George West in Live Oak County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Driven to Succeed

Photographed by James Hulse, April 16, 2023

1. Driven to Succeed Marker

Inscription. Raised by hard-working entrepreneurs, George West became a successful businessman who had a lasting impact on Live Oak County.
Texas or Bust Seeking opportunity and success in a new land, the entrepreneurial West Family of West Point, Tennessee set their sights on Texas. In 1854, Mary and Washington West loaded up their wagons and their children to join Washington's brothers in Texas. The family settled in Sweet Home, Texas and laid the foundation for their sons to turn two acres into a legendary ranching empire that changed South Texas.

A Cultivated Cattleman George Washington West was raised as a true Texan, even though he was born in Tennessee in 1851. Along with his brothers Ike and Sol, George West learned the ropes of the cattle business at an early age. Raised on the cattle prairies of South Texas, he could work cattle by the age of ten and by sixteen went on his first cattle drive. But, West's education didn't end on the range. Like his parents, he was well-educated, and his strong foundation in writing and math helped him achieve business success later in life.

Moving to Market From raising cattle to accounting, George West was involved in all aspects of the cattle business. He is most famous for his epic trail drives where he led a team of cowboy drovers and thousands of steers from the prairies of South Texas to railheads in Kansas and beyond. Adjusting to a post-Civil War economy, Texans like George West had to find new ways to make a living. Driven by demand and an abundance of wild longhorn cattle, cattlemen began delivering cattle to midwestern markets. Since shipping stock was complicated and expensive, cattle drives proved to be the best way to move the cattle to market.

Captions
Upper: Designed by noted architect Alfred Giles and equipped with indoor plumbing, George West's Live Oak County ranch house stood as a symbol of his success. Kittie West Burns Family Archives.
Middle: George West not only impacted the cattle industry, but he also shaped Live Oak County, In n 1913, he donated land, $100,000, and thirteen miles of railroad right-of-way through his ranch to establish the city of George West. LOCHC
Lower: George West and his partners drove thousands of cattle along the Chisholm Trail and as far as Wyoming and Montana.

Erected by Live

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Oak County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 28° 20.054′ N, 98° 6.879′ W. Marker is in George West, Texas, in Live Oak County. It is at the intersection of Houston Street and Guadalupe Street (Business U.S. 59), on the left when traveling west on Houston Street. The marker is located on the western corner of the Live Oak County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Houston Street, George West TX 78022, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Legendary Longhorn (here, next to this marker);

Photographed by James Hulse, April 16, 2023

2. Driven to Succeed Marker

The marker is located on the left corner of the glass building with Geronimo.

A Community Effort (here, next to this marker); Texas Tough (a few steps from this marker); Thelma Laura Pugh-Lindholm (a few steps from this marker); City of George West (a few steps from this marker); Birthplace of J. Frank Dobie (a few steps from this marker); VFW and American Legion War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Live Oak County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in George West.

Also see . . .
1. Texas Longhorn. Wikipedia (Submitted on August 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. George Washington West. Wikipedia (Submitted on August 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Closeup of Geronimo image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, April 16, 2023

3. Closeup of Geronimo

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 333 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.