<P> In 1867 , the Kansas Pacific Railway ( Union Pacific ) pushed westward through Abilene . In the same year , Joseph G. McCoy purchased 250 acres of land north and east of Abilene , on which he built a hotel , the Drover 's Cottage , stockyards equipped for 2,000 heads of cattle , and a stable for their horses . The Kansas Pacific put in a switch at Abilene that enabled the cattle cars to be loaded and sent on to their destinations . The first twenty carloads left September 5 , 1867 , en route to Chicago , Illinois , where McCoy was familiar with the market . The town grew quickly and became the very first `` cow town '' of the west . </P>
<P> In 1867 , the Kansas Pacific Railway ( Union Pacific ) pushed westward through Abilene . In the same year , Joseph G. McCoy purchased 250 acres of land north and east of Abilene , on which he built a hotel , the Drover 's Cottage , stockyards equipped for 2,000 heads of cattle , and a stable for their horses . The Kansas Pacific put in a switch at Abilene that enabled the cattle cars to be loaded and sent on to their destinations . The first twenty carloads left September 5 , 1867 , en route to Chicago , Illinois , where McCoy was familiar with the market . The town grew quickly and became the very first `` cow town '' of the west . </P>
who set up the first stockyard for texas cattle in abilene kansas
who set up the first stockyard for texas cattle in abilene kansas
Joseph G. McCoy
Joseph G. McCoy