After reading several books and visiting museums and the Texas General Land Office, I found nothing that suggested a settlement on our property. I decided to drive into Rio Grande City and pay a visit to the Starr County Court house. Really, a disappointing experience. Rats have left the maps in tatters and the conveying deeds offered little description. As I prepared to leave, one of the employees asked if he could help. I explained my purpose and he suggested I go visit a local history buff who worked at City Hall -- one Mauro Villareal.

 

Mauro didn’t know anything to specific about our ranch, but told me to go across to Mexico. He instructed me to go to the second plaza in Camargo and ask any one on the street for a guy named Ernesto Saenz Garza. Dubiously, I set out across the border. Found the second plaza and asked a guy selling popsicles about this Garza Saenz character. He didn’t know Saenz, but an elderly gent relaxing on a nearby bench did. He walked me a few blocks to a small “casa de cambio” where an elderly man sat -- with a small plaque that said “Ernesto.”. After a brief exchange, he sent me to visit his wife at their house another few blocks away. I began to feel a tad bit apprehensive as we are in the throws of an all out narco traffiker drug war here and people are disappearing left and right on both sides of the river.

 

I soon met Ernesto’s wife Eva at their house. She welcomed me in and we had a wonderful visit. Ernesto joined us later. Apparently, the version of history differs significantly in Mexico. They consider the “wild horses” of the “wild horse desert” to be people’s livestock that were forced to flee. Then the Americans came and rounded up all the “wild animals” and put them on their ranches. This angle also sees Cortina (a famous cattle rustler in Texas history) as a former land owner just reclaiming his stolen stock. I will go back and visit more with them soon. I think the Mexican version makes more sense and seems more realistic than the Texas version. So far.

 

Ernesto told me also dig around and look for a foundation or remains of a house because in order to gain title to land, Spain and Mexico required that a well and house be installed. He also said that all of the wells he knew of from the Spanish era were round -- not square. And, perhaps this was build by the US military during the Tex-Mex, or USA-Mex wars. So many battles around here, it is hard to keep track.

 

Oh, and Ernesto has a huge meteorite he has had since 1937!!