DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker at Doyle Farm in Travis County — here's my telling of what it records. Now, most great universities don't begin with a lecture hall or a library. Sometimes they begin with a farm.
And this one begins even earlier than that — with a stonemason from Ireland. James Doyle was born somewhere around 1795, made it to Texas in 1835, and carried his trade with him. Stone was his language, and he spoke it well enough that by 1853 he had charge of part of the work on the limestone Capitol being built in Austin.
That same year — 1853 — he bought 498 acres of land and opened a farm right here at this site. Two things built at once: a capitol for a state, and a homestead for a family. James Doyle died in 1866, leaving behind his widow, Mary.
The marker calls her devout, and what she did next earns that word. Mary Doyle died in 1871, but the year before she died — 1872 — she had already made her move. She deeded 398 acres of this farm to Father Edward Sorin, Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame University.
The purpose she named was plain and generous: the establishment of a college, school, or other educational institution. Now, Father Sorin had the land. What he didn't have yet was the school.
St. Edward's was not going to open for several years. So what do you do with nearly four hundred acres while you're waiting on school plans?
You put it to work. Father Sorin sent two brothers of Holy Cross to do exactly that. Brother John of the Cross — Peter Hanratty was his given name — and Brother Maximus, born Eugene Petit.
They arrived on September 21, 1874, and what they found when they got here was a large dwelling house and other facilities. Not nothing, but not a university either. They set about acquiring livestock and tools, gradually, the way a farm actually comes to life.
For years, the Doyle Farm furnished food for St. Edward's staff and students. Later it would also fund building programs.
The land Mary Doyle gave didn't just start a school — it fed it, and eventually helped build it, brick by brick. Brother Maximus never left. He lived out his days right here on this farm.
And this marker — the one that tells this whole story — stands near his grave. Since that September morning in 1874, when two brothers stepped onto a working farm with a deed and a purpose, a great university has grown out of this ground. Out of the gift of Mrs.
Doyle, and the quiet, daily labor of the pioneering brothers of Holy Cross. That's a foundation worth knowing about.
What the marker says
Arrival on Sept. 21, 1874, of two brothers of Holy Cross at the Doyle Farm James Doyle (1795?-1866). A native of Ireland, came to Texas in 1835. He was a stonemason, and in 1853 had charge of part of the work on the limestone Capitol being built in Austin. Also in 1853, he bought 498 acres of land and opened a farm at this site. His devout widow, Mary Doyle (d. 1871), in 1872 deeded 398 acres of the farm to Father Edward Sorin, Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame University, for "the establishment of a college, school, or other educational institution. St. Edward's was not to open for several years, but Father Sorin sent Brother John of the Cross (Peter) Hanratty and Brother Maximus (Eugene) Petit to put the farm to use while school plans were pending. Arriving Sept. 21, 1874, they found a large dwelling house and other facilities, and gradually acquired livestock and tools. For years, Doyle Farm furnished food for St. Edward's staff and students, and later it was also to fund building programs. Brother Maximus lived out his days here. This marker stands near his grave. Since 1874 a great university has developed out of the gift of Mrs. Doyle and the work of the pioneering brothers of Holy Cross.