Abilene in Taylor County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife Ranch

(On hill east of Cedar Creek)

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2014

1. Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife Ranch Marker

Inscription. In December 1880, H.C. Whithers of the Texas & Pacific Railroad met local men here to decide on a site for a cattle shipping center. Bypassing the county seat of Buffalo Gap, the railroad platted a new town named Abilene for the famous cattle town in Kansas. Cattlemen meeting with Whithers were Dallas Banker and Hashknife Ranch co-owner John W. Simpson, and Confederate colonels Claiborne W. (Clabe) and J.D. Merchant, twin brothers and ranchers who moved to Callahan County six years earlier. Brisk bidding ensued at a sale of city lots in March 1881. Abilene grew quickly and became a significant regional city of west Texas.

Erected 2007 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2403.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1881.

Location. 32° 28.439′ N, 99° 43.244′ W. Marker is in Abilene, Texas, in Taylor County. Marker is on Hair Street, 0.1 miles south of E. Ambler Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located in the northern part of Will Hair Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Abilene TX 79601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Abilene Christian University (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hardin-Simmons University Campus Triangle

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(approx. 0.8 miles away); The Hardin-Simmons Bell (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hardin-Simmons University Student Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Albert G. Maroscher Memoriam (approx. 0.8 miles away); Fort Babe Shaw Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hardin-Simmons University (approx. 0.8 miles away); Morgan Jones (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abilene.

More about this marker. The present marker replaced a marker installed in 1968 that was located 1,000 feet south of the present marker. The original marker (Number 15504) had the following inscription:

Hashknife Ranch

Place where representative of Texas & Pacific Railroad met local men in 1880 to decide on site for cattle shipping center. As a result, a town was platted here and named Abilene for the famous cattle town in Kansas. Cattlemen meeting with the T. & P. representative were John N. Simpson, Hashknife co-owner and Dallas banker, and Colonel Clabe W. and J. D. Merchant, brothers and ranchers who had moved large holdings into West Texas, 1875. Brisk biddings ensued at lots sale

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2014

2. Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife Ranch Marker

View to northeast towards the hill east of Cedar Creek mentioned in marker

in March 1881. Abilene thus began role later expanded into West Texas area leadership. (1968)

Also see . . . Hashknife Ranch. From the Texas State Historical Association’s “Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on October 16, 2014.)

View to North Along Hair Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2014

3. View to North Along Hair Street

View to South Along Hair Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 8, 2014

4. View to South Along Hair Street

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 860 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 16, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.