National Register Listing

Farmers Union Gin Company

120 Grove St., San Marcos, TX
For about 50 years, cotton was a mainstay of the Hays County economy. Central to the industry was the Farmers Union Gin Company of San Marcos. It was housed in a utilitarian building made handsome with Victorian string courses, arched windows, and polychrome decoration.

In 1908, five area farmers bought five acres of land on the MKT line. They convinced Oscar Calvin Smith, Sr., whose father had owned a gin in nearby Waelder, to organize a local facility. In 1909 the property was conveyed to the Farmers Union Gin Company, which was in full and prosperous operation by that summer in an iron building already on the site.

A fire in 1910 destroyed the metal structure but spared the Murray-Corliss Steam Engine that ran until 1966 and is now in an Alamo, Texas, Steam Engine Museum. Oscar Smith rebuilt in 1910-1911 in brick on a scale three times the size ot the earlier structure that allowed three bales to be ginned at once. The gin's location in the heart of town and near the cotton buyer's yard and cotton seed mill ensured its success. It was the hub of a highly efficient and modernized complex that saw the raw material and by-products fully processed and shipped in a smooth series of operations. In addition to the extensive ginning operation, the Farmers Union Company sold out-of-state coal to residents. A further company diversification was the construction of junked Model T parts of early motorized chassis for cotton transport.

Smith eventually bought out the original investors and continued the business in 1931 as 0.C. Smith and Company. He was a city councilman and mayor. His son Max was in the Texas Legislature and was elected Hays County judge. Another son, Edwin, ran the gin from 1948-1966. Calvin and Gwendolyn, the other children, distinguished themselves in the field of education.

With the decline of cotton production, the gin became quieter and was the last in Hays County to close, in 1966. The building is being rehabilitated as an eating place, appropriately named the Farmers Union Company Restaurant.
Bibliography
Interviews with Gwen Smith and Edwin Smith, May 26, 1982.

Kathleen M. Morris. "The Farmers Union Gin Company:, an unpublished monograph on file at the San Marcos Public Library. A full bibliography is appended to this monograph.
Local significance of the building:
Industry; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

industry architecture
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.
Texas random facts
Hays County, located in the central part of Texas, has a rich and diverse history that stretches back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various indigenous tribes, including the Tonkawa and Comanche peoples. However, the first recorded European arrival in the region occurred in 1690 when Spanish explorers made their way through the area.

In the early 1800s, Anglo-American settlers began to establish permanent settlements in what is now Hays County. One of the most notable figures in the county's history is Captain John Coffee "Jack" Hays, a Texas Ranger who played a significant role in fighting against Native American raids in the region. As a result of his contributions, the county was renamed in his honor in 1848.

During the mid-1800s, Hays County experienced rapid growth and development, fueled by the arrival of the railroad in the region. The county became an important hub for agriculture, with cotton and cattle as the main industries. The county seat, San Marcos, played a key role in the growth of education in the area, becoming home to Southwest Texas State Normal School (now Texas State University) in 1899.

In the 20th century, Hays County continued to evolve and modernize. The population increased steadily as more people were attracted to the area’s natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and proximity to Austin. Today, Hays County remains a vibrant and growing community, serving as a bridge between the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country and the urban amenities of nearby metropolitan areas.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Hays County, Texas.

  • 1837: Hays County is officially established as a county when the Republic of Texas is formed.
  • 1848: The county seat is established in the town of San Marcos.
  • 1856: A charter is granted to create the Hays County Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Mechanical Association.
  • 1861: With the outbreak of the Civil War, many men from Hays County volunteer for service in the Confederate Army.
  • 1881: The International-Great Northern Railroad is completed, connecting San Marcos to Austin and San Antonio.
  • 1903: Southwest Texas State Normal School (now known as Texas State University) is established in San Marcos.
  • 1938: The Blanco River floods, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure in Hays County.
  • 1996: The Hays County Courthouse, built in 1909, is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2015: The county experiences widespread flooding from heavy rains, resulting in several deaths and extensive property damage.