LANDRUM, William M.

LANDRUM, William M. (1829-1909), native of Georgia, was in California from 1850 to 1883 where he became a significant early breeder of Angora goats. He was called the "Pioneer goat man of the Pacific." In 1860 Landrum purchased all the Angora goats under 8 years of age from Colonel Peters of Georgia, and brought them to California. In 1867 he brought eight selected goats to California from the W. W. Chenery importation to Boston, Mass. In 1868 Landrum sold a one-half interest in his goats to Butterfield & Son, and the business was then conducted under the firm name of Landrum, Butterfield & Son. The new firm added two choice bucks to their flock from the Diehl & Brown importation, one of which was the celebrated hornless "Costamboul." The firm was soon after this dissolved, and Mr. Landrum secured, by purchase, the largest number of the firm's goats, among which was the hornless "Costamboul" buck above mentioned.

In 1870 Mr. Landrum formed a partnership with James M. Rodgers, selling him one-half interest in his goats and sheep, and the business was afterwards carried on under the name of Landrum & Rodgers. In 1872 the new firm made a large purchase from the "Peters" flock, which gave them the prominence of being the largest holders of pure-bred Angora goats in the United States at that time.

In 1873 Landrum was one of the incorporators and president of the Guadalupe Island Company, whose mission was to raise goats on that Lower California island. and then to Guadalupe Island to improve the existing goats on the island. By 1874 it is said there were more than 20,000 goats on the island. By 1878 the number had risen to 60,000 goats.

Vessels used in his venture include:

• Louisa Harker
• Esther
• San Diego
• Susie

In 1883, Landrum returned to Texas with his sons to continue raising Angoras. In 1901, Landrum imported two yearling bucks from South Africa. These two bucks were bred by R. C. Holmes, sired by his prize buck "Dick", which was the prize buck at the Port Elizabeth show in 1900. Mr. Landrum settled around Laguna, Texas, which was between Camp Wood and Uvalde. At one time, he and his partners had more goats than anyone in the country. His two sons, W. E. and Frank, carried on the goat interests in Texas. Frank Landrum later relocated above Barksdale near the Nueces River.

William M. Landrum = Francis Elizabeth Ireland (1844-1890)

• 1. Robert Lee Landrum (1863-1923)
• 2. James Landrum (1865-1936)
• 3. William Edward Landrum (1867-1925)
• 4. Frank Otis Landrum (1873-1947)

In the News~

January 27, 1873 [SDU]: “Incorporation.—Articles of Incorporation of the Guadalupe Island Company, whose principal business is that of agriculture and stock raising, were filed in the office of the Secretary of State Saturday. Capital, $500,000, in shares of $50 each. Directors—Geo. W. Dent, Henry Delafield, Cassius C. Palmer, Wm. M. Landrum and James M. Rogers. The principal place of business will be in San Francisco.”

February 27, 1873 [San Diego Union]: “Guadalupe Island. The Washington Chronicle states that a private letter has recently been received by Col. H, G. Otis, of that city, informing him that Mr. Wm. M. Landrum, of the firm Landrum and Rodgers, of Santa Cruz County—importers and breeders of Angora goats—has just concluded, on behalf of himself and other capitalists, negotiations for the island of Guadalupe, in the Pacific off the coast of Lower California and about two hundred miles south of San Diego, and ninety from the mainland. The island is twenty-six miles long, averages ten miles in width, has good timber and water upon it, and 20,000 goats of the short-haired species, well suited for breeding to Angora rams. The purchasers have formed a joint stock company, which is incorporated, with Landrum as President, who will in a few days send to the island, from his ranch in Santa Cruz county, one hundred pure breed Angora rams. George W. Dent is one of the trustees of the company, and takes one-tenth of the stock—1,000 shares. The old man says: "This is the finest goat ranch in the world, I reckon." There have been 32,000 goats slaughtered on this island within the last three or four years, and the hides and tallow and dried flesh have formed quite an item in the shipping business of this port.”

