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Early Cattle Ranching in Presidio County, West Texas

Fascinating early sketch map of the area southwest of Fort Stockton, in Presidio County, Texas, extending southwest to Esteban, Texas, west to Fort Davis and south to Mount Santiago and Maravillas Creek.

This map would seem to correspond to the cattle ranching areas in Presidio County, immediately prior to the arrival of the railroad in the early 1880s.  Based upon the data described below, including the efforts to map roads, springs, mountains and mountain passes, the map would seem to correspond either with the interests of cattle ranchers in the region or a very early and primitive depiction of the region for early railroad surveying and planning purposes.  

To the west of Ft. Stockton is "Leon Sprint Station," a stop on the Butterfield Overland Stage Route. The map identifies Fort Davis, established on October 23, 1854.

The map extends southwest to San Estevan (San Esteban), but does not show Marfa, Texas (established in the 1880s) and does not show any sign of railroad activity.  Similarly, the map does not show the location of Alpine, Texas (called Osborne between 1882 and 1883) and Murphysville, from 1883 to February 3, 1888), which had been used as a campsite for cattlemen tending their herds between 1878 and the spring of 1882, when a town of tents (Osborne) was created by railroad workers and their families.

As none of the major ranches in the region is located, it would seem that the map was created at the very beginning of the cattle ranching period, which seems to have begun to accelerate in the late 1870s.

History of Fort Stockton, Texas (1859-1886)

Fort Stockton, Texas, established in 1859, has a storied history that mirrors the broader narrative of westward expansion and settlement in the United States. The fort, initially named Camp Stockton (until it was renamed in 1860), was established by Company H of the 1st Infantry from Fort Lancaster to secure the region around Comanche Springs, one of Texas's largest sources of spring water. Named after Commodore Robert F. Stockton, the fort grew around this vital water source, which served as a critical rest stop on the Great Comanche Trail, the San Antonio-El Paso Road, and the Butterfield Overland Mail route. On October 2, 1859, the well-known journalist and future Union spy, Albert D. Richardson, passed through Camp Stockton, describing it as "a military post of three or four edifices with pearly, misty mountains in the background."

In 1861, the fort was garrisoned by Company C, 8th Infantry, under Capt. Arthur Tracy Lee, who evacuated the fort by April. Confederate forces, led by Charles L. Pyron and later Capt. William C. Adams, took possession on May 9, 1861. Following the failure of John Baylor's invasion of New Mexico, a general Confederate evacuation of West Texas occurred in 1862. The U.S. Army rebuilt the fort on a larger scale in 1867, as part of a broader frontier fort system including Forts Griffin, Concho, Belknap, and others in Texas, and Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

On July 21, 1867, Fort Stockton was reoccupied by Companies A, B, E, and K of the 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, composed of Buffalo Soldiers under General Edward Hatch. The new fort was built half a mile north of the original site. Over the years, several notable commanders led the fort, including Major James F. Wade, Lt. Col. Wesley Merritt, and Major Zenas Randall Bliss. The fort was eventually abandoned in 1882, with Major George A. Purington being the last commander when the Army finally left on June 27, 1886. 

Following the Army's departure, San Antonio entrepreneurs, recognizing the potential of Comanche and Leon Springs for irrigation, purchased large tracts of land for agricultural development. In 1868, Peter Gallagher bought land including the military garrison and Comanche Springs, platted 160 acres for a town named Saint Gaul, and established stores at Comanche Springs. By 1870, the Saint Gaul region, predominantly populated by Irish, German, and Mexican Catholics, had a population of 420. When Pecos County was organized in 1875, Saint Gaul became the county seat and was later renamed Fort Stockton in 1881. 

By 1870, settlers began using water from the Pecos River for irrigation.  After the military post was abandoned and bypassed by major railroads, Fort Stockton faced a decline but quickly became the center of an extensive sheep and cattle-ranching industry. The opening of the nearby Yates Oil Field in 1926 sparked an economic boom.  

Ranching In Presidio County

Presidio County, Texas, began modern cattle ranching history by about 1860. Milton Faver, one of the first major figures in the area, moved west in the 1840s and established his presence by working as a freighter on both sides of the border along the Chihuahua and Santa Fe Trails. By 1857, he had transitioned to cattle ranching, moving his family to the Chinati Mountains, establishing ranches near reliable springs. His operations included large-scale ranches at El Fortín del Cíbolo, La Ciénaga, and La Morita.

The 1870s marked significant expansion in cattle ranching for Presidio County. Milton Faver, with his vast herds, was a central figure. His land holdings were extensive, including El Fortín del Cíbolo and La Morita. By 1883, Faver sold his herd of 7,000 cattle, marking the end of an era for the famous F brand. Other notable ranchers included the Bogel family, who established the San Esteban Ranch, and George Crosson, who began ranching near Fort Davis in the 1870s. Crosson transitioned from freighting to ranching, purchasing 1,800 ewes from Milton Faver and settling in Musquiz Canyon by 1878. 

Watering holes were crucial for the survival and success of cattle ranching in Presidio County. Sites like San Esteban's water hole, utilized by explorers such as Capt. Juan Domínguez de Mendoza in 1684, were central to cattle drives. Other significant watering spots included Tinaja, located three miles east of San Esteban, and Comanche Springs near Fort Stockton. Additional key locations included Leon Springs, Cienega Creek, Cibolo Creek, and the Pecos River, which provided essential water sources for ranching operations. 

Cattle drives were essential for the economic viability of ranching in Presidio County. The drives often followed established trails like the Chihuahua Trail, which connected the region to broader markets. Notable routes passed through Alamito Creek, linking with trails to railheads and shipping points.  Key stops along these routes included Fort Davis, Shafter, and Marfa, which provided necessary supplies and rest points. 

Notable ranchers and locations include:

• Milton Faver: Established major ranches at El Fortín del Cíbolo, La Ciénaga, and La Morita.
• Bishop Family Ranch (1879): Contributed significantly to the local cattle industry.
• Bogel Family Ranch: Known for raising cattle and mules and selling horses to the U.S. Army.
• George Crosson Ranch (1870s): Established near Fort Davis and later in Musquiz Canyon, transitioning from sheep to cattle ranching.
• Hart Family Ranch (Late 1870s): Near Cibolo Creek, contributing to the expansion of ranching in the area.
• Douglas Family Ranch (Early 1880s): Located near the Rio Grande, playing a role in the regional cattle industry. 

San Esteban, Texas

San Esteban, a settlement of adobe buildings on Alamito Creek in northeastern Presidio County, Texas, has a rich history dating back to the late 1500s. Spanish explorer Agustín Rodríguez first recorded the site when he erected a special cross at the San Esteban water hole. In early 1684, Capt. Juan Domínguez de Mendoza visited the site while searching for the Jumanos Indians and a rumored river of pearls.

The settlement of San Esteban began developing around the water hole roughly a century after Mendoza's visit. Around 1824, Comanches massacred a group of prison colonists called the Condemned Regiment near San Esteban. In 1839, Chihuahuan trader Henry Connelly stopped at San Esteban with an expedition of seven wagons and 100 men, marking the beginning of the Chihuahua Trail, on which San Esteban became a regular stop.

By the late 1870s, the surrounding grasslands attracted cattlemen. The Bishop family began ranching there in 1879, followed by the Jordan family in 1885. W. W. Bogel and his five sons raised cattle and mules at San Esteban Ranch and sold horses to the U.S. Army. The settlement flourished as a ranching community until the San Esteban Dam's completion in 1912, which flooded the townsite. Today, the historic settlement lies at the bottom of San Esteban Lake.