Morales Ranch

Morales brought his flocks from what was then the sheep ranching capital of Texas. Duval County, built up by postwar newcomers such as Walter W. Meek, Sr., was called "one extended pasture" and "a great sheep walk." Between 1873 and 1883 it reportedly had more sheep than any other U.S. county: 34,325 in 1870, 196,684 in 1880 and more than 400,000 a few years later. Then a plague struck the flocks in the mid-1880s, wool fell from twenty-six to seven cents a pound after Grover Cleveland's 1884 election, and only 3,627 sheep remained by 1900.

What the plaque says

Morales Ranch 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. (1970)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Kimble County Historical Museum — 9.3 mi
  A free county museum in Junction, the town at the meeting of the North and South Llano, with the papers, photographs and tools of a ranching county.
• Fort McKavett State Historic Site — 21 mi
  The post Sherman called the prettiest in Texas, home to soldiers of all four Buffalo Soldier regiments and then to a town that lived in its buildings until 1973.
• Presidio de San Saba — 23 mi
  The ruins of the largest Spanish presidio in Texas, built in 1757 to guard a mission to the Lipan Apache, where the Comanche and their allies first turned back Spain's frontier.

More markers nearby

• First Murr Ranch — 0.9 mi
• Bear Creek Settlement — 1.8 mi
• Old Bear Creek Texas Ranger Camp — 6.5 mi
• First Court in Kimble County — 8.8 mi