Colonel Wm. Edgar Hughes of the Mill Iron
Childress, Childress County, Texas
Marker Inscription
= [Mill Iron brand] Born 1840. Came from Illinois to Texas, 1859. During Civil War rose from private, 1st Texas Artillery, to Colonel in 16th Cavalry. Was in bloody battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Nashville, Richmond. After war, when "didn't have 2 pairs of pants", taught school and read law in Weatherford. As lawyer, took many land cases. In 7 years became organizer and president, City Bank of Dallas (now 1st National, Dallas). Later, an officer in Exchange Bank, Dallas; Union Trust Co., St. Louis; Continental Trust Co., Denver. In 1880, bought half interest in Mill Iron Ranch. Purchased small holdings from Pease to Red River -- Bridle Bits, DV's, Diamond D's and others. Range lay in Childress, Cottle, Hall, Motley counties. In 1885 added windmills, wells, to run larger herds-up to 50,000. In early years used dugouts, chuckwagons for headquarters. First small ranch house was built at Windmill 62, near Estelline. Bought out Rocking Chair Ranch, Collingsworth County, 1896. Until 1898, ran only longhorns. Was said to have had the largest men, most practical jokers, longest cattle drives, biggest horses in Texas. He sold off the last Mill Iron herd in 1918 -- year of his death. (1965)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in 1840, William Edgar Hughes came from Illinois to Texas in 1859 and rose from private to colonel in Confederate service, fighting at Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Nashville. After the war he taught school, read law, and built a banking empire stretching from Dallas to Denver, then in 1880 bought into the Mill Iron Ranch, assembling a vast spread that eventually ran up to 50,000 head of longhorns across four counties. He sold the last Mill Iron herd in 1918, the year he died.
Why it matters
Hughes's life bridges the Civil War, Gilded Age finance, and the great cattle empires, embodying the sweep of a self-made man across post-war America.
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Related people
- · William Edgar Hughes
Related events
- · Battle of Shiloh
- · Battle of Chickamauga
- · Battle of Nashville
Themes & tags
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