Littlefield Home
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
George W. Littlefield (1842 – 1920) came to Texas with his family in 1850. He served in the Civil War with Terry’s Texas Rangers, attaining the rank of Major. Following the war, he became a cattleman and acquired ranches in New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. He came to Austin in 1883 and engaged in banking. A regent of the University of Texas, 1911 – 1920, he contributed funds for new buildings, study grants, and library collections. Littlefield built this Victorian residence in 1894. Designed by James W. Wahrenberger, the house was bequeathed to the University in 1935. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1962
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
George W. Littlefield came to Texas as a boy in 1850, rode with Terry's Texas Rangers in the Civil War, and emerged a major who turned to the cattle business, amassing great ranches across New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. Settling in Austin in 1883, he moved into banking and served as a regent of the University of Texas, funding buildings, scholarships, and library collections. He built this Victorian residence in 1894 and left it to the university on his death.
Why it matters
Littlefield's life traces the arc from Confederate soldier to cattle baron to university benefactor, embodying the frontier fortunes that built modern Texas.
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Related people
- · George W. Littlefield
- · James W. Wahrenberger
Related events
- · Terry's Texas Rangers
Themes & tags
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