The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 156
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
interesting thing is that occasionally a customer would pur-
chase an item and pay for part of it in cash and have the rest
charged; several entries appear such as "rest of a quart of
whisky... $.10."
As a possible illustration of the merchant's sense of humor
one customer is charged with "One gallon of good whisky .. .
$2.50." And as proof that these frontier people had some in-
terest in learning (there were no local schools at this time),
C. L. Williamson on January 3, 1870, is charged with "one
spelling book . . . $ .20." The fact that the establishment was
truly a general merchandise store is illustrated by the variety
of objects sold, such as: baby clothing, hardware implements,
medicine, candy, groceries of all kinds, a complete line of
men's clothing, piece goods, ladies' dresses, shoes, stockings,
garters, blankets, bridles, buttons, needles, thread, oil, spoons,
dishes, pots, pans, bacon, books, tobacco, nails, and whisky.
That humble beginning was soon to develop into a great
diversity of enterprises. From it grew one of the largest landed
estates in Texas. From it grew a wool commission business
that for years bore the distinction of being the largest indi-
vidual concern in America handling raw wool direct from
the ranch. From it grew a mohair commission business, a
banking business, and a livestock company, as well as various
other enterprises.
Some of the financier's wealth was acquired through land
speculation. He also retained large holdings of ranch lands
for himself. At one time his total land holdings amounted to
over 500,000 acres. Much of this was purchased for as little
as twenty-five cents an acre. His holdings were said to have
extended from Kerrville to Menard, a distance of over eighty
miles "as the crow flies," in continuous tracts. Some of it in
recent times has sold for as much as $1,000 an acre for building
sites and summer resorts. Although his first love was the
store, the Captain did keep a close watch on his ranches and
other enterprises. The ranches were generally under the man-
agements of his sons and hired managers. Occasionally he would
mount his horse and ride out to see if things were running
smoothly.
Most of the land sold to small ranchers was in small tracts.
It was not uncommon for a rancher to have to "let 'er go
back" whenever he found himself unable to make the pay-
ments. One of these fellows was a man named Joe. He came156
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945, periodical, 1945; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146055/m1/174/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.