Empire Builder: Walter Vail and the Empire Ranch — Willard Thompson

This is a short Biography based on original research. When a greenhorn from the East, named Walter L. Vail, teamed up with an Englishman to from the Empire Ranch in southern Arizona no one would have given a plugged nickel for their success. But the Empire became the dominant cattle ranch in the state and Walter Vail went on to be co-founder of the Vail and Vickers Company. Along the way Vail dealt with hostile Apache Indians, poisonous gila monsters, drought, and discovered a hugely rich silver mine on his land. His ranching operations ultimately extended east to Kansas and west to California, including the Warner Ranch and both Catalina and Santa Rosa Islands. He was also a prominent member of the Arizona territorial legislature. His success story is must reading for Western history fans.