Edward Burleson Raymond

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Edward Burleson Raymond (November 12, 1848 – 1914) was a rancher, politician, banker, and founder of Raymondville, Texas. Raymond, who was named after his father's friend Edward Burleson, was born in a log cabin on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas to Nathaniel C. Raymond and Lucinda Riggs Raymond. His father was Secretary of State^[1] under Govenor James Throckmorton, and Secretary of the Texas Senate^[2].

E. B. Raymond came to South Texas on horseback in 1870 where he herded cattle to Kansas. In 1874 he was hired by Richard King to open the new El Sauz division of the King Ranch. Raymond would serve as the manager of the El Sauz division for 37 years and was empowered to purchase land on King's behalf until 1882. In 1893, the El Sauz Post Office was established where Raymond served as the postmaster and telegraph operator. In 1898 he was elected Cameron County Commissioner, a position he held until 1910. In 1904, he joined with the King Ranch to deed the right of way to the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway and donated a station site near his Las Majadas Ranch which was later named in his honor. In that same year, on the fourth of July, he created the Raymond Town & Improvement Company, was granted a post office, and began selling plots of land with Henrietta King. In 1907 he established the Raymondville State Bank where he served as president until his death. In addition, Raymond built a telephone exchange and cotton gin . After his death, Raymondville became the county seat of Willacy County in 1921 after Kenedy County split from Willacy.

Raymond was married to Juanita Rodrigurez, and was the father of two sons, Fred N. and Edward Charles.

[edit] References

^ Texas Historical Documents, John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center
^ History of Texas, A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879

[edit] External links

Raymondville from the Handbook of Texas Online
Entry for Edward Burleson Raymond from Texas Historical Markers
El Sauz Ranch History from El Sauz Ranch
Early Picture of Raymondville State Bank from The Center for American History and General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin, Robert Runyon Photograph Collection