March 12, 1873 [San Diego Union]: “Guadalupe Island. An Angora Goat Farm. Among the passengers of the Orizaba which arrived here yesterday was Capt. John G. Clancy, a gentleman who is well and favorably known in this city. Capt. Clancy is associated with Guadalupe Island the Company, a company recently incorporated to carry on the business of agriculture, stock raising and the improvement of the breed of domestic animals (more particularly Angora goats) on the island which name it bears. The company has a capital stock of $500,000, in shares of $40 each. Guadalupe Island is situated off the coast of Lower California, at a distance of about two hundred miles south of this city. It has an area of about 166,400 acres, being twenty-six miles long and ten miles broad. Nearly 4,000 acres of the island is a dense forest of white cedar, valuable for fence rails, telegraph poles and railroad ties. It has also a pine forest of some seven hundred acres, much of the timber in which will make ship spars. The remainder of the island is excellent pasture land. The island is of a mountainous character, the highest point—Mount Augusta—being 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is well watered by innumerable springs of fresh water. At present Guadalupe Island is the pasture ground of a vast flock of goats. Of the common breed, numbering, according to the best estimates, about 20,000 head. The progenitors of these flocks of goats are supposed to have been placed on the island by the Jesuit Fathers sixty or seventy years ago. Of late years some thirty-two thousand head have been killed for their hides and tallow. Capt. Clancy has himself killed one-quarter that number. It is for the improvement of the goats—to make them fleece-bearing—that the Guadalupe Island Company has been organized. This is proposed to be done by a judicious crossing with the fine-fleeced Angora goat. The animals on the island are just that variety of the common goat which is susceptible of improvement. The hair is short but straight. Such a fleece improves in length and fineness with every cross. Common goats having crisp curly hair improve very little in crossing with Angoras. To inaugurate the era of improvement in the Guadalupe Island goats, Capt. Clancey has brought with him the first installment of Angora bucks, fifty in number. The flock is in excellent condition and will be shipped off to the island as soon as possible. Four of these bucks are imported animals, valued at $250 each. The remainder have been bred from the Angora bucks of Messrs. Landrum and Rogers of Watsonville. Santa Cruz county, who have profitably devoted their time and capital to the improvement of goats, and are valued at $100 per head. Several of the bucks are hornless, being of the progeny of the celebrated hornless buck Costamboul, imported to this state by Messrs. Landrum, Butterfield & Son in 1858. The Guadalupe Island Company have purchased a flock of high grade fleece-bearing ewes, numbering nine hundred, which, with their offspring—aggregating over ten thousand head—will be transported to the island in the fall of the year. A further shipment of fifty bucks will also be made, making in all 1,000 full grown thoroughbred goats and about 1,500 kids. The bucks of the common goats will all be slaughtered, and the same policy will be followed with half-breed bucks. It is thus expected that in the course of four or five years the flocks on Guadalupe Island will be so far improved that they will be all high grade fleece-bearing animals. Guadalupe Island was granted in 1839 to Don Jose Castro and Don FLorencia Serrano, and has been purchased by the Guadalupe Island Company. At present, that Company has but two men on the island. They are engaged in fencing land and in constructing corrals. Mr. William M. Landrum, the President of the Company, is thoroughly conversant with the breeding of Angora goats and their improvement of the common stock. He has on his rancho some of the finest stock of the former breed in the State. With such a man at the head of the enterprise, it can scarcely do otherwise than succeed. Capt. Clancy will not remain on the island, but will return at once to San Francisco for the second installment of bucks.”

