The scenario of the cowboy's demise went like this: A cowboy from Verde Ranch was checking cattle at graze near present day Pinon Hills, and ended up in the Big Pines area to check on the reason why water, that had been previous used by the Verde Ranch, had been diverted. History of the Verde Ranch revealed that their grazing extended to present day Table Mountain. The Verde hand was reported to have been shot and killed by a ranch hand from a Wrightwood ranch. Five cowhands from Verde Ranch returned to the area of the shooting and shot and killed the other cowboy who had shot their friend.
The above account was told to by Litta Belle Campbell in an interview Dec. 1970, she is now deceased. It was basically verified by Dale Cheesman, as told to him by his father, ranger Harvey R. Cheesman. Ranger Harvey R. Chessman had been deceased for 40 years. George "Tex" Rankin identified Ernest Sockel, a Verde Ranch cowboy who was found shot at a water source located in Bennett Canyon. It is important to note that "Bennett Canyon" does not show up on any map of the area (earliest maps were 1929), including the Victorville area. However, Rankin stated that it was called that long ago and might be called something different today. John Reese and Homer Urkins worked on the Verde Ranch at the time Rankin did. Homer was the gunfighter of the group, having one thumb paralyzed in a gunfight. Tex was the top hand, but said to exaggerate some. Tex Rankin's interview was in 1970 and is available to read at the Victorville Collage Historical Room. He is also deceased.
Since "water" appeared to be factor in the cowboy's demise, let's look at the water companies in the general area at the time. These were the water companies in the area around the 1920's:
The Little Baldy Water Company- Owned by the Winnett Family:
Thomas B. and Earle Winnett, father and son, filed on 160 acres near the Deadman Canyon Road (now Largo Vista) and the Fort Tejon Road in 1914. Subsequently, Tom Winnett would own 720 acres in this area. With water from Deadman Canyon the Winnetts grew pears and apples from water was piped from Mescal creek, who's water rights were first owned by Sumner Wright.
With others, Tom and Earle Winnett formed the Little Baldy Water Company and conveyed water from Deadman's by pipeline to the ranches of stockholders, who planted orchards and some built homes. These homes were located in the area what is now called avenue Z to Avenue V-8, and between Deadman Canyon and 170th St East. (The cement pipe can still be seen on the hillsides adjacent to the intersection of Big Pines Hwy and Big Rock Creek). Thomas B. Winnett acquired from Wright all of the waters of the Mescal Creek and this water was piped to the Winnett Ranch.
The Winnetts depended on the water, like most ranches at the time. They had used the water that had been diverted from the Big Pines/Wrightwood area. Did one of their laborers argue and subsequently shoot the Verde cowboy? William Hagenbaugh drilled five wells, and developed the extensive Hagenbaugh Ranch up Boulder Canyon, he later sold two sections of his ranch property in Mescal Canyon to Gustave M.M. Von Herran (the son of woman boxer and trouble maker, Countess Jeannie Vina Lamar) . To this day, other sections of the ranch is for sale. Prior to selling his ranch in Mescal Canyon, Hagenbaugh also put the Mescal Creek water source to use. The same water that was diverted from the Big Pines/Wrightwood area. Hagenbaugh operated the Mescal Canyon location during the time of the incident. Was his outfit involved?
