Man became rancher by default

Sol and Abe Mayer

The West Texas country was open range when young Abraham "Abe" Mayer got his start in the ranching business. Acreage with water holes was much sought after for lease from the state, he told a Standard-Times reporter in December 1945. It was through such leases that livestockmen undertook to gain control of the open range. Born Sept. 28, 1877, in San Antonio, Mayer moved with his parents to a small community called Scabtown, located across from Fort McKavett, when he was 2 years old. His father, Ferdinand Mayer, became the fort sutler at Fort McKavett in 1879. He served both military and civilian settlers along the San Saba River at the southwestern edge of Menard County. When Fort McKavett was closed in 1881, Ferdinand Mayer and James Callan bought the old fort proper and opened a mercantile store there. "Money was scarce during those times, so to pay for goods purchased at the Mayer store, people would pay their debts with livestock and land," said great-great grandson Stephen Mayer of San Angelo. "Grandfather Ferdinand found himself in the ranching business almost by default." Ferdinand Mayer was born in Baden, Germany, on Aug. 6, 1832. He came to America through the port of New York from Le Havre in 1857. In 1890 Ferdinand purchased the C.F. Adams Ranch to place the livestock that he had acquired. It was located at Middle Valley between Fort McKavett and Sonora. It became a stage stop with a post office and later was known as Mayer. He formed a partnership with his oldest son, Max, operating as F. Mayer and Son. A few years later, Sol joined the ranch partnership and it became known as F. Mayer and Sons. They registered the "T-Half Circle" cattle brand on Aug. 23, 1889, in Menard County. Sol introduced sheep to the ranch in 1891...more