Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife Ranch

(on hill east of Cedar Creek) In December 1880, H.C. Whithers of the Texas & Pacific Railroad met local men here to decide on a site for a cattle shipping center. Bypassing the county seat of Buffalo Gap, the railroad platted a new town named Abilene for the famous cattle town in Kansas. Cattlemen meeting with Whithers were Dallas banker and Hashknife Ranch co-owner John N. Simpson, and Confederate Colonels Claiborne W. (Clabe) and J.D. Merchant, twin brothers and ranchers who moved to Callahan County six years earlier. Brisk bidding ensued at a sale of city lots in March 1881. Abilene grew quickly and became a significant regional city of west Texas. (1968, 2007)

Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife Ranch is a historical marker in Abilene, Taylor County, dedicated in 2007. It is one of 49 historical markers documented in Taylor County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 129 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.4729, -99.7207 near Abilene. The nearest cataloged historic site is Abilene Christian University (historical marker), about 0.6 miles away. Others within a short drive include Abilene Christian University, Luce Hall, and Abilene Christian College Administration Building.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5441002403. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.