FROM SWITZERLAND TO CENTRAL TEXAS...

A BIT OF S&S CATTLE HISTORY

Our operation began on the black land prairie of Central Texas before the Civil War. Christian “C.G.” Wuthrich settled the Wuthrich Hill community and his progressive farming practices set the tone for our incredible show ring and on-farm success today.

 

Pictured left: The C.G. Wuthrich Family.

Setting roots in central texas

Texas Land Grants...

The Wuthrich family Texas roots began on March 4, 1833, when 25-year old Ulrich Wuthrich started a two-month journey by ship across the Atlantic Ocean. Ulrich left his family home in Trub, Canton Bern, Switzerland, and landed in New York City on May 1, 1833. From there, he sailed for another two months along the US Coast line and through the Gulf of Mexico, landing at Copano Bay, Mexico. After 8 years away from Switzerland, Ulrich wrote to his parents.

“The journey from New York to Texas took almost two months because the wind and the weather were unfavorable. We landed at Copano. From there, I went to Baladia (later called Goliad), a small village. I made a deal to work there for six months at one dollar per day and keep board. After that I worked here (Austin) until the Revolution, when I became a soldier.”

 

Ulrich continued explaining the connection between Texas and Mexico, and from his perspective, what brought about the Texas Revolution.

 

“This brought on a revolution which started in 1835 and I took part in it. The colonists with the volunteers which they received from the United States, could raise an army of about 2,000 men. I received my assignment in Baladia (La Bahia) under Colonel Fannin and Capt. Duvall. This post was composed of 500 men.”

Ulrich's legacy...

 

 

After fighting in the Texas Revolution and taken prisoner of war, Ulrich tragically passed away in 1844  while working on a saw mill near Bastrop. Ulrich’s holdings included: 1,467 acres received as an old settler; 320 acres for participating as a soldier in the War for Independence; 640 acres as a survivor of the Massacre at Goliad; 320 acres as a prisoner of war; and his purchases including two 10-acre lots and 2 city lots in Austin.

 

Christian Gottfried “C.G.” Wuthrich,  born November 7, 1862, in Canton Bern, Switzerland, is Charles’ great-grandfather. C.G. left Switzerland with his parents, including Mathias who was Ulrich’s brother, after the Civil War. C.G. would later meet Emilie Wirth, from Prussia, in Austin and marry on October 23, 1890.

 

 

The Wuthrich family eventually settled on the black land prairie of eastern Williamson County. In 1896, C.G. and his family would establish St. James Lutheran Church in Taylor on land owned by his father, Mathias. Later renamed to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, it still serves the community today. This church played an integral role in the social lives of both the Wuthrich and Schroeder families. C.G. and Emilie’s daughter, Emma, would meet her husband, Theodore Schroeder (Charles’ grandparents), at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Just Like Previous generations ...

C.G. and Emma would make their living in agriculture: dairying, raising cattle, poultry, cotton, corn, maize, and honey bees. Their descendants, including the Charles and Cathy Schroeder, family continue to farm and ranch in the area.

SOME OF THE FIRST...

The Schroeder family were some of the first Charolais breeders and have been using cutting-edge management practices to enhance their cattle and genetics since beginning to breed cattle.

MORE THAN 120 MAJOR SHOW CHAMPIONS...

S&S Cattle has had the honor of raising the Grand Champion Steer for every major show in Texas and has also earned the Grand Champion Steer banner at the National Western, Phoenix and over 120 other show breed champions that all were born at our headquarters in Circleville, Texas.

47 YEARS AND COUNTING...

In 1978, the first S&S Cattle Company show steer sale was held because Roy, Charles’ father, had declared private treaty sales took too much time away from spring fieldwork. The 2024 sale will be their 47th consecutive show steer sale, currently the longest running nationally.

A GLIMPSE FROM THE PAST ... WATCH THE 2011 HIGH SELLING LOT SELL IN THE VIDEO BELOW.
WELCOME TO THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS SHOW CATTLE SALE IN THE NATION...