Photo Not
Available

How Come It's Called That?  Place Names in the Big Bend Country

Virginia Duncan Madison, author, historian, educator and lecturer, was born and reared in West Texas.  After her parents died she and her sister operated the family ranch near San Angelo, Texas for eight years.  Here Virginia was a sheepherder, cowhand and horse wrangler.  Later she attended Sul Ross State College where she received her B.S. and M.A. degrees.  She went on to public opinion research work and to study at Columbia University.  Virginia knew and loved the Big Bend, and early became a collector of its tales and legends  In New York City, she met and married Elihue Madison, also a Texas native.  For twenty years they made their home in New York, where their daughter, Dolly (Mrs. John McKenna), was born.  In 1955 Virginia wrote The Big Bend Country of Texas (University of New Mexico Press), the first major history of the area.  Upon Elihue Madison's retirement, the couple moved back to their beloved Texas, settling in Austin.  Virginia Duncan Madison died August 9, 1984, and is buried in Austin.

  Links