George Washington “Cap” Arrington (1844–1923), born John C. Orrick, Jr., in Greensboro, Alabama, was a Confederate Army veteran, lawman, and rancher. After the Civil War, he adopted the name George Washington Arrington to escape his troubled past, which included fleeing to Texas following the murder of a businessman. Arrington joined the Texas Rangers in 1875, serving in the Frontier Battalion. He rose through the ranks, earning the nickname “Cap” and leading successful missions in the Rio Grande Valley and the Panhandle, including charting New Mexico territories and investigating depredations.
In 1882, Arrington left the Rangers to pursue ranching in the Panhandle. He became sheriff of Wheeler County and the surrounding areas, gaining a reputation as a tough lawman known as the “iron-handed man of the Panhandle.” Despite controversy, including a fatal shooting of a suspected cattle rustler in 1886, he was acquitted on self-defense grounds. He married Sarah “Sallie” Burnette in 1882, and they had nine children.
Arrington established his CAP ranch on the Washita River, building his homestead and registering his brand in 1885. He later managed the Rocking Chair Ranch for British investors, improving operations until 1896. Afterward, he focused on his own ranch and became active in civic affairs in Canadian, Texas. Cautious due to past enemies, he rarely appeared in public unarmed.
Arrington passed away in 1923 from a heart attack. He was buried in Mobeetie, and his legacy continued through his ranching descendants. His papers are preserved at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
