The History of Cotton in Texas
Beginning with the subtle yarns of native Texans, through the colorful threads woven by European settlers, to the iridescent shades added by modern Texans, the history of Texas is a tapestry woven by countless hands. When future generations look for the thread woven by their family, they will find it tied to a foundation made of cotton.
During the 19th century, modest farmer as well as the giants of Texas cattle culture registered their cattle brands and marks at county courthouses. Texas county archives possess a wealth of cattle brand registrations dating to the countys' founding. These brands are a Texas legacy akin to European heraldry. They tell us about where individuals grazed their cattle, how herds changed hands and how individual brands evolved over time. Many of the legends of Texas trail drives first registered brands in and around Bexar and Wilson County. Here you can see our ever growing collection of over 2,000 cattle brands.
