Cattle rustling and horse stealing reigned in Duval County

In 1871, San Diego had a bank, two hotels, a weekly newspaper, general store and a number of cattle raising and farming operations. There were 135 legal voters in Nueces County voting Precinct 6, which included mostly San Diego. It also had a school with one teacher and as many assistants as were required.

Nueces County voters elected James O. Luby Justice of the Peace in Precinct 3 and later as county commissioner. He served in these positions until 1876 when voters promoted him to be the first county judge of Duval County. Judge Luby went on to earn the nickname of the famous “fighting Republican”.

Luby, a Select Master in the Masons, married Mary Hoffman in 1871. They went on to have five children.

Another Duval County politician to arrive in San Diego in 1871 was J. Williamson Moses. He succeeded Luby as Duval County Judge and played an important role in the county’s early political history.

In 1872, Luby reported that Kickapoos made three raids near San Diego. Citizens sent scouts after them. Indians usually came in the dark of the moon, stayed three to four days before leaving with their plunder.

Thieves often stole horses near San Diego and took them to Mexico. Residents captured a herd of 30 stolen horses on March 30, 1873 on their way to the Rio Grande. One of the horses belonged to Richard King and had the brand defaced. All of the marauding parties came from Mexico.

On Saturday March 28, 1873, neighboring ranchos sent word to Luby that Atilano Alvarado, a bandit from Mexico, and Alberto Garza, a known criminal from Atascosa County, were stealing horses in northern Duval County. They had 60 men under their command. San Diego officers Treviño and Vela organized a posse and went after the bandits.

In the spring of 1873, Garza also known as El Caballo Blanco, Alvarado and their 60 men moved their horse stealing operation to southern Duval County and engaged in skinning cattle. JP Luby, who always traveled armed, sent assistance to Piedras Pintas Rancho to keep outlaws under the command of Garza from burning it to the ground

Garza sent the people of San Diego a message to bring enough money to buy the hides of stolen cattle or else enough men to “skin the hide peelers.” Jasper Clark, James F. Scott and nine other cowmen responded by assaulting Garza’s base camp, and the bandits gave flight, leaving saddles, bridles, and some 80 remains of cattle. The vigilantes found another 575 carcasses nearby.

The cattle rustling and stealing continued throughout 1873 and the killing of Mexican citizens believed or accused of committing the thefts followed.

Alfredo E. Cardenas | October 31, 2013 at 7:48 pm | Reply (Edit) Look forward to your contributions. As latter day "Mr. Republican" of Duval County, I have always felt an affinity to Judge Luby. John Luby | October 31, 2013 at 7:47 pm | Reply (Edit) Thanks for your great stories Mr. Cardenas! James O. Luby is my great grandfather and a true South Texas pioneer. I'll try to contribute to your blog any way I can. Thanks again! Alfredo E. Cardenas | October 31, 2013 at 7:46 pm | Reply (Edit) Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. San Diego was quite a cosmopolitan community in its early days. ANNIE HOFFMAN | October 31, 2013 at 7:45 pm | Reply (Edit) WITH THE PUBLICATION OF SUSAN HOFFMAN'S BOOK OF OLD SAN DIEGO PICTURES, I WAS REMINDED HOW VERY MANY JEWISH PEOPLE WERE IN SAN DIEGO AT THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY. IT WAS AN AMAZING FIND. IN THE TEMPLE BETH EL IN C.C. THERE WERE AT LEAST 6 OR 8 OF US THAT HAD JEWISH ANCESTORS FROM SAN DIEGO. THE STORY I WAS TOLD WAS THE GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE DISMAYED THERE WAS NO TEMPLE TO GO TO FOR THE CHILDREN AND SINCE ANNE (A) HOFFMAN COLLINS HAD BUILT A CATHOLIC CHURCH…WHY NOT? SO 3 LITTLE BOYS WENT TO THE PRIEST TO BE 'CATHOLICS', THE PRIEST ASKED THEM TO CONFESS THEIR SINS & NONE OF THE 3 COULD THINK OF ANY SINS. THEY FOUND A CONVIENENT WINDOW & CRAWLED OUT, NEVER TO RETURN. MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS ALSO WENT HALF WAY ON THE LANGUAGE THEY SPOKE & TAUGHT. THEY WERE FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE OLD COUNTRY & THE DIALECTS WERE DIFFERENT…Solution….THEY TAUGHT THE KIDS SPANISH WHICH ALL OF THEM SPOKE FLUENTLY ALL THEIR LIVES.