Born in San Antonio, Jose Antonio Navarro (1795-1871) held several offices in the Mexican government before becoming an active participant in the movement for Texas independence. Owner of numerous land holdings in this part of the state, Navarro purchased land along Geronimo Creek (approx. 1.2 mi. E) for farming and ranching activities in 1834. The ranch house served as a haven for his family during his captivity by the Mexican militia in 1841 until his return to the ranch in 1845. A signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Navarro owned the ranch until 1853. ?(1986, 1998)