Early in the 20th century, this was one of largest cattle shipping points in the United States.
Originated as the Hay Hook Line Camp of the XIT — famed ranch that received over 3,000,000 acres of land in payment for building Texas State . . . — — Map (db m56080) HM
Prior to the founding of the city of Bovina, the XIT Ranch located its southern headquarters in this vicinity. The Pecos and Northern Texas Railway built through the ranch in 1898, and the settlement became known as Bull Town because of cattle . . . — — Map (db m91114) HM
The town of Bovina was organized in the early 20th century in the heart of the "XIT" Ranch on the Pecos Valley Railway. Soon after its establishment, a Methodist church was founded with nine charter members. The Rev. V. H. Trammell, who served as . . . — — Map (db m91113) HM
Named for John V. Farwell and C. B. Farwell. Builders of the Texas Capitol, 1882-1888, in exchange for three million acres of state land. Founders of the XIT Ranch, 1885. — — Map (db m73699) HM
Construction on this home began in 1917, soon after the property was purchased by R. C. Hopping. Hopping, who earlier had served as Parmer County commissioner and sheriff, sold the property to James and Minnie Aldridge before the home was completed. . . . — — Map (db m73702) HM
One of first explorations of North America by Spain. The Coronado Expedition began in Mexico in April of 1540 and crossed into Texas at or near present-day Parmer County. The party, led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, was sent to investigate . . . — — Map (db m73701) HM
The Oklahoma Lane Community, named for the many area settlers who came from that state, was originally part of the XIT Ranch. Families began to settle here around 1915 when the Capitol Reservation Lands Company began to sell XIT ranch land. Most . . . — — Map (db m151412) HM
The Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company, which incorporated in England in 1884 to finance the XIT Ranch, deeded land for the Olivet Cemetery to James M. Hamlin in Nov. 1908. One of the earliest burials is that of John Armstrong, XIT . . . — — Map (db m173999) HM
Formed from
Young and Bexar Territories
Created August 21, 1876
Organized May 7, 1907
Named in honor of
Martin Parmer
Came to Texas in 1825 and
located at Mound Prairie. A
leader in the Fredonian War in
1826. Signer of the . . . — — Map (db m73700) HM
In 1898, the Santa Fe Railroad came through here and associated buildings were constructed in what would become the Black Community. Named for land speculator E.B. Black, the community was further settled beginning in 1908, when the Wright Land . . . — — Map (db m56072) HM
Friona's old Santa Fe depot,
built 1908,
was moved from beside the tracks
to the park during
the Texas sesquicentennial in 1986.
Moving, restoration, and upkeep
are sponsored by
the Heritage Society
• • •
These columns were part of . . . — — Map (db m196335) HM
When established by the XIT Ranch in 1898, this community was originally called Frio, after Frio (Cold) Draw, and it served as a shipping point on the recently built Pecos & Northern Texas Railroad. In 1906, the George G. Wright Land Co. took . . . — — Map (db m56075) HM
Friona has the distinction of being the first town in Texas to integrate its schools. The first school opened on this site in 1908 in a one-room frame building, with Roxie Witherspoon teaching 18 pupils. A two-story brick school finished in 1911 . . . — — Map (db m56076) HM
By 1898, Friona and several other area townsites had been laid out as switches on the Pecos Valley & Northern Texas Railroad. Settlers soon began arriving in Friona, which incorporated in 1906. Twenty Friona women organized a club in September 1909, . . . — — Map (db m56074) HM
Friona was established in 1906 and by 1926, various businesses were established. Jack Anderson began his barber career at the XIT ranch in 1903. He settled in Friona where he opened the town's first barbershop in 1926 and cut hair for generations. . . . — — Map (db m151342) HM
The city of Friona was founded in 1906 by George G. Wright Land Co., of Kansas City, an agency employed by the XIT Ranch owners to sell their range lands in small tracts. Religious-minded settlers in 1908 organized the Union Congregational Church. . . . — — Map (db m56077) HM
Founded as Parmer Switch on Pecos & Northern Texas Railroad in 1898. In 1906 became site of a model farm. Using Campbell dry farming method, run by Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Co.
In 1907, Parmerton Townsite Co. bought 200 acres of the . . . — — Map (db m56078) HM
In 1902, Thomas Kelly bought 55,136 acres of the capitol syndicate’s Red Tower Camp (part of the original XIT Ranch). Kelly developed the Star Ranch with thirty windmills plus bunkhouses, corrals, outbuildings and a schoolhouse. The ranch was . . . — — Map (db m167625) HM
In 1901, brothers John and Joe Rhea purchased property from Capital Freehold Land Company, owners of the XIT Ranch. They later sold parcels of the land to farmers, establishing the Rhea Community. Many settlers, including a number of German . . . — — Map (db m246476) HM