Frank Rabb
Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Frank Rabb (1866-1932) was born in Corpus Christi to Texas ranching pioneers John and Martha Rabb. After marrying Lillian Starck, granddaughter of ranching neighbor Mifflin Kenedy, Frank and Lillian settled at San Tomas on 20,000 acres. Except for a few small plots, agriculture in the area was scarce until the late 19th century when the introduction of steam pumps and irrigation systems offset the harsh climate. Rabb worked to develop one of the first irrigation systems in the area that allowed for property to be farmed and irrigated in areas away from immediate river banks. Rabb was also a charter member of the Chatfield Irrigation Co., an early attempt at wide-spread irrigation. In addition, Rabb and other growers lobbied vigorously to have rail lines extended to their region to transport goods and export produce. By 1904, with the coming of the railroad, irrigation canals and farmland sales became a major enterprise. In addition to agriculture, Rabb also became a leader in the south Texas Progressive Democrat machine and was involved in the turbulent Mexican Revolution. Following the heated election of 1914, Rabb left politics and returned to ranching, farming and real estate interests. In 1917, Rabb offered a 200-acre sabal palm grove to the U.S. government to establish a national park. It would take almost 60 years before his vision to preserve this unique natural heritage of the Rio Grande delta came to fruition. Frank Rabb was instrumental in initiating a significant change that made large-scale agriculture in this region possible. He is remembered for his involvement in conflicts and politics of the early 20th century in south Texas and in Mexico. (2012)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in 1866 to Texas ranching pioneers, Frank Rabb settled with his wife Lillian on the twenty-thousand-acre San Tomas estate near the Rio Grande. He built one of the area's first irrigation systems, helped charter the Chatfield Irrigation Co., and lobbied to bring the railroad that by 1904 turned Valley land into booming farmland. A leader in the south Texas Progressive Democrat machine and a figure in the turbulent Mexican Revolution, he also offered the government a sabal palm grove in 1917 that decades later became a wildlife sanctuary.
Why it matters
Rabb helped make large-scale irrigated agriculture possible in the lower Rio Grande Valley, reshaping the region's economy and landscape.
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Related people
- · Frank Rabb
- · Lillian Starck Rabb
- · John Rabb
- · Martha Rabb
- · Mifflin Kenedy
Themes & tags
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