The practice of branding has been traced back to ancient Egypt. It was brought to North America by the Spanish. In Mexico brands could be quite elaborate. In the United States brands are composed of letters, squares, diamonds, slashes, bars, and other symbols, all in different compositions and placements. The early Spanish introduced cattle into Mexico. By 1537 it became necessary to establish a central registry in Mexico City in which all brands were to be listed. The practice of branding and the practice of registering the brands followed the Spanish into Texas. In the English Colonies cattle were identified by ear marks. Thus, on Long Island, registrations of ear marks are to be found as early as 1707. In upstate New York in the Town of New Windsor, various ear marks were recorded by Thomas Woodhull, Joseph Wilken, Thurston Wood, and Henry Still. Thus, Wilken's mark, recorded on May 15, 1807, for cattle was noted as "a slit in the left ear and a half penny on the underside of the right ear."In Wyoming, orignally brands and ear marks were recorded in each county, but at an early point, registration was required to be at the State level. Registrations are required to be renewed in years ending in 5, i. e. 1995, 2005, etc. With approximately 28,000 brands in Wyoming books showing the various brands are a necessity. Brand Books are issued every ten years with periodic supplements. The books show first, a picture of the brand, secondly, a diagram of any ear marks, and the name and address of the owner of the brand. Branding irons are heated over a hot fire and then the ranchers brand is singed into the flesh of the livestock.

 

Oh Lord, I’ve never lived where churches grow.
I love creation better as it stood,
That day You finished it so long ago;
And looked upon Your work and called it good.

I know that others find You in the light,
That’s sifted down through tinted window panes.
And yet I seem to feel You near tonight,
In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains.

I thank You, Lord, that I am placed so well,
That You have made my freedom so complete;
That I’m no slave of whistle, clock or bell,
Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street.

Just let me live my life as I’ve begun,
And give me work that’s open to the sky;
Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,
And I won’t ask a life that’s soft or high.

Let me be easy on the man that’s down;
Let me be square and generous with all.
I’m careless sometimes, Lord, when I’m in town,
But never let’m say I’m mean or small!

Make me as big and open as the plains,
As honest as the hoss between my knees,
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze!

Forgive me, Lord, if sometimes I forget,
You know about the reasons that are hid.
You understand the things that gall and fret;
You know me better than my mother did.

Just keep an eye on all that’s done and said;
And right me, sometimes, when I turn aside,
And guide me on the long trail ahead
That stretches upward toward the Great Divide.