Masterson

MASTERSON, ROBERT BENJAMIN (18531931). Robert Benjamin (Ben) Masterson, an early Panhandle cattleman, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Ann (Gotcher) Masterson, was born on December 12, 1853, in Colbert County, Alabama. The family moved to Travis County in 1854 and later to Round Rock in Williamson County. Masterson wanted to follow his father in the freighting and cattle business. In addition to teaching school, he started buying, selling, borrowing, and trading stock. Gradually, he accumulated a herd of his own, which he branded with a Long S. In October 1880 Masterson married Sallie Lee Exum of Lampasas. They had two children. During the next three years, Masterson and his nephews, Robert and Charles Hamilton, continued driving Long S cattle north over the Western Trail . At one time some 15,000 Masterson cattle grazed 200,000 acres. In 1884 Mrs. Masterson died of pneumonia. On February 24, 1886, Masterson married Anna Eliza Exum, a younger sister of his late wife; they had six children. After residing briefly in Lampasas, Masterson moved his family to his new ranch headquarters, near Mobeetie in Wheeler County. On May 1, 1898, a tornado destroyed most of Mobeetie, including Masterson's adobe townhouse, and killed his infant son.