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Civil War Trail Hidalgo County Webber's Ranch

Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail College of Liberal Arts

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RGV- Civil War Program
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
1201 W. University Dr.
LAMR 1.103
Conference Room LAMR 1.104
Email: chaps@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-3231

Quick Links

CHAPS RGV Civil War “Cotton Times” Film Discovery Trails Sponsorship Opportunities Blue and Gray on the Border: The Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail The Civil War on the Rio Grande, 1846–1876

Webber's Ranch

Webber’s Ranch and cemetery lies beside the Rio Grande near the old Military Highway, south of Donna in Hidalgo County. John Ferdinand Webber, a Vermont native, was among the earliest Anglo-American settlers in Texas. In 1832, he resided in Wells Prairie, south of Austin, which eventually developed into the village of Webberville. There he bought the freedom of Silvia Hector, an enslaved African-American woman, and the freedom of their first three children together. He married Silvia and began a life with his family on Webber's Prairie. As more settlers from the Deep South moved into the area, discrimination grew against Webber and his family. In 1853, the Webbers moved to the border with its more tolerant racial attitude. Here Juan Fernando Webber, as he was known locally, bought acreage from Spanish land grants and established his rancho.

During the Civil War, Webber and his growing family remained loyal to the Union. For his own safety, Webber crossed into Mexico while Confederate troops occupied the Valley. In June, 1864, rebel forces under John S. “Rip” Ford and Santos Benavides drove the federals back toward Brownsville. At the ranch, the Confederates arrested Webber’s sons as Union sympathizers, but one son escaped, rode to Brownsville, and told the federal commander that Ford had only about sixty men. Union troops were dispatched to find the enemy but Ford struck first, scattering the Yankee force. John Webber returned to his ranch after the war ended and died there in 1882. His wife, nicknamed “Aunt Puss,” survived him by nine years. Both lie in the ranch cemetery, along with other family members and ranch workers.

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Webber’s Ranch and cemetery lies beside the Rio Grande near the old Military Highway, south of Donna in Hidalgo County. John Ferdinand Webber, a Vermont native, was among the earliest Anglo-American settlers in Texas. In 1832, he resided in Wells Prairie, south of Austin, which eventually developed into the village of Webberville. There he bought the freedom of Silvia Hector, an enslaved African-American woman, and the freedom of their first three children together. He married Silvia and began a life with his family on Webber's Prairie. As more settlers from the Deep South moved into the area, discrimination grew against Webber and his family. In 1853, the Webbers moved to the border with its more tolerant racial attitude. Here Juan Fernando Webber, as he was known locally, bought acreage from Spanish land grants and established his rancho.

During the Civil War, Webber and his growing family remained loyal to the Union. For his own safety, Webber crossed into Mexico while Confederate troops occupied the Valley. In June, 1864, rebel forces under John S. “Rip” Ford and Santos Benavides drove the federals back toward Brownsville. At the ranch, the Confederates arrested Webber’s sons as Union sympathizers, but one son escaped, rode to Brownsville, and told the federal commander that Ford had only about sixty men. Union troops were dispatched to find the enemy but Ford struck first, scattering the Yankee force. John Webber returned to his ranch after the war ended and died there in 1882. His wife, nicknamed “Aunt Puss,” survived him by nine years. Both lie in the ranch cemetery, along with other family members and ranch workers.

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El Rancho Webber y su cementerio se extienden en la riba del Río Grande cerca de la antigua Carretera Militar, al sur de Donna en el condado de Hidalgo. John Ferdinand Webber, originario del Estado de Vermont, fue uno de los primeros colonos angloamericanos llegados a Texas. En 1832, residió en Wells Prairie, al sur de Austin, lugar que acabaría desarrollándose hasta convertirse en la localidad de Webberville. Allí compró la libertad de Silvia Hector, una mujer esclava afroamericana, así como la de los tres primeros hijos que tuvieron. A medida que más colonos procedentes del sur profundo de los EE.UU. se establecían en la región, la discriminación contra Webber y su familia se acrecentaba y en 1853 se desplazaron hasta la frontera, donde se daba una actitud de mayor tolerancia racial. Aquí, Juan Fernando Webber, tal como se le conocía entre los lugareños, adquirió terrenos pertenecientes a las concesiones de tierras españolas y estableció su rancho.

Durante la Guerra de Secesión, Webber y su creciente familia permanecieron leales a la Unión y, por su propia seguridad, cruzó la frontera a México cuando las tropas confederadas ocuparon El Valle. En junio de 1864, las fuerzas rebeldes bajo el mando de John S. «Rip» Ford y Santos Benavides repelieron a las tropas federales hasta su acuartelamiento en Brownsville y, en el rancho, los confederados arrestaron a los hijos de Webber como simpatizantes unionistas. Uno de ellos, sin embargo, consiguió escapar a caballo hasta Brownsville y explicó al mando federal que Ford sólo tenía unos sesenta hombres. Esto propició el envío de tropas para encarar al enemigo, pero Ford atacó primero, dispersando las fuerzas yanquis. John Webber regresó a su rancho antes del final de la guerra y falleció allí en 1882. Su esposa, conocida como «Aunt Puss» le sobrevivió durante nueve años y ambos yacen en el cementerio del rancho, junto con otros familiares y peones del rancho.

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Details

Location: Donna, TX, in Hidalgo County. Drive south from Donna on State 493 to US 281, the Military Highway; turn west and go 2.8 mi, then turn south on the road (unimproved) to the Donna Pumping Station. The cemetery is approximately 260 yards east, next to the levee.

Access: Access to the cemetery is restricted.

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