Santa Cruz county people.” (The Border Vidette, 11/11/1899).
A leader or foreman for the roundup was designated. “G. W. Fenter was elected roundup foreman, at a salary of $3.00 per diem during the roundup season, and to equip an outfit and begin work at Elgin, Arizona and work the range easterly from said place.” (The Border Vidette, 9/26/1914).
Cattle pay no attention to international borders, so special arrangements were needed to round them up across the line. “Luis Carillo has been appointed commissioner of roundups on the Mexican side of the line for the district of Nogales and American cattlemen who want to gather cattle on that side will first get a certificate from him.” (The Border Vidette, 9/4/1897). “An ‘international roundup’ took place the first of the week when 331 head of stray cattle belonging to American cattlemen on the southern border of Arizona, were brought, back across the line… Almost every year there is a roundup of American cattle that have strayed across the line, and as a rule little difficulty is encountered in getting the necessary permit to bring the cattle across. This year much trouble was experienced, and J. M. Ronstadt of the Ronstadt Cattle company finally enlisted the aid of Congressman Carl Hayden and the permit was finally issued by the Mexican government.” (The Border Vidette, 1/6/1917).
Roundup work is difficult and dangerous and letting off steam after a hard day’s work can have serious consequences. “Forbes Talcott, the well known young Arivaca rancher, who was fatally injured last Tuesday when his horse fell on him while cutting out a cow, during a roundup on his ranch, died at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson… ” (The Border Vidette, 7/27/1912). “Pedro A. Garcia was accidentally shot by his cousin, Daniel Moreno, at the Zeckendorf ranch in the Baboquivari valley … The men had just come in from a round-up and were fooling around when a gun in Moreno’s hand went off … At the coroner’s inquest …it was found that no quarrel had taken place and that the affair was purely accidental.” (The Border Vidette, 6/5/1897).
A roundup in 1904 was the scene of a serious disagreement between R.W. Harrison and Jerry Sheehy. At the coroner’s inquest Frank L. Proctor testified. “I was attending this round-up … when I first heard some talk which was quite loud. This loud talking was between Dick Harrison and Jerry Sheehy.…both men were handling their bridles with their left hand; then I saw Dick Harrison make a blow at Jerry Sheehy, but Jerry ducked the blow; Dick aimed another blow at him, with fist, which I think hit him. Then they scuffled around for a few seconds, and immediately after this they separated and I saw Jerry Sheehy draw his pistol and shoot at Dick Harrison. Then Jerry Sheehy went off a little further and fired again. After the second shot I heard something or somebody fall; then I looked around and saw Dick Harrison on the ground, and his horse came running past me.” (The Border Vidette, 2/13/1904). Sheehy was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 9 years at the Florence prison. In 1907 he was pardoned and paroled by the Governor and became a prosperous miner in the area.