March 20, 1873 [San Diego Union]: “The Angora Goat. The experiment about to be attempted by the Guadalupe Island Company to improve the common goat stock at present on the island by the introduction of pure blooded Angora bucks, has an important bearing upon the wool interests of the Pacific Coast. The men at the head of the enterprise—Messrs. Landrum of Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, and others, have demonstrated beyond question the feasibility of improving the grade of the common goat by judicious crossing with the Angora species, so as to make it like the latter fleece-bearing. The Angora goat which is a native of Asia Minor, takes kindly to the herbage and climate of Southern California. It is only twelve years since the first Angora buck was imported to this State by Mr. William M. Landrum, and yet there are now at least 70,000 graded fleece-bearing goats, besides several hundred pure-blooded. Flocks of Angora goats are to be found in all parts of the State, and stock raisers are paying considerable attention to their program. The efforts made to acclimatize the Angora goat in the Northern States have not been very successful, and the number there at present is very limited. In this State they multiply at the rate of over 100 percent per annum, while the mortality after the first year of all goats under ten years of age does not exceed one percent per annum...”

April 5, 1873 [Pacific Rural Press]: “San Diego Union, March 20: The Angora Goat.— The experiment about to be attempted by the Guadalupe Island Company to improve the common goat stock at present on the island by the introduction of pure blooded Angora bucks, has an important bearing upon the wool interests of the Pacific Coast. The men at the head of the enterprise — Messrs. Landrum of Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, and others, have demonstrated beyond question the feasibility of improving the grade of the common goat by judicious crossing with the Angora species, so as to make it like the latter fleece-bearing. The Angora goat, which is a native of Asia Minor, takes kindly to the herbage and climate of Southern California. The effort made to acclimatize the Angora goat in the Northern States have not been very successful, and the number there at present is limited. In this State they multiply at the rate of over 100 percent per annum, while the mortality after the first year of all goats under ten years of age does not exceed one percent per annum. Guadalupe Island, upon which the experiment of improving the common stock is about to be inaugurated on an extensive scale, is possessed of a climate similar in every respect to that of Asia Minor — the home of the Angora. The island has now 20,000 common goats grazing upon it. Selecting only 5,000 ewes wherewith to enter upon the experiment, it is calculated that at the end of ten years the number of graded ewes will have increased to 75,000, valued at $10 each, or an aggregate of $750,000. The amount to be derived from the sale of wethers and old ewes during that decade is estimated at $643,040. The quantity of wool or mohair to be sheared during that time will sum up to nearly 1,000,000 pounds, valued at about $900,000, being nearly an aggregate revenue, including the value of stock, of $2,300,000. The experiment will be watched with interest.”

November 21, 1873 [Jamestown Journal]: “Harrison Gray Otis writes Forest and Stream. The Guadalupe Island Company was incorporated under the laws of California, Jan. 25th, 1873, and at once commenced active operations by putting on improvements and shipping to the island a band of fine Angora bucks to be used with the native ewes already there in breeding up future generations to a fleece-bearing standard. The number of common goats on the island at the time of its purchase was approximately twenty thousand. (There were some thirty-two thousand slaughtered on the island for their skins and tallow alone during the five years preceding its purchase by its present American owners.) One-half of this twenty thousand being males, are to be slaughtered in order to stop the propagation of this non-fleece-breeding race, while the remaining ten thousand, being females, are not to be killed off, but utilized as breeders by crossing them with pure and high grade Angora bucks. The offspring of the third cross (seven-eights Angora) is a fleece-bearing animal. To these five thousand native ewes (bring only one-half of the entire number now on Guadalupe Island) have already been added more than one thousand pure and high-grade Angora ewes. A large number of Angora bucks have also been sent on since the first shipment last spring. It will thus be seen that this enterprise is organized upon no narrow or unsafe basis. Commencing on such a broad foundation, having a vast range, comprising more than 166,000 acres of rich grazing land, affording ample natural food for at least seventy-five thousand goats, and producing the most prolific, hardy, cheaply-raised and profitable of all fleece-bearing animals. The projectors are not willing to admit that their enterprise is specious in its character, chimerical, visionary, impracticable, or their estimates exaggerated. Finally, the enterprise is no experiment. You say truly "that the Angora goat can be profitably raised in California admits of no doubt." There is no room for doubt on this point, when the manager of El Rancho Guadalupe himself, (Mr. Landrum) has successfully raised them in the State for twelve years past. He being the pioneer Angora breeder on the Pacific Coast, may be presumed to know whereof he affirms in regard to the wonderful prolificness, healthfulness and profitableness of this animal in that latitude and favoring climate. And of his integrity, good judgment and fair mindedness there can be no doubt. I think I have now given you enough facts to show the true state of the case with regard to this goat's paradise in the Pacific.”

