The McNeills' Sr Ranch: 100 Years in Blanco Canyon

Much of the literature about Texas ranches deals with the big, corporate outfits, usually with absentee owners. This is the story of a relatively small (for West Texas) spread operated for more than a century by one family. The author, grandson of the original owner, has spent most of his life on the ranch. Though the patriarch McNeill made only sporadic visits to Blanco Canyon, his managers were relatives (nephew and sons), and he held the purse strings. This is a story of dogged endurance, economic hardship and optimism. The author recalls droughts and blizzards; he chronicles the changes in the cattle industry during his lifetime. Because of the focus on cattle-raising, this book will have limited appeal for general readers; ranch historians, cattle farmers, perhaps Western buffs will find it satisfying. Photos. (Dec.)