| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Alexander Farm in Austin's Pilot Knob community |
|
|
recently celebrated its 175th anniversary; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, One of the oldest farms in Travis County, the |
|
|
Alexander Farm was founded in 1847 by Daniel Alexander, a renowned |
|
|
horse breeder and trainer; he was still enslaved at the time by the |
|
|
McKinney family, whose members transferred just over 73 acres to |
|
|
him through a verbal contract, which was finalized at last more than |
|
|
three decades later; possession of the property allowed |
|
|
Mr. Alexander and his wife, Emeline, to keep their family together |
|
|
and build a legacy; he continued to breed and train thoroughbreds |
|
|
and quarter horses after emancipation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Daniel Alexander's son, Milton Winston Alexander, |
|
|
expanded operations by purchasing adjacent and nearby properties; |
|
|
his son, Milton Everett Alexander, eventually bought out other |
|
|
heirs in order to ensure the farm's continuation under family |
|
|
ownership; transitioning to dairy farming, he prospered as supplier |
|
|
for six different dairy companies; he and his son, Marcellus |
|
|
Alexander Sr., maintained a variety of livestock; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Alexanders faced the same |
|
|
threats from gentrification and eminent domain as other |
|
|
African-American farmers; in 1968, the Texas Department of |
|
|
Transportation seized five acres when it rerouted U.S. Highway 183, |
|
|
cutting off the farm's original entrance and isolating a fertile |
|
|
section on the other side of the freeway, which abuts the family |
|
|
cemetery; while the sixth generation of Alexanders raises beef |
|
|
cattle, rampant development and proposed highway construction |
|
|
present new perils; ever resolute, the family has collaborated with |
|
|
the Hill Country Conservancy to protect the land and partnered in |
|
|
USDA initiatives that promote resiliency; the farm has been |
|
|
recognized by the Texas Department of Agriculture's Family Land |
|
|
Heritage program; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Black-owned farms are increasingly rare in the |
|
|
United States, and Black history has too often been erased, but |
|
|
through their careful stewardship, the Alexander family has |
|
|
preserved and renewed a vital heritage; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commemorate the 175th anniversary of the |
|
|
Alexander Farm and commend the members of the Alexander family for |
|
|
their devotion to a priceless legacy; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the Alexander family as an expression of high regard by |
|
|
the Texas House of Representatives. |