Morales Ranch

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Morales Ranch in Kimble County. Three hundred and fifty yards to the southwest, just close enough that you could walk it before your coffee gets cold, stands a small rock house. Built in 1881.

Still standing. And the story of the man who built it: well, that one's worth slowing down for. Meliton Morales was born in Mexico in 1837.

As a youth, he was kidnapped by Indians and spent nine years in captivity. Nine years. Whatever that shaped in him, whatever kind of iron that puts in a man's spine, history doesn't spell out.

But in 1855, he moved to Texas. He settled first in Duval County. Then in 1874, Meliton Morales packed up and headed for Kimble County with two hundred Spanish goats and two thousand sheep.

That's not a man tiptoeing into the ranching life. That's a man arriving. He built that rock house in 1881.

He and his wife Ramona (Ramona Pena) raised nine children on this land. And somewhere in the county's early days, Meliton Morales sat on the jury of the very first court convened after the county was organized. First one.

The county was just finding its footing, and he was already part of the foundation. Meliton Morales lived to be eighty-six years old; born 1837, died 1924. He and Ramona are buried together on the Manuel Morales Ranch in Schleicher County, near the Kimble County line.

And this land right here? The descendants still own it. The rock house is still standing.

Some stories don't need an ending. They just keep going.

What the marker says

350 yards southwest stands a small rock house built in 1881 by settler Meliton Morales (1837-1924). Born in Mexico, Morales was kidnapped by Indians as a youth and spent 9 years in captivity. Moved to Texas in 1855. Came here from Duval County in 1874, bringing 200 Spanish goats and 2,000 sheep to start ranching. He and wife Ramona (Pena) had 9 children. He served on jury of first court convened after organization of county. He and wife are buried on the Manuel Morales Ranch in Schleicher County, near Kimble County Line. Descendants own this land.