Early Kendall County Farming and Ranching

Early Kendall County Farming and Ranching. . , George Wilkins Kendall, the Father of the Texas Sheep Industry and county namesake, was truly a renaissance man who was skilled in several professions and trades including animal husbandry. During the 1850's-60's Kendall, through trial and error, droughts, disease, fires and freezing northers at his Post Oak Spring Ranch, was able to persevere and raise tens of thousands of sheep that helped populate the Hill Country landscape. Twenty years after his passing, ranching in the region quickly expanded when ranchers no longer had to herd livestock to market, they could be loaded and shipped faster and safer via the Iron Horse., Trains in Boerne , The industrial revolution arrived in Kendall County with the arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company (SA&AP) in 1887 along the northwest extension from San Antonio to Kerrville; passing through Leon Springs, Boerne, Waring, Comfort and Center Point. The SA&AP vigorously promoted farm and ranch development along their routes with a Farm Train that stopped at communities along the rails to promote progressive agricultural practices, setup farm equipment dealerships, and sell seed and livestock to support their freight business. The railroad also transported building materials, automobiles, petrochemicals, beer and other items to the Hill Country while returning with livestock, cotton, corn, wheat, cedar posts, cypress planks, charcoal and other items bound for San Antonio., One of the primary promoters of the SA&AP and the line through Boerne was local resident Dr. William Gilliam Kingsbury, dentist and agriculturalist, later becoming the Texas Commissioner of Immigration. He is credited with having induced thousands of Europeans to immigrate to Texas by his speeches, pamphlets, articles, and books, published in several languages. Two such immigrants were William Michael Glynn Turquand and William George (Willy) Hughes., William Turquand , Captain Turquand, former British Military and inventor, moved to Texas and acquired The Balcones Ranch in Kendall County. Turquand patented sheep-shearers and a shearing table both in England and the United States. Thereafter, Turquand was successful in breeding Arabian stallions with Texas mustangs which produced a hearty horse used by the U.S. Calvary and for the growing sport of polo, later he became known as the Father of Texas Polo., William Hughes , Hughes arrived in 1878 and soon began his training in the sheep ranching business. Willy quickly imported Oxfordshire Downs and procured Merino sheep locally along with Angora goats and later bred horses. After creating a large ranching enterprise along the Boerne Road to Bandera County, he also opened the Hastings Post Office and School on his spread. William and his brothers assisted their uncle Thomas Hughes, famous English author, in the writing of their ranching experiences in a book entitled GTT-Gone to Texas (1884) that also promoted ranching in central Texas., Captions: , George Wilkins Kendall , Boerne Depot Farm Train , Grain Threshing Machine - Minnich Farm , SA&AP Depot in Boerne, Image Surce: Robert Beckley , Boerne Depot Cedar Yard-1920 , Willy Hughes