Edwards Family & Edwards Ranch - 2013
Updated: Oct 21
Ranching, Cattle Breeding, Land Development
Founded: 1848
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Known For: Legendary cattle breeding and ranching; stewardship and development of Fort Worth land; sixth-generation family leadership
Early History
The Edwards family’s legacy began in 1848 when Lemuel and Elizabeth Overton Edwards settled on a 640-acre Peters Colony land grant on the Clear Fork in what would become Fort Worth, Texas. They were among the first Anglo settlers in Tarrant County, predating the establishment of Fort Worth itself. Their son, Caswell Overton “Cass” Edwards, born three years later, was one of the first Anglo children in the area.
Cass Edwards grew up riding the prairie and became manager of the family ranch at 18 after the death of his father. He expanded the family’s holdings through strategic land acquisitions across Tarrant, Brown, Shackelford, and Crosby Counties, preferring to own land outright rather than lease.
Ranch Expansion and Operations
In 1882, Edwards sold some holdings and purchased the T-Bar Ranch in Lynn County, which he expanded to roughly 87,000 acres by the early 20th century. He became a prominent figure in South Plains cattle operations, buying out partners and eventually forming the C. O. Edwards and Son Cattle Company with his son, Crawford Overton Edwards.
Cass Edwards remained active in ranch operations into his 80s, continuing to rope and brand cattle, demonstrating the family’s lifelong commitment to ranching and stewardship. Family members continue to own and operate T-Bar Ranch and ranches in Garza, Parker, Fannin and Tarrant Counties.
Land Development and Legacy
By the mid-20th century, the Edwards Ranch had grown to several thousand acres within Fort Worth. C. O. Edwards II and others formed Cassco Land Company in 1955 to oversee development of the family’s urban holdings, which had originally spanned roughly 4,000 acres.
Today, the Edwards Ranch and Cassco manage:
Clearfork – a mixed-use development including retail, office and multifamily
Riverhills – high-end single-family homes in five phases, within the Tanglewood and Overton Park neighborhoods and schools
Cassco Land Company continues to manage these developments, maintaining the family’s legacy of land stewardship while integrating modern urban planning with historic Fort Worth character.
Significance
The Edwards family has been instrumental in shaping Fort Worth’s urban and cultural landscape, balancing historic preservation with modern development. Their ranching and cattle operations established a legacy of hard work, entrepreneurship, and community impact that continues into the sixth generation.
