A Family Legacy on the Texas Range

By Patrick Hurley

Ranching has always been part of my family’s story. My great-grandfather, C.C. Hurley, first registered his brand and earmarks in Wilson County in 1878. A few years later, he bought land west of Poteet. Once he got settled, he and his sons opened Hurley Mercantile in Poteet in the early 1900s. Between the ranch and the store, they weathered the uncertainties of the time, including the years leading up to and during the Depression.

One of C.C.’s daughters married John Burris, who before settling down had participated in cattle drives all the way to Kansas. He loved sharing stories about the trail, and those tales would stay with me for years.

My maternal grandfather, Fred Hearn, ranched on the Nueces River south of Fowlerton from around 1938 until 1968. That’s where I first learned how tough ranching for a living can be—a life built on long days, hard work, and dedication to the land.

Years later, my great-uncle John Burris left me his bits, spurs, and other keepsakes. He told me I was the only one who would listen to and believe his stories. Holding those pieces today, I feel connected to a family legacy shaped by hard work, perseverance and a love for Texas ranching.

It’s a story I’m proud to share, and one I hope inspires others to appreciate the lives and histories behind the brands, the trails, and the land.