Sánchez Navarro ranch
At its maximum extent, the Sánchez Navarro family owned more than 67,000 square kilometres (16,500,000 acres) of land, an area almost as large as the Republic of Ireland and larger than the American state of West Virginia.
The Sánchez Navarro latifundio was more than five times the size of the largest ranch, the XIT, in the United States and extended 350 kilometres (220 miles) from north to south.
Throughout their history the Sánchez Navarros struggled against raids by the Comanche and Apache Indians and frequent and persistent drought and scarcity of water for their livestock, mostly sheep but also cattle, horses, and mules.
However, Coahuila (then called Nueva Extremadura) lacked large deposits of precious metals and livestock grazing, mostly sheep and cattle, became the principal economic activity.
The owners of San Miguel de Aguayo, as the latifundio was called, raised cattle, horses, and, especially, sheep with herds estimated to exceed 200,000.
They also opened the first textile mill in northern Mexico to supply clothing to its workers and residents and created a cavalry force to defend against Indian raids.
[7] Mismanagement and the hazards of raising livestock in a drought-prone region drove the Aguayo family to sell much of their property to English investors in 1825.
They established their headquarters, the Hacienda de San Ignacio del Paso Tapado, 30 kilometres (19 mi) northeast of Monclova.
[10] Manuel Francisco's son, José Melchor (1782-1836), took over management of the estate in 1802, then in poor condition due to drought and Apache raids.
At Tres Hermanas and nearby Tapado Jose Melchor introduced irrigation on a large scale to the latifundio and enlarged a vineyard.
Spies told José Melchor that the rebels planned to continue their retreat to Texas passing through Monclova, home of many of the Sánchez Navarros.
"[19] Throughout its history the Sánchez Navarro latifundio suffered less from Indian attacks than other parts of northern Mexico because the family concentrated on raising sheep, rather than horses, mules, and cattle which were more valued by the Apache and Comanche who inhabited the region.
[22] José Melchor Sánchez Navarro first noticed the presence of Comanches and their Kiowa allies in the northern part of the estate near Santa Rosa (Muzquiz) in 1825.
The Sánchez Navarros declined to contribute to self defense units being organized at Monclova, saying their employees were needed to protect the latifundio.
[26][27] One reason that the Comanches were able to raid with near impunity in northern Mexico was the reluctance of the Sánchez Navarros and other large landowners to arm their employees, fearing revolt if shepherds and others got their hands on firearms.
Jacobo Sánchez Navarro, then managing the latifundio, established a friendly relationship with Wool and made a profit by supplying the American army.
At the same time, Jacobo was working on behalf of Mexico, stockpiling flour for the army of Mexican leader Antonio López de Santa Anna which was advancing on Saltillo.
However, the Americans defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista which took place on Sanchez Navarro property south of Saltillo in February 1847.
Juan Sánchez-Navarro y Peón (1913-2006) was a prominent businessman, a founder of the National Action Party (PAN), and the author of a book about his ancestor's role in designing the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.
