1887 events in Duval were full of the happenings of daily living

At the end of July 1887 the Duval County Grand Jury returned 26 true bills. District court action saw 11 convictions and an acquittal. The Corpus Christi Caller did not report names of any of the parties indicted, convicted or acquitted.

Capt. E. N. Gray, Julian Palacios and George Bodet were named jury commissioners to select petit and grand jury for the court’s next term. Frank Feuille was becoming a popular defense attorney.

County attorney C. L. Coyner, meanwhile, took time off from his legal duties to buy and move into the Caldwell property next to Judge J. Williamson Moses’ residence. A. L. Muel and Capt. B. Miret were thinking of building new homes. Muel bought property near Sidbury Lumber and Miret built a little cottage on Plaza No. 2 on property he bought from Judge James O. Luby. L. Pena started a bakery in house opposite J. W. Shaw’s Livery Stable.

On the last Saturday of July, six dances were held in San Diego and all were attended. Music as well as partners were in high demand.

The newspaper reported that beggars and vagrants infested San Diego streets daily. One vagabond, an old man with a staff, would to go to every house with a bag and was said to feed two or three prostitutes with what he begged from “good-hearted matrons.” He asked for money but took what he could get.

In August, examinations of teachers took place. A full Board of Education was present, including members Croft, Taylor and Parkham. Teachers examined were Addie Feuille, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Valls, Hays Dix, Mrs. Sutherland, John McIntire and T. S. Moise; the first two for first grade, the last for third and others for second. Miss Feuille got first grade certification; Mrs. Valls, second grade; all others failed. Later, the Board of Education granted Mr. McEutere a third grade certificate.

B. Miret and N. Pena merged saloons into one called Pena & Miret. It was the only saloon left in town. Juan Puig sold Glover ranch back to Glover Bros.

Catholic bishop confirmed 300 children and then went to Benavides, Concepcion, Clovis and Realitos.

The election to prohibit liquor sales went down in flames, 385 to 17. The victors were still “taking their todies” in Duval County. They needed the cool ones, as the thermometer reached 104 at the end of August.

P. S. Coy returned to Corpus Christi from San Antonio where he and Deputy Marshall Bell arrested Santos Salazar for robbing the Pena and Rio Grande City stage. Salazar was from the Collins area.

At the start of September 1887, the newspaper reported that night trains were disturbing the sleep of residents. Trains were busy transporting cattle.

Antonio Garcia Tovar married Dolores Canales of Lampazo, Mexico. Father Peter Bard presided over the marriage of Stephen Chapa, son of Fermin Chapa, to Serviana Herrera at a ranch 10 miles from San Diego. Cayetano Rios and his wife served as padrinos.