The Yturria Legacy

H. Yturria Ranch has deep roots in Texas history, dating back to the early 1800s when Spanish land grants shaped the Rio Grande region. Francisco Yturria, born in 1830 in Matamoros, Mexico, arrived as a young man and quickly became a prominent entrepreneur, working alongside legendary figures like Charles Stillman, Mifflin Kenedy, and Richard King. In 1853, he married Felicitas Treviño, whose family held extensive land grants, and together they built a ranching legacy that would endure for generations. By the late 1850s, Yturria had consolidated these holdings and relocated the ranch headquarters to Punta del Monte near Raymondville.

Beyond ranching, Yturria was a successful businessman and financier, establishing one of the region’s first banks and expanding his influence in trade, mercantile businesses, and land development. He played a key role in supporting local law enforcement and military efforts, assisting the Texas Rangers and U.S. Army in conflicts along the Rio Grande. His business acumen and strategic alliances helped solidify the Yturria name as a cornerstone of South Texas history.

At its peak, H. Yturria Ranch spanned 200,000 acres and became known for its cattle operations, originally raising Texas Longhorns and later introducing Santa Gertrudis and Beefmaster breeds. The ranch has remained in the family for generations, evolving to include game preserves and hunting operations while preserving its ranching heritage.

Today, descendants of Francisco and Felicitas Yturria continue to steward the land across Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, and Kenedy counties—including Daniel Yturria Butler and Richard Earl Butler II (5th generation); Francisca Yturria Wittenbach and Christine Yturria Buford (6th generation); and McLean Yturria Wittenbach, Richard Gage Wittenbach, Francisco Yturria Buford, and William Robert Buford (7th generation)—all of whom carry on the legacy of working the ranch.