Goodnight Charles Charles Goodnight, TX Cattle Rancher: "I am going away for the winter"1p letter signed by Charles Goodnight (1836-1929), well-known American cattle rancher, as "C Goodnight" in pencil at lower right. Signed at Goodnight Ranch in Goodnight, Texas on December 11, 1922. Handwritten in a secretarial script on a half-sheet of watermarked cream stationery with "Office of / Goodnight Ranch / Breeders of / Buffalo, Cattalo, Karakule Sheep, Pure Polled Angus / and Hereford Cattle" letterhead, complete with a portrait of a bison at upper left. Expected folds, including a vertical fold bisecting the "G" of "Goodnight". Else very good to near fine. 8.375" x 5.375".Goodnight, who was illiterate, relied on an amanuensis to conduct his correspondence. This role was often fulfilled by his first wife, Mary Ann Dyer Goodnight (1839-1926), and after her death, by Goodnight's much younger second wife and distant cousin Corinne Goodnight Goodnight (1901-1971).[handwritten in secretarial script]"Dec. 11, 1922Mr. M. S. Garretson Clifton N.J.My dear Mr GarretsonThe Clocks have not arrived. I have wired the house twice and yet have not yet got any reply. They may turn up at any time of course. Better look the matter up. I am going away for the winter. Address me C Goodnight care/o T.W. Standley Weatherford Texas.Your friend,[signed] C Goodnight".Goodnight's correspondent was almost certainly Martin S. Garretson, who served as the Secretary of the American Bison Society during the early 1920s.Charles Goodnight became one of the most powerful ranchers in the American West. The seasoned frontiersman, Indian fighter, and ex-Texas Ranger fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Goodnight began raising cattle after the war, eventually owning some 100,000 head. Along with lifelong friend and business associate Oliver Loving, he established the so-called Goodnight-Loving Trail, whereby cattle were driven from western Texas to northern Texan railroads. Goodnight helped preserve the last wild buffalo of the Plains from hunters. A cultural icon, Charles Goodnight was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Heritage Museum in 1955.This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!