Reed-McCampbell-Wiess Ranch Complex
Berclair, Goliad County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded in 1869 by James D. Reed, this ranch also was owned by the Peninsula Company comprised of Thomas and William McCampbell and Pryor Lea. Laura (McCampbell) Wiess (d. 1942) inherited it in 1885. The complex, which features more than 25 structures, centers around this two-story house begun by Reed in the 1870s. Laura and her husband, Valentine, added its Queen Anne elements later. The ranch was donated to the Baptist Foundation of Texas in 1970. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1991
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
James D. Reed founded this Goliad County ranch in 1869, and it later passed through the hands of the Peninsula Company and, in 1885, to Laura McCampbell Wiess. At its heart stands a two-story house Reed began in the 1870s, which Laura and her husband Valentine later dressed in Queen Anne detail; more than twenty-five structures make up the sprawling complex. In 1970 the ranch was given to the Baptist Foundation of Texas.
Why it matters
The complex preserves the built world of a South Texas cattle ranch across three generations, when ranching drove the economy and shaped the landscape of the region.
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Related people
- · James D. Reed
- · Laura McCampbell Wiess
- · Valentine Wiess
Themes & tags
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