Pioneer South Texas cattleman, Charles Waugh Hellen, Sr., first arrived in Texas in 1894. He was a sickly, small and frail, one-legged boy of 17 who came to the nearby El Sordo from his family home in Washington, D.C., hoping to regain his health in the warmer and drier climate of South Texas.

In one year, he had regained his health, leased 5000 acres of state land and established his ranch headquarters at El Alto de la Mota ("a low hill on the prairie with a grove of large mesquite trees").

Wild horses overran this region, known as the Llanos Mesteños (Mustang Plains). He began his career by capturing and buying wild mares, breeding them to blooded jacks, producing small and hardy "Spanish" mules. With a ready market to the north for these popular draft animals, he made an annual trail drive to sell his herd of mules and other stock to settlers in the Victoria area. The return trip on the lonely and dangerous trails, with gold in his saddlebags, was a test of the courage and character of the young man, earning him the reputation that served him so well during those hard, first years and for the rest of his life.

As the supply of wild horses was depleted and markets changed, Mr. Hellen soon moved to cattle ranching eventually acquiring the nearly 20,000 acres that his descendants operate today.

In 1914, "Charlie" married Alice Finkel of Washington, D.C., bringing her to his ranch in South Texas where they made their home and raised two sons, Dana L. Hellen and Charles W. Hellen, Jr.

"Charlie and Alice Hellen at Rancho Randado c. 1915"

Their sons grew up to be successful cattlemen despite wars, drought, low cattle prices and economic depressions. Charlie and Alice both passed away in the 1960's. Their eldest son, Dana, and his wife, Margaret, both died in the 1990's. Their daughter, Dianne Hellen Schrab currently operates her part of the original Hellen ranches with both purebred and commercial cattle herds.

Second son, Charles W. Hellen, Jr., passed away in January 1999 after a long career as an accomplished and respected cattleman. His wife, known to family and friends as "Billie" and children, Charles W. "Bill" Hellen, James C. "Chris" Hellen and Charlotte Hellen Janszen, currently operate cattle grazing and sport hunting enterprises on their parts of La Mota Ranch and the El Ebanito Ranch, also known as the "home" ranch, just outside of Hebbronville.

In all, five generations have benefited from the pioneering hardships of Charles W. Hellen, Sr. and Alice F. Hellen and we appreciate your interest in our ranch and its heritage.