| Abel
Head
"Shanghai" Pierce |
Source
|
| Shanghai
Pierce
was the prototype of the big-mouth, oversize,
wheeler-dealer Texan example that all later Texans have tried to
emulate. |
2
|
Born
29
Jun.1834, in Rhode Island, he was 6th. in descent from his emigrant
ancestor, Richard Pearce, born in Essex, England, died 1678 in Rhode
Island.
|
1
|
| His
life
is well-chronicled in "Shanghai
Pierce, A Fair Likeness," by
Chris Emmet in 1953. Marie Hough Borden vigorously objected to
Mr.
Emmet's report of Shanghai Pierce's use of frontier language and noted,
"I would burn the book." |
2
|
| Shanghai
Pierce
amassed a very large acreage in South Texas; as early
as 1843 there were Pierces on the Pierce ranch. At his death, his
holdings totalled 191,000 acres, plus "Convict Plantation 2,300 acre
well improved valued at over $161,000," a 162,300 acre total. |
4;
3
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In
later
years, oil was discovered in many places on the old Pierce Ranch.
|
4
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Shanghai
Pierce
was the Uncle of Abel Head Borden, husband of Marie Withers
Hough (daughter of M-43.Nina
Eleanore Massey.)
|
1
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Abel Pierce Borden
|
|
Shanghai
Pierce
died 26 Dec.1900, and his nephew, Abel Pierce Borden, for a time
managed the old Pierce Ranch.
|
1
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| He
acquired
his own ranch, about 1,200 acres, adjacent to, or perhaps originally a
part of, the old Pierce Ranch. The Borden Ranch was near
the Texas towns of Wharton, Pierce and Mackey, where Marie Hough
Borden lived at various times. |
4
|
| Abel
Borden
was born 5 May 1866 in Rhode Island, 8th in descent from
emigrant ancestor, Richard Borden, born 1601 in England, died 25 May
1671 in Rhode Island. |
1
|
| His
career
is well-chronicled in Chris Emmet's book. |
3
|
| He
was
well known in Texas for having the inspiration to import the
humped Zebus or Brahma cattle from India, for their immunity to Tick
Fever, then a deadly scourge in Texas. In addition to being
immune
themselves, they were also able to pass along this immunity to their
own and hybrid progeny. For this, Abel Borden earned the
gratitude
of the Texas cattle industry. |
3
|
| After
Abel
Borden's death in 1934, Marie Hough Borden became
responsible for the operation of the Borden Ranch, phased out cattle
ranching, phased in rice cultivation, but somewhere in the 1940's sold
the ranch. |
4
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| 1910:
The
Langfords' Visit to the Borden Ranch |
|
| The
A.P.
Bordens invited my family to visit the ranch. Father's
business wouldn't permit him to go, but Mother packed up my sister and
me, and down we went. For a boy of nine, this was high adventure
indeed; my recollections are vivid and indelible. |
|
A.P.
Borden
was a Texas-size man, six feet plus and over 300 pounds.
He owned a two-seater Cadillac that he found convenient to use as he
supervised the Ranch. He also drove Texas-style: from where he
was, to where he aimed to go, straight line, ignoring badger holes, old
Buffalo wallows, ditches and all such things, impediments to lesser
men. He had
difficulty recruiting companions for those overland trips. I,
however,
enjoyed them hugely and was always available.
|
|
| I
admired
the Ranch's Brahma bulls, large and fawn colored, appearing
docile and pattable. However, they had the custom of launching
butting
duels without warning. As my family feared that I might well be
caught
in the middle of one of these duels, I was enjoined from entering their
corrals. |
|
| For
old
time's sake, the ranch also supported a few Texas Longhorns.
One of these died, and I begged for his horns. My wish was
granted, and
we started home with a set, 5-1/2 feet from tip to tip. However
they
had been hurriedly cured, and they kept smelling worse and worse.
By
the time our train reached Kansas City, Mother had to rule that they be
jettisoned. So, I leaned them up in a corner of the station. I
have
always hoped that they found a good home. |
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