Soy de Duval

TOPICS: Christmas Duval County Texas St. Francis de Paula Church in San Diego in late 1876. Photo by Louis de Planque POSTED BY:  CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM   DECEMBER 24, 2015 Christmas in Duval County in the 1880s held many of the same elements of today, although is some respects it was more lively.As Christmas approached stores decorated with holiday displays. Most merchants  closed on Christmas day. Father Peter Bard celebrated Midnight Mass. In San Diego, the day started with with Father Peter Bard celebrating midnight Mass or misa de gallo  at St. Francis de Paula in San Diego. More than half of San Diego’s residents usually attended the liturgical celebration.  Many worshipers had to stand outside the church, which was packed. After Mass, eggnog was served and rockets, Roman candles and fire crackers were lit. Not unlike today, drinking was part of the celebration. Fortunately, usually no problems arose from the use of a...

Luby was Duval County trailblazer TOPICS: County Judge James O. Luby Postmaster Telephone Luby Store in 1876. Louis De Planque photo. POSTED BY:  CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM   DECEMBER 19, 2015 At the age of 30, James O. Luby had already travelled from England to New York, then to Havana, followed by New Orleans, Brownsville and finally San Diego, Texas. He had fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy, been taken prisoner, was released and reenlisted again, taking part in the Battle of Palmeto Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War. He had served in the Mexican Liberal Army, served with the noted Texas Ranger John “Rip” Ford, and directed attacks against Indian and bandit raiders. He had served as postmaster and justice of the peace and was elected county judge. Not bad for a young man in a hurry to make a name for himself in the Texas frontier. Manuel Ancira building served as first Duval County Courthouse. (De Planque photo) On December 4, 1876, the young county judge pre...

TOPICS: Duval County James O. Luby Politics Republicans POSTED BY:  CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM   DECEMBER 13, 2015 The long storied history of Duval County reads like a chapter or two of the Democratic party history book. But it was not always that way. In fact the first county judge, James O. Luby, was known as Mr. Republican of South Texas. Evan Anders in  Boss Rule in South Texas wrote that Luby did not become a Republican until 1884 when President Chester A. Arthur named him Customs Collector for the Port of Brownsville, but events suggest otherwise. But before I go there, let me go to the beginning.

TOPICS: Catarino Garza Duval County Pena Revolutionaires Texas Third Cavalry troopers searching for a suspected revolutionist. Frederic Remington 1892. POSTED BY:  CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM   DECEMBER 6, 2015 In August 1886, one of V. J. Clark’s vaqueros returned from Los Olmos and told of running into a Mexican recruiting officer and 50-60 revolutionaries. The recruiter offered the vaqueros $100 to serve as his guides.