Nov 07 2011
From Wellington to Justins
In the 1860s, Wellingtons were quite popular. The first ever mass produced boots were not only sturdy, they were also very affordable making them a favorite among those who lived in the west.
From 1886 to 1884 also known as the cattle drive era, the regular cowboy never wanted to ruin a good pair of cowboy boots while working. Their dress boots were only worn during special occasions or when going into town to meet friends. Some cowboys at the time owned very decorative dress boots and these boots, much like the regular dress boots of other cowboys were only worn when the cowboy went to town.
The basic elements of dress boots were integrated in working boots over the years making the trusty Wellington obsolete. This development also gave birth to different bootmaking companies that are still popular today.
If one refers to fashion magazines during the 1850s to the 1860s, cowboy boots with topstitching were featured. Some of these boots also featured natural elements integrated as a design.
The American-style boot we now know today were later taken up by the best bootmakers in areas where cattle ranching was a way of life. These areas included the states of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. According to history, 2 of the most well-known bootmakers of the time were Charles Hyer of the Hyer Brothers Boots –a small company located in Olathe, Kansas and H.J. Justin of the infamous Justin Boots who headquartered in Spanish Fort, Texas.
Justin however moved to Nocona and other bootmakers went to the place to take advantage of the number of people going there, a new brand came out. The Nocona brand was started by the eldest daughter of Joe Justin, Enid Justin Stelzer who chose to live in Nocona with her husband.
The couple went through a divorce though that’s why Stelzer started the Olsen-Stelzer brand.



