McNeill Ranch
Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1882 James Calvin McNeill (b. 1844), Brazoria County rancher, purchased 8,000 acres in Crosby County to expand his cattle business. Maintaining two distant ranches became difficult, so in 1890 George M. Williamson, his cousin, came to assist in the management of this property, later expanded to 18,240 acres. In 1902 James Calvin McNeill, Jr. (1875-1949) took over operation of the ranch. The elder McNeill divided his property among his children in 1930. For one hundred years the McNeill ranch has played a significant role in the ranching history of this area. (1982)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1882 Brazoria County rancher James Calvin McNeill bought 8,000 acres in Crosby County to grow his cattle operation, later expanding it to more than 18,000 acres. Managing two far-flung ranches proved hard, so in 1890 his cousin George M. Williamson arrived to help, and in 1902 his son James Calvin McNeill Jr. took the reins. When the elder McNeill divided the property among his children in 1930, the ranch had already become a fixture of the region's cattle country.
Why it matters
The McNeill Ranch reflects the great expansion of cattle ranching onto the Texas South Plains, the family enterprises that built the range economy and shaped the land for a century.
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Related people
- · James Calvin McNeill
- · George M. Williamson
- · James Calvin McNeill, Jr.
Themes & tags
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