About Devils River Stone Company

About Historic Mayfield Ranch

Land for the Mayfield Ranch was purchased by John Andrew Mayfield, a horse and mule buyer for the U.S. Calvary. He purchased the property in 1904 as a gift for his son John Carter Mayfield, born in 1876.

The land was the site of an important Indian battle in 1857 between the Comanche and the U.S. Cavalry Company G, led by Lt. John Bell Hood. The ranch has many traces of its earlier inhabitants, which include Indian caves and arrowheads. Now home to cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, bobcats, deer, the occasional mountain lion and black bear, the ranch is also a haven for many varieties of butterflies, birds and reptiles. The Mayfield ranch has two miles of Devils River Frontage and many creeks that empty into the river during seasonal rains.

The 70 mile long Devils River is fed by springs and is far from any city or town. It is also known as one of Texas's purest rivers. The ranch itself, at an elevation of 2,000 feet, is relatively cool in the summer, mild and sunny during the winter. Located on the western edge of the Edwards Plateau between Sonora, Del Rio and the Mexican border, the Mayfield Ranch is comprised of rolling hills, mesas and valleys. On a clear day, the 10,000 feet Carmen and Burro Mountains of Mexico can be seen off in the distance.


John Carter married Sue Peters in 1907. One of their children, John Carter Mayfield II (known as Jake), inherited the ranch in 1932 when he was 20.

Jake, who married Savannah Forte in 1943, successfully ran the 16,000 acre Mayfield Ranch for 62 years. He also leased 50,000 more ranch acres in Texas, and he owned 200,000 acres of ranch land in Mexico. As one-time President of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, Jake raised over 5,000 sheep, goats and cattle, flew his own planes and traveled the world.

Well known as a raconteur, he regaled friends and visitors to his ranch house and country store with stories of Texas and Mexican ranch life. His wife Savannah was a true partner in his achievements. Mrs. Mayfield, who raised four children, is the grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of three.

After Jake's passing in 1994, two sons, William Travis (known as W.T.) and Scott Mayfield have continued the family ranching tradition, insuring that their children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy the ranching life for many years.