This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Ira Yates of Texas Rancher Turned Oil Magnate
Ira Yates rose from a Rankin grocery store to a vast Pecos River ranch in 1915 paying 2.50 an acre for 16640 acres. Despite 11 harsh dry years and mounting debt his honesty earned neighbors' respect as West Texas oil booms began transforming his fortune. He later became one of Texas's wealthiest men through oil rather than cattle, with ranching as his first love.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Traan
Ira Yates
San Angelo
Texas
Wilich
Yates
Rankin
Tom Hickox
Pecos River
Pecos County
Crockett County
Ann
West Texas