Edward Burleson Raymond
Raymondville, Willacy County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founder of Raymondville. Born in a log house on Congress Avenue, Austin, son of Republic of Texas lawyer and newspaperman N. C. Raymond and wife Lucinda (Riggs), E. B. Raymond came on horseback to South Texas in 1870. After herding cattle uptrail to Kansas, he was hired about 1874 by Richard King to open El Sauz Ranch, and managed King-Kenedy interests for 37 years. He also developed a ranch of his own, married Juanita Rodrigurez, and was the father of two sons, Fred N. and Edward Charles. When El Sauz Post Office was created in 1893, he was made postmaster. He was a school official and served 1898-1910 as a commissioner of Cameron County. Joining other ranchers in deeding right of way for St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway, he also donated a station site near his Las Majadas Ranch. Railway officials named the station in his honor. In 1904, the year rail service was formally inaugurated on the fourth of July, he organized Raymond Town & Improvement Co.; in 1907, became president of town's first bank; set up telephone exchange; built cotton gin. After his death, Raymondville became seat of government for new county of Willacy, created 1921. (1974)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in an Austin log house to a Republic of Texas newspaperman, E. B. Raymond rode into South Texas in 1870 and spent decades managing the sprawling King-Kenedy ranching empire. Building his own ranch and civic career, he helped bring the railroad through by deeding right-of-way and donating a station site, which the railway named in his honor. He then founded a town company, bank, telephone exchange, and cotton gin, and Raymondville later became the seat of Willacy County.
Why it matters
Raymond's career shows how cattle barons and railroads together transformed the South Texas ranchlands into towns, tying frontier ranching to the machinery of modern commerce.
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Related people
- · Edward Burleson Raymond
- · Richard King
Themes & tags
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