Posts

Showing posts from April, 2019

This Week in Duval County History, April 29 — May 5

Image
  POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM APRIL 29, 2019     April 29 The Fort Worth Daily Gazette credited Nueces County Deputy Paulino Coy, “Good Coy”, with involvement in the hanging of two alleged horse thieves. Alleged because they had not been charged, much less convicted. While the Gazette does not bother to mention the dead men by name, their names were Mateo Cadena and Pedro Peña. In the interest of full disclosure, I believe Cadena was my great-granduncle. For more information see my two-part series on this event here: https://www.soydeduval.com/2014/05/killings-of-four-men-is-one-of-most-heinous-events-in-the-annals-of-the-south-texas-frontier/ . By way of explanation, not in defense of, the Gazette was not alone in this type of reporting, which was epidemic. Take a note from the Corpus Christi Caller on the same event: “Coy had nothing to do with lynching. If he had and the thieves were killed while fighting and resisting arrest, it is not a crime that they would have died wi

This Week in Duval County History, April 22 — 28

Image
  POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM APRIL 22, 2019 April 22 N.G. Collins, P.C. Gravis, J.H. Moses, and other citizens petitioned the Nueces County Commissioners Court to recognize Duval County so it could be organized. Nueces county denied the request because they were not sure if San Diego (from where most signatures were from) was in Duval County or Nueces County. Moreover, the petition was not verified by a law officer. Nueces County Court Minutes April 23 Corpus Christi newspaper reported that in Realitos the “American population” was preparing to celebrate San Jacinto Day “as all true Texans should.” Water found at 60 feet at the public well. The stock looked good despite the drought. James Gibson of San Antonio was in town looking for fat stock. Plenty of stock in San Antonio but all in poor condition. Selling for low prices. J. Corkill and Fyre Burke returned from a stock trip to Beeville for Ed Corkill. Preparation underway for shearing. Bids were to be the largest wool cut sho

This Week in Duval County History, April 15 — 21

Image
  POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM APRIL 15, 2019 April 15 April 15 – Judge Hopkins opened court. The new grand jury impaneled included C. M. Robinson, Foreman; Otto Brandt, A. L. Muil, A. Baldeshwiler, Joe White, Morty Corkill, Hoe Lowel, John Teal, Tom May, E.J. Rogers, Frank Clark, and Hayes Roach. (Interesting that with 90 percent Mexican American population not a single Mexican American was on the Grand Jury, except (perhaps) E.J. Rogers.) Christi Weekly Caller, April 17, 1908 April 16 A temperance man, E. N. Gray of La Gloria Ranch, has sent letter to the editor against prohibition. Corpus Christi Caller, April 6, 1887. April 17 A Trip to the Country Caller editor took train to San Diego in search of news items. “Finest country under the sun,” he wrote, California not excepted. “As far as eye could see covered with one solid mat of grass and flowers. Daisies and buttercups. Air filled with fragrance. Cattle and horses with their sides standing out reminded one of Poland Coma Pa

This Week in Duval County History, April 8 — 14

Image
  POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM APRIL 7, 2019 April 8 Father Peter Bard Father John P. Bard ordained in Corpus Christi on April 8, 1877. His mission territory stretched all the way to Los Angeles station, until the area up to Realitos. Was assigned to the new Aguilares Mission in 1892. Father Bard was left with churches in Alice, Benavides, Concepcion, and Mindieta as well as 163 ranches. Southern Messenger, June 7, 1900 April 9 Protestant church of San Diego at old Spann Building held a church festival with vocal and instrumental music; post office, fish pond, grab-bags; etc. 10¢ and 5¢ admission for children over 10. Corpus Christi Caller, April 9, 1887. April 10 State Representative N.G. Collins called up and got approval for a bill to extend the San Diego and Corpus Christi Railroad for two years. Galveston Daily News, April 10, 1879 April 11 On April 11, 1892, Manuel Flores, son of Ventura Flores (one of six sons of Julian Flores) and Juan Hinojosa borrowed money against thei

This Week in Duval County History, April 1 — 7

Image
  POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM APRIL 1, 2019 April 1 George B. Parr died on April 1, 1975. Corpus Christi Caller, March 31, 1888 April 2 Horse race scheduled for April 2, stake $300 per steed – winner takes $600 between M. Corrigan’s little mare and Ferman Lopez’s little sorrel horse. Corpus Christi Caller, March 31, 1888 April 3 On April 3, 1861, the court ruled in favor of a suit brought by John Vale to clarify ownership of Agua Poquita granted to Santos Flores. Duval County Deed Records, Vol. I, 137 April 4 Gen. Naranjo (Mexico’s Secretary of War), the family of Encarnacion Perez and Don Calixto Tovar went by special train to Corpus Christi and were guests at the St. James Hotel. Corpus Christi Caller, April 4, 1883 April 5 The Fort Worth Gazette reported that “From three assays of ore in Duval County the indications were one-fourth ounce of gold to the ton and two-thirds of an ounce of silver.” Fort Worth Gazette, April 5, 1894 April 6. G. W. Harrison was appointed Postmaste