February 14, 1874 [Red Bluff Independent]: “...The most extensive enterprise in the way of Angora goat-raising in this country is probably that of the Guadalupe Island Company of California, which owns an entire island in the Pacific southwest of San Diego, comprising some 160,000 acres of grazing land, upon which the 20,000 or more goats subsist and thrive the year round without prepared food or artificial shelter. The leader of this colossal enterprise is William M. Landrum, "the pioneer goat man of the Pacific." they are not a grass-eating animal, and when kept on such in small enclosures soon become unhealthy. They are a browsing animal, and cannot stand being high fed with grain and grass.”

April 7, 1874 [Daily National Republic]: “From Lower California. The Late Storm on the Pacific—Guadalupe Island, Its Bays, Harbors, Timer and Flocks. A private letter received in this city from Southern California contains the following intelligence: A gentleman who arrived at Watsonville, March 25, from a sea voyage along the coast, reports that the schooner Louisa Harker, on which he was a passenger, encountered a terrific gale off San Diego—"the worst storm that has visited that part of the coast for ten years"—lasting four days. The vessel put into Esparza Bay, Guadalupe Island, (lying two hundred miles southwest of San Diego,) the water in the bay being a smooth eddy, where she lay to for four days to escape the gale and heavy sea, she in the meantime having sprung a leak, her captain was compelled to return to San Diego for repairs. [This must have been the same storm that jeopardized the safety of the steamer Colima, as reported in The Republican's dispatches eight or ten days ago.] Mr Rodgers, the gentleman referred to, reported to the president of the Guadalupe Island Wool Growing [sic] Company (which owns that island) some encouraging facts that more than confirm the company's previous estimate of the value of their landed property for pastoral purposes. He believes the island to be worth double the sum—$300,000—at which it was estimated when purchased in January 1873. He sailed along side the island its full length, twenty-six miles, and could see, even from the deck of the schooner, a luxuriant carpet of living green—the grass growing "thick and beautiful from one end to the other", the land smoother than the hills at the north of the Pajaro Valley, on the main land, and showing better grazing, "more than double as good as reported previously." The company's men, who are permanently stationed on the island, were doing well. They report that they had taken, up to October last, 700 pelts from old goats of the common stock, and would get as many more before the heavy rains stopped operations. Another man, (not connected with the company,) who arrived from Guadalupe, reports that the young Angora goats were "shining white all over the island, the prettiest sight he ever saw." He asserts, after having seen all the Pacific coast islands, the "there is no other island that will compare in any way with Guadalupe. Her harbors are excellent, she has unlimited range for stock, and more timber than any of the other islands." These statements are fully borne out by other disinterested persons who have recently visited the island. Mr. Rodgers reports that he saw from the vessel's deck more grass than the large flocks already there can eat off in many years. He saw and learned enough to satisfy him that the owners of this splendid pastoral domain "have the bed rock for millions of dollars" if they but "push things," (as Grant said to Sheridan at Five Forks,) and utilize to proper advantage the abundant grass that covers the face of the island. This course is to be pursued. Mr. Landrum, the president of the company, who was to leave for the island about April 6, means business. His motto is, "Push things." He will, upon his return in May, bring a full report of the results of the kidding and shearing season.”

