Near Sinton in San Patricio County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Welder Ranch

Photographed By James Hulse, February 3, 2021

1. Welder Ranch Marker

Inscription.
R P
1807 1828
Original homesite and Mexican land grant of
Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla
and wife
Maria Ignacia de la Garza
Spanish Empresario in Texas 1807-1812
forerunner of Stephen F. Austin
Founder of San Marcos de Neve 1807
Joined Irish Colony of Col. James Power
and James Hewetson 1828
Received Mexican Land Grant at this site 1834
Daughter
Maria Dolores de la Portilla
Married
Col. James Power 1832
They had two children
James Power, Jr. 1833
Dolores Power 1835 Wife of John Welder
After Death of Dolores 1836
Col. James Power married
Maria Tomasa de la Portilla
Second daughter of
Felipe Roque de la Portilla
They had five children

Reverse
1833
1850 Ranch of
John Welder
and Wife
Dolores Power
Daughter of Col. James Power
and Dolores de la Portilla Power
Col. James Power was an Empresario and Soldier
Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
and the Republic of Texas constitution
John Welder came to America from Bavaria
with his father Franz Welder 1830
Landed at Copano 1833
with Dr. Beales Rio Grande Colony
Oldest son of John Welder and
Wife Dolores Power
John J. Welder
Married Eliza Hughes
Daughter of

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Patrick Hughes
Ireland to Texas 1852
Capt. in Confederate Army
wife Elizabeth Traylor
Daughter of Winn Traylor
Texas Land Grant 1840
This land still owned and
ranched by descendants of these
Great Texans
Erected by
Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation
Trustees
John L. Welder, M. Harvey Weil, Patrick H. Welder
1982

Erected 1982 by Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation. (Marker Number 5748.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Hispanic Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1807.

Location. 28° 7.401′ N, 97° 26.485′ W. Marker is near Sinton, Texas, in San Patricio County. Marker is on U.S. 77, 6 miles north of State Highway 89, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located north of the Welder Wildlife Foundation's ranch entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sinton TX 78387, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Paul (approx. 7.1 miles away); Plymouth Oil Company and Plymouth Oilers (approx. 7.2 miles away); Odem Building (approx. 7.3 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Sinton (approx. 7½ miles away); Courthouses of San Patricio County

Welder Ranch Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, February 3, 2021

2. Welder Ranch Marker reverse

(approx. 7½ miles away); San Patricio County World War I Monument (approx. 7½ miles away); Papalote Creek (approx. 9.7 miles away); Taft Agricultural Industrial Complex (approx. 10.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sinton.

Also see . . .
1. Portilla, Felipe Roque de la (1766–1841).

Felipe and María had eight children, including Dolores and Tomasa, both of whom were later married to empresario James Power. In 1803, after the Louisiana purchase, the Spanish government in Mexico became concerned about American citizens moving into Texas. Officials decided to establish more Spanish settlements between San Antonio de Béxar and Nacogdoches in an effort to secure Spanish presence in the area. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on February 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Power and Hewetson Colony.

The work in building the colony was committed to Power, who went to Ireland in 1833 and returned with about 350 Irish immigrants, the majority of them from Ballygarrett Parish in County Wexford on the southeast coast of Ireland, where Power had spent his early years. The colonists, lured by the promises
Photographed By James Hulse, February 3, 2021

3. Welder Ranch Marker
of large tracts of land, traveled in two groups, the first of approximately 100 arriving in New Orleans in April, and the remainder following about a month later. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on February 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

3. Welder, John James (1854–1923).

John James Welder, rancher, son of John and Dolores (Power) Welder, was born in San Patricio County, Texas, on July 14, 1854. He was a descendant of Francis Welder, Felipe Roque de la Portilla, and James Power, all early colonizers of Texas. Welder was reared in San Patricio County and attended school there and at Corpus Christi. Upon the death of his father he assumed the management of the family estate. He moved to Victoria from Refugio County about 1886 but maintained his ranch headquarters at Sinton, San Patricio County. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on February 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Welder Ranch Marker from the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, February 3, 2021

4. The view of the Welder Ranch Marker from the highway

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,143 times since then and 235 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.