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History in
a Pecan Shell
Although there
is a Borden County (in the Panhandle)
named after the same man, Borden, the village is here in Colorado
County. Tiny Gail
(population 202) is the Borden County seat. Both county and seat were
named some years after Mr. Borden's death in 1874. He never got anywhere
near either place.
Gail Borden
is most famous for originating the process of condensing milk, but
in 1837 he was a humble Justice of the Peace in the recently formed
Colorado County.
He had also been a surveyor for Austin's Colony and was in the printing
business in Galveston.
While in Galveston
he reportedly sold over 2,500 lots.
His experiments in Colorado
County included canning beef. Ironically, the railroad charged
more for transporting canned beef more than it did beef "on-the-hoof"
and while it was feasible, it wasn't profitable until after Borden's
death. He also worked on a "Beef Biscuit" which wasn't well received.
Borden's dairy interests were what made him wealthy, primarily by
supplying condensed milk during the Civil War. Carnation
Dairies came to nearby Schulenburg
in 1928 based mostly on Borden's earlier choice of land. Today in
Borden there's the pictured store and no other business. Although
Borden died
in Borden, he was sent back to his native New York for burial. |
PEOPLE:
Gail
Borden by Mike Cox
A New Yorker who grew up in Indiana, Gail Borden came to Texas in
1829, five years after his brother Thomas arrived as one of Stephen
F. Austin’s colonists... |
Gail
Borden Beef Canning Plant Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, September 2010 |
| There are several
small picturesque cemeteries in the Borden / West Colorado County
area. |
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The
Stapleton Cemetery in far West Colorado County
TE Photo |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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