SMS ranches
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The SMS Ranches were a famous group of cattle ranches located in West Texas.
Background
At their peak, the SMS Ranches occupy considerable portions of twelve counties in the lower plains area of West Texas and comprise more than 300,000 acres. They were named for the initials of the founder, Swante M. Swenson, who moved to Texas from Sweden in the 1830s. Swenson leased his holdings to his sons, who operated them under the name of Swenson Brothers Cattle Company from headquarters in Stamford, Texas.
Ranching Units
- Throckmorton Ranch - located in Throckmorton County
- Flat Top Ranch - covered portions of Jones County, Stonewall County, and Haskell County
- Ericsdahl Ranch - located in Jones and Haskell counties
- Tongue River Ranch - located in Cottle County on the Tongue River.
Primary Sources
- Clark, Margaret The Swenson Saga and the SMS Ranches (Austin, Texas: Jenkins Book Publishing Co. 1976)
- Swenson, Gail S. M. Swenson and the Development of the SMS Ranches (University of Texas, 1960)
- Hastings, Frank S The Story of the SMS Ranch (S. M. Swenson & Sons. 1922)