ZANESVILLE OHIO ENTREPRENEURS RISKED CAPITAL TO ESTABLISH "FUTURE CREAT CITY OF WEST TEXAS." TO ATTRACT FARMERS, NAMED FOR ODESSA RUSSIA WORLDWIDE WHEAT CENTER, 15,360 ACRES BOUGHT 1886 FOR $53,760.00. FOUNDERS GAVE LAND FOR COLLEGE, CHURCHES, HOSPITAL, PARK.

PRINCIPALS WERE: SOAP MAGNATES JOHN HOGE, ROBERT SCHULTZ, COL. T.F. SPANGLER, COLORFUL PROMOTER, RAILROAD BUILDER JAMES HERDMAN - ALL CIVIC LEADERS, PHILANTHROPISTS.

SALES PIECES PROMOTED AS FARMERS DREAM WITH CHEAP LAND, ABUNDANT WATER, SALOON-FREE AND " NO INDIANS NEARER THAN 300 MILES AND COWBOYS AS PEACEFUL AS GENTLEMEN."

DROUGHT, COMPETITION FREE STATE LAND FOLDED VENTURE 1889, BUT SUBSEQUENT FREE ENTERPRISERS SUCCEEDED.