The Active Historian

Margaret Heffernan was the daughter of John and Julia Heffernan. She was born on April 3, 1824, in Ireland. The Heffernan family moved to United States and arrived in Texas in 1829. They settled in San Patricio, Texas.

Margaret was married and widowed three times in her life. Her first marriage was to Harrison Dunbar and they had one daughter. Harrison was killed in an argument between himself and another party. Margaret married Milton Hardy a few years later. They had two additional children. Milton died of cholera in 1855. Margaret married Alexander Borland around 1858 and they had four children together. Alexander passed away in 1867. Tragically, she lost several children and grandchildren in 1867 to the yellow fever epidemic as well.

Margaret had helped Alexander run the cattle operation during their marriage. Upon his death, she assumed control of the estate. She was responsible for buying and selling livestock. She also hired hands to tend to the cattle.

In 1873, she owned 10,000 head of cattle and is said to have been the only woman to have led a cattle drive. She decided she was going to take 2500 of her own cattle up the Chisholm Trail in 1873. She took two of her sons, a daughter, and granddaughter with her – they were all under the age of fifteen. Their destination was Wichita, Kansas. They reached the city successfully, but Margaret passed away on July 5, 1873, from “trail fever.” Margaret’s body was returned to Texas and she was buried in the Victoria Cemetery.

In 1880, Margaret’s estate was taken to the probate court. Some of the cattle were sold to pay debts. The newspaper article below gives further details.

Sources

Carmen Goldthwaite. “Texas Ranch Women: Three Centuries of Mettle and Moxie.”

“James C. McNutt. “Borland, Margaret Heffernan.” Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.

Newspapers

“Letter List.” Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas), February 4, 1873.

“Letter List.” Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas), April 10, 1873.

“Administrator’s Sale.” Victoria Advocate (Victoria, TX), November 13, 1880.