W. J. "Jeff" Williams
Plainview, Hale County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Born in Johnson County, Texas, Jeff Williams came to Hale County in 1896. Largely self-taught, he began surveying in 1902 and worked on the XIT Ranch resurvey of 1909. He was Potter County surveyor, 1907-15, and held the same post in Hale County, 1902-06 and 1920-73. Dividing ranch lands, plotting roads and townsites, and solving boundary disputes, Williams helped open the South Plains for settlement. He married Ethel Williams in 1906, and they had four children. Recorded - 1975
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Largely self-taught, Jeff Williams reached Hale County in 1896 and took up surveying in 1902, later working on the 1909 resurvey of the vast XIT Ranch. He served as county surveyor in both Potter and Hale counties across more than half a century, dividing ranch lands, plotting roads and townsites, and settling boundary disputes. His work helped open the South Plains of Texas to settlement.
Why it matters
Surveyors like Williams drew the lines that turned open ranchland into the farms, roads, and towns of the modern West.
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Related people
- ¡ W. J. "Jeff" Williams
- ¡ Ethel Williams
Related events
- ¡ XIT Ranch resurvey of 1909
Themes & tags
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