Near Donna in Hidalgo County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Run

Photographed By James Hulse, April 21, 2023

1. Run Marker

Inscription. This area in the mid-1800's was part of the Asadores Ranch owned by Salvador and San Juana Cavazos. In 1898, east Texas rice farmers A.F. Hester, Sr. and T.J. Hooks bought land in the vicinity. They and others began La Blanca Agricultural Company and the Arroyo Canal Company to build an irrigation system. They also helped usher the railroad into the area. Ed and George Ruthven moved to the area by 1904. Ed established a store and was postmaster for the community of Run (a contraction of his surname) and George built irrigation pumps. Andrew Champion also owned a general store. A school opened in 1905, but many area residents began moving to Donna following a devastating flood four years later.

Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13785.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 26° 4.645′ N, 98° 4.015′ W. Marker is near Donna, Texas, in Hidalgo County. Marker is on Military Highway, half a mile west of International Blvd (Farm to Market Road 493), on the left when traveling west. The marker is located along the south side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Donna TX 78537, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Handy Ranch (here, next to this marker); Asadores Ranch (here, next to this marker); Donna Public Schools (approx. 0.3 miles away); Balli Cemetery (approx. 3.3 miles away); Santa Ana Land Grant (approx. 4.3 miles away); Cpl. Harlon Block, USMC (approx. 6.1 miles away); American Legion Hall (approx. 6.2 miles away); Donna (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Donna.

Also see . . . Run, TX. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Run (Runn) is on U.S. Highway 281 seven miles south of Donna in Hidalgo County. In 1898 A. F. Hester and Tom J. Hooks, who were rice growing partners in the Beaumont region, bought options on 13,000 acres of the twenty-five-league Llano Grande royal land grant made to Capt. Juan Hinojosa of Reynosa in 1790. By 1902 sandaled workmen were clearing land and building canals and laterals with giant scrapers pulled by mule teams. In midsummer 1903 the brothers George and Ed Ruthven brought their families to the railway terminus at Alice; then they traveled by wagon seven days to Champion's Store on the Old Military Road. George Ruthven opened a general store and served as postmaster before moving to Donna in 1906.

(Submitted on May 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Run Marker is the first marker on the left of the three markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, April 21, 2023

2. The Run Marker is the first marker on the left of the three markers

The view of the markers from the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, April 21, 2023

3. The view of the markers from the highway

Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.