SAN PEDRO RANCH CEMETERY

LOCATION: On Military Highway (US281) south of Weslaco, 3400 feet west of FM88. Turn south on caliche road west of Jesse Russell Farms headquarters and drive 3,000 feet. Cemetery is on a small rise on east side of the road near an elevated water tank.

SURVEYED: Ray Fallin and Joe Hunt for McAllen Genealogical Society, Feb. 1, 1976.

HISTORY: Ranch owner Peter S. Champion married Gumecinda Cano, daughter of Antonio and Mauricia Fernandez Cano of Tampacuas Ranch, in 1882. They moved to San Pedro (Saint Peter) Ranch in 1897. In 1898, Gumecinda’s widowed mother deeded the San Pedro property to her daughter. San Pedro Ranch, .4 mile wide and 5 miles deep, extended from the Rio Grande to Llano Grande Lake.

Champion was descended from the five Campeoni brothers who came to Port Isabel from Rovigno in Istria. After naval duty in the Mexican War, he became a political leader in Hidalgo County, serving as district and county clerk, commissioner, special ranger, and deputy customs collector. Owner of large cattle interests himself, he was for many years manager of the Capisallo Ranch (with headquarters on the east side of FM 491 at Mile 12 north of Mercedes, and extended to Mile 18) of Brownsville Judge James B. Wells, attorney for the King Ranch.

In 1882, Peter and Gumecinda Champion gave their 3-month old daughter Manuela to her childless sister, Sostenes Cano Fernandez of Toluca Ranch, to raise as her own.

There was a ranchhouse of sun-baked Mexican brick, store, water tank and two schoolhouses (including in 1909 a one-room jacal). Ranch buildings, except for the water tank, were knocked down in 1950.

San Pedro Ranch was sold to theAmerican Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company in 1902. After ARGL&I installed a large surface irrigation system in 1908, the land was developed for commercial farming.

The 75x80’ fenced cemetery is maintained by relatives of decedents.