John Henry Rasor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Henry Rasor
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John Henry Rasor in 1880
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| Born | 22 November 1849 Indiana, USA
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| Died | 5 November 1925 (aged 75) Plano, Texas, USA
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Rancher |
| Known for | Rasor Elementary School |
John Henry Rasor was an important cotton farmer and rancher from Plano, Texas. He lived from 1849 to 1925 and helped shape the farming industry in his area.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to Texas
John Henry Rasor was born on November 22, 1849, in Indiana. He later moved to Meade County, Kentucky, where he married Mary Ratchford. They had a large family with ten sons and two daughters.
The family moved several times, first to Iowa. In February 1883, they finally settled in Texas. John Henry Rasor first rented a farm near Plano, Texas. He rented it from a Texas State Senator named James R. Gough. Later, he was able to buy this farm and more land around it.
Life on the Ranch
The Rasor family lived a very self-sufficient life. This means they grew most of their own food. They planted vegetables, corn, and wheat in the rich soil of the Texas Blackland Prairies. They also gathered wild fruits and nuts.
Depending on the time of year, they hunted for wild hogs, squirrels, and deer. They dried and saved meat to eat later. As their farm grew, they started raising their own hogs and cattle. John Henry Rasor was a very skilled farmer. He ran a successful business and used his earnings to make his ranch even bigger.
The Rasor family became very important in the cotton industry. Their farm grew into one of the largest in the area. It covered almost 4,000 acres, which is like 3,000 football fields! They had huge silos for storing crops, big barns, and places to feed their animals. They even had their own smithy, which is a place where metal is worked.
Their large ranch was located on both sides of what is now called Independence Parkway. At its biggest, the ranch covered most of the land between Hedgcoxe Road and Highway 121, from Preston Road to Alma Road.
John Henry Rasor passed away at his home on November 5, 1925. He was 75 years old.
Remembering the Rasor Family
The Rasor family's impact on the Plano area is still remembered today.
Rasor Road and Boulevard
In the early 1900s, a dirt road in Collin County was named Rasor Road. Later, in the 1990s, the City of Plano changed its name to Headquarters Drive. However, in 2002, the City Council voted to change a part of it back to Rasor Boulevard. This road now stretches from Preston Road to SH 121/SRT.
William Henry "Buzz" Rasor Park
In 2003, the City of Plano named William Henry "Buzz" Rasor Park after one of John Henry Rasor's grandsons. Buzz Rasor was known for his vision. In the 1950s and 1960s, he warned the school system to get ready for a lot of growth. He predicted that the small farming town would become a big suburb, and his predictions came true in the 1990s.
Buzz also helped start the area's first Little League baseball program. He was a big supporter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), an organization for young people interested in agriculture.
Other Recognitions
In 2004, a residential street in Frisco, Texas, was named Rasor Drive to honor the Rasor family.
John Henry Rasor is also remembered by the Rasor Elementary School in Plano.
