Frederick W. RathjenThe Texas Panhandle Frontier (Double Mountain Books Series)

The Panhandle of Texas has a wealth of history that is not taught in our high schools here. This book is a great addition to History classes but it also provides excellent material for the casual reader. Coronado's expedition of 1541 proceeded right across the Caprock, down the Running Water Draw from Parmer County to Floyd County. The Lost Expedition of Buffalo Soldiers in the Red River War reached its climax in northern Bailey County. The last of the expeditions of buffalo hunters on the southern Plains played out in the 1880s where our local football heroes fight their own battles every autumn Friday night. The rural communities were founded by brave pioneer families who risked everything on homesteads carved out of the XIT and the other big ranches. Panhandle residents have history to be discovered in every corner of their counties and the length of every draw or arroyo -- prehistoric natives, Apache, Kiowa, Comanche, buffalo hunter, cowboy, hard-scrabble farm families. This is the best account of those times and those events I have yet encountered, all in one volume.

This book is an excellent book on the history of the Texas Panhandle. It begins with the description and the land formation which gives you a good understanding of the phisiological and environmental conditions that shaped the land and the people. It discusses the original people and the evolution of people and societies that shaped the culture of the area. Rathjen is very familiar with the history of the Panhandle area and presents it in a very interesting and easy to understand manner. It is a very interesting history and well documented. If you are visiting that part of the US, it is an excellent book to read to give you a background on the area.

This book was a pleasure to read. Very detailed and very interesting. Highly recommend.

Great history

Dr. Rathjen was about my favorite professors ever and this book shows why. He loved, and lived, history.