#originalcowboy

John Ware and his dog, circa 1891. John Ware is a folk legend, he was one of the first cowboys and set precedence for all cowboys that came after him. He was born into slavery in 1895 in South Carolina. As soon as emancipation was declared, he left and became a nomad rancher through Texas, Montana and then eventually up into Canada. He was one of the first black men to enter Alberta and the first to wrestle steer. He was known for his great strength and smart new farming practices, such as irrigation and ranching. He is a general badass who deserves credit and recognition.