July 12, 1874 [LAH]: “Angora Goats. Mr. William M. Landrum, of the firm of Landrum & Rodgers, of Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, passed this city yesterday with 1,025 Angora goats of different grades that he is taking to Guadalupe Island, which lies some distance from the mainland two hundred miles south of San Diego. This island contains 166,400 acres, thirty-eight square miles of which are covered with cedar timber and three square miles with pine. In the cañons and gulches grow a great deal of palm. The island is well adapted to goat or sheep raising. It is owned by a company, of which the firm named are members. This company now have 40,000 goats on the island. Mr. Landrum is entitled to the credit of being the pioneer thoroughbred Angora goat breeder on the Pacific coast. He brought two of these goats from Missouri across the plains in 1861, and he now has at Watsonville two hundred pure Angoras — about one third of all there is in the United States. The band he is now driving south contains different grades, from the nearly pure Angora down to the almost common goat. A few facts concerning the Angora goat and the value of its fleece will be of interest. The ewes shear about six pounds; seven pounds is the extreme. The extreme weight of the buck's fleece is ten pounds. The average of the ewe's fleece is four pounds, and the average of the buck's six pounds. There is no consumption of this wool as yet on the Pacific coast, but it readily sells in the East at the following figures: Lowerst grade, 24c@30c; second, 45c@48c; third, 65c; pure select, $1.20 Fair average is worth $1 per pound. The value of the Angora goat, mixed and pure, is as follows: Ewes, half-breed, $4; three-fourths, $6; seven-eights, $9; finer quality, $30; thoroughbred, from $120 to $175. Mixed bucks are worth about $40, while the thoroughbreds sell at from $150 to $200 each. The Angora goat is a great deal hardier than the sheep. The climate of the Southern Coast counties is especially adapted to their culture...”

July 13, 1874 [SBMP]: “A New Source of Wealth. The farmers of the Pacific Slope are turning their attention to a branch of stock-raising which bids fair to result in adding an important staple to the productions of the United States. This is the naturalization and breeding of the Angora goat, commonly but incorrectly called the cashmere, the fleece of which supplies the mohair of commerce. Until recently the entire production of mohair for use of the world was confined to Asia Minor. The preparation and sale of mohair has been the principal industry of the people of Angora... The first Angoras imported into the United States for breeding purposes were brought to this country in 1848 by Dr. Davis of South Carolina... In 1861 Mr. W. M. Landrum took two bucks to California. One of these, bred by Mr. Peters from the original Davis importation, lived to be ten years old, and became the sire of about 2,000 kids... In 1872 it was estimated that there were 70,000 Angora goats of all grades on the Pacific slope, and under favorable circumstances the flocks are almost doubling annually. On Guadalupe Island, situated off the coast of Lower California, about ninety miles from the mainland, where a company is engaged in breeding the Angora goat, the increase has been 100 percent from the ewes. There are now 35,000 goats on the island, old and young...”

July 19, 1874 [San Diego Union]: “Wm. M. Landrum, of Landrum & Rodgers, Angora goat and sheep growers, of Watsonville, arrived in this city yesterday. Mr. Landrum is on the way to Guadalupe Island, off the Lower Coast.”

July 25, 1874 [San Diego Union]: “The schooner Louisa Harker sailed last evening for Guadalupe Island. Mr. Wm. M. Landrum took passage down on the schooner, taking with him 152 head of Angora goats. Mr. Landrum expects to be absent two or three weeks and will prepare a report to the Company on his return. This Guadalupe Island enterprise is, as we have before remarked, one of very great importance to San Diego.”

August 20, 1874 [SDU]: “From Guadalupe Island—Landrum's Adventures. San Diego, August 19th. The schooner Esther, Captain Wilson, arrived at 11 o'clock last night from Guadalupe Island, bringing up William M. Landrum, of Watsonville, who went down on the Louisa Harker a few weeks ago, with a cargo of Angora goats. She landed him, and then, according to the commander's account, a sudden gale sprang up and drove her out to sea. She was compelled to return to this port with the goats. Landrum gives another statement of how he was left in the lurch by the Harker. He says the schooner was not brought to her proper anchorage, and so drifted away; that there was no wind at all, it being perfectly calm. This turn of affairs interfered with the object of his trip, but he made the best of the circumstances, and explored the island thoroughly while there. He says he was agreeably surprised with the island, pasturage being exceedingly abundant, even to the tops of the mountains, and the grass was three feet high.”

