Dan Skuta Former 49ers

Linebacker
Texas Ranching Early History
Former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker, Dan Skuta, has

also played for the San Francisco 49ers.

One of the interests former 49ers player, Daniel Skuta

enjoys is learning about the history of Texas ranching.

Although wild cattle had drifted northward from ranchos

in central Mexico since the 1500s, cattle ranching in South

Texas began in 1749, when José de Escandón, the governor

of Nuevo Leon, brought 3,000 settlers and 146 soldiers to

settle the area bordering the Rio Bravo river (now known

as the Rio Grande river).

Although expeditions had travelled across portions of

it on several occasions, explains Dan Skuta, former

49ers player, this area had not been inhabited by the

Spanish.
However, these early ranches on the Rio Grande were

established at a price.

Among many hardships, the settlers had to forge a new

life on the frontier under constant threat of attack by

hostile Native Americans.