Franklin Ranch

Franklin's brief try at sheep and goats fit the county's first economy. McMullen's flocks grew from 5,030 sheep in 1870 to 41,047 in 1880 and about 80,000 by 1882, then fell to 1,036 by 1900. Sheep drew shepherds and shearers of Mexican descent to the county; the 1880 census counted 101 Mexico-born residents, about 15 percent of the population, and none owned land, sheep or horses. Barbed wire arrived in the 1880s. The ranch itself is private property with no public access.

What the plaque says

Franklin Ranch 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

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Choke Canyon State Park — 14 mi
  A reservoir state park on the Frio River in two units, built after a 1982 dam, with birds, alligators and fishing on land people have crossed for more than 10,000 years.
• Atascosa County Courthouse — 23 mi
  The only surviving Mission Revival courthouse in Texas, built in 1912-13 on Jourdanton's town circle after a county seat vote that some residents still call a theft.

More markers nearby

• Cross — 1.4 mi
• Camp Rio Frio, C.S.A. — 8.2 mi
• Moses William Hindes — 8.3 mi
• Boot Hill Cemetery — 8.3 mi