September 12, 1874 [Los Angeles Daily Star]: “The Angora Goat Enterprise on Guadalupe Island. William Landrum, the man who brought the first Angora goats to this State, and one of the most enterprising sheep and goat raisers in the State, spent most of the summer on Guadalupe Island, and has made an elaborate report to the stockholders of the company. After giving a very full description of the formation and general physical characteristics of the Island and the trees, shrubs, grasses and weeds, he speaks of the goats as follows: The native goats we find to be mostly of the old English breed, black and white, short sleek hair. Evidently there has been a buck put in here recently of the Mexican variety, of a brown color, which has more or less mixed with the English goat. Many of the English variety look to be pure

December 21, 1874 [SDU]: “The schooner San Diego, from Santa Cruz, arrived last evening. She will take on board several hundred Angora goats for Landrum & Rogers, of Watsonville, and proceed to Guadalupe Island.”

January 16, 1875 [Mariposa Gazette]: “The Watsonville Pajaronian, learns that E. R. Marsh, of San Francisco, has recently invested $27,000 in Angora goats; also William Hall, of San Jose, lately purchased a lot at $11,480; and C. S. Abbott, Flint, Baxby & Co., and B. Boswell have bought all the stock of the Guadalupe Island Company, except about 300 shares, and the stock held by Landrum & Rogers. Those men represent several million dollars, and mean business in goat raising.”

July 28, 1876 [SBMP]: “Description and Points of a Good Angora Goat. The first and most noticeable point of difference between the common goat and the Angora species is the magnificent long white fleece of the latter, which covers the animal from eyes to hoofs, almost... (The writer has seen goat's hair of 18 months' growth, from a buck of the Guadalupe Island flock, bred by Landrum & Rodgers, which measured 17-1/2 inches in length.)...

August 12, 1876 [Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel]: “Angora Goats. Messrs. Landrum & Rogers have on their fine place near Watsonville, 150 ewes and 100 bucks. Their best ewes shear five to seven pounds and the bucks six to eight pounds. Their prize buck, Herculese, sheared last year ten pounds of mohair. A yearling buck, last year, sheared eight pounds. The mohair was thirteen inches long on the belly, and running down to nine inches on the hock. He took the first prize at the California and Oregon State Fairs ...They occupy, with Flint, Bixby & Co., C. S. Abbott, and B. Boswell, the Guadalupe Island and have thereon 1,000 head of high grades and pure breeds, and 5,000 to 8,000 low grades, and over 30,000 common goats. Their last year's fleece sold in New York for ninety, sixty, forty and twenty-five cents, and the poorest culls for twenty cents...”

November 3, 1883 [Santa Cruz Weekly Sentinel]: “Wm. Landrum, formerly of Watsonville, left Los Angeles last week for Texas with his band of Angora goats. He disposed of a band at Los Angeles at good figures.”

1901 “...The Western States have man thousands. [of Angora goats] Mr. William M. Landrum is quoted as follows: White goats can stand any amount of cold and snow, but sleet and wind are very injurious. On the other hand, they can endure the scorching heat of the Tropics. Their fleece is best at an altitude of from 3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. The fleece never sheds on Guadalupe Island, 210 miles from San Diego, at an altitude of only from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. I have grown mohair there two feet long, of lovely texture. We had 80,000 wild goats roaming on the island without any attention, except in slaughtering season, when we sheared the Angoras and slaughtered from 14,000 to 15,000 common goats for their hides and tallow. The goats all ran wild and took care of themselves. We were not at one dollar expense on them.” [17th Annual Report. Congressional Serial Set (Reports, Documents, and Journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives), U. S. Govt. Printing., 1901, p. 327]