Franklin Ranch

Duane's take

The official marker for Franklin Ranch in McMullen County tells it this way, and it's worth every mile. Ralph S. Franklin, and folks called him Rafe, which already tells you something about the man, was born in Louisiana on April 4, 1848.

He came to McMullen County in the early 1860s with his family, which means he arrived as a boy, out here in this big dry country where San Miguel Creek cuts through the brush. And somewhere in that landscape, something took hold. Around 1870, Rafe started what would become the Franklin Ranch.

Now, when I say he built it up, I mean he built it up: forty thousand acres. One of the largest holdings in that entire area. That is not a small ambition.

That is a man with a plan and the grit to see it through. On November 4, 1870, he married Minerva Holland. And together, Rafe and Minerva had children; thirteen of them, so settle in: Murray, Buddy, R.S.

Junior, Green, Felix, Chapman, Amy, Claude, Tom, John, Margaret, Sam, and Julius. Thirteen names. Thirteen souls raised on forty thousand acres of McMullen County.

The ranch wasn't just a cattle operation; it was a whole world unto itself. The headquarters sat right on San Miguel Creek, and in 1913, the present ranch home was built at that same location. Now here's something the marker wants you to know: that ranch home was a travelers' refuge.

Relatives and friends came from near and far (for parties, dances, picnics, all manner of social gatherings). Out here in the brush country, where the nearest town might be a hard day's ride, the Franklin Ranch was a place where the lamp stayed lit. Rafe tried his hand at sheep and goats for a spell, then changed to cattle.

And in 1902 he made a move that raised some eyebrows; he purchased a herd of Black Angus. The first in this part of the country. That alone puts him in a different category of rancher.

Now that road running through the property (the old San Antonio to Laredo Stage Road), that thing has stories soaked into its ruts. It traverses the ranch, crossing San Miguel Creek right below the ranch home. During the Civil War, the marker tells us, much cotton passed over that road headed for the Mexican border.

History rolled right through Rafe Franklin's front yard. The marker puts it plainly, and sometimes plain is the most powerful thing: the Franklins were pioneers in the truest sense. Few were more dynamic than they in the early development of McMullen County.

Rafe Franklin died on March 14, 1913; the same year that ranch home went up on San Miguel Creek. Forty-some years of building something from raw country, thirteen children, forty thousand acres, and a reputation that made the official record. That's Franklin Ranch.

Still out there, if you know where to look.

What the marker says

Ranch founder, Ralph S. "Rafe" Franklin, was born in Louisiana, April 4, 1848. He came to McMullen County in the early 1860's with his family. He started this ranch about 1870, building it up until he owned 40,000 acres, one of the largest holdings in this area. On Nov. 4, 1870, he married Minerva Holland; their children were: Murray; Buddy; R.S. Jr.; Green; Felix; Chapman; Amy; Claude; Tom; John; Margaret; Sam; Julius. The ranch headquartered on San Miguel Creek. In 1913, the present ranch home was built at the same location. It was a travelers' refuge; relatives and friends from near and far visited oftent to attend parties, dances, picnics and other social gatherings. For a short time Franklin ran sheep and goats but changed to cattle. In 1902, he purchased a herd of black angus, the first in this part of the country. The old "San Antonio-Laredo Stage Road" traverses ranch, crossing San Miguel Creek below ranch home. During the Civil War much cotton passed over this road headed for the Mexican border. The Franklins were pioneers in truest sense--few were more dynamic than they in early McMullen County development. "Rafe" Franklin died March 14, 1913. 1967