This Week in Duval County History, August 19-25

POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM AUGUST 19, 2019

August 19

Rangers slay Pablo Flores at home

San Diego – On August 19, 1901 Rangers Baker, Livingston and Sanders went to the home of Pablo Flores to arrest him on theft charges emanating in Karnes County. They arrested some men in rear of house. Flores was asleep in the gallery. Sanders stayed with those arrested while Baker went in from the front of the house and Livingston from the other end. Barking dogs awoke Flores who went inside and retrieved a pistol. His wife stopped Baker who told them, in both English and Spanish, that he was there to arrest him. Baker pushed wife aside and Flores took shots at him through a window. He shot again through a door but the gun reportedly jammed. Flores stuck his head out of a window and took aim again but his head was blown away. He fell inside the house but part of his head and brains fell outside of the window. Flores’ half brother Antonio Guerra said Flores had said the day before he would not be taken. The house supposedly was known as a hangout of mescaleros (we assume this refers to makers of mescal and not the Apache Indian tribe known as Mescalero Apache). Flores was building an 8-foot fence around his house. Justice Shaw, Capt. Brooks and County Attorney McCampbell went to the Flores ranch and Shaw held an inquest. He ruled Rangers shot Flores while resisting arrest.

Corpus Christi Caller, August 23, 1901

August 20

Suspected horse thief captured

Law enforcement authorities in Duval County captured Pedro Benavides, a suspected horse thief.

Brenham Weekly Banner, August 20, 1891

August 21

Flores clan give Encarnacion Garcia Perez power of attorney

On August 21, 1869, heirs of Julian and Ventura Flores named Encarnacion Garcia Perez as their “agent and attorney in fact” of eight leagues “and a fraction” of land known as San Diego de Arriba and San Diego de Abajo. He was to lay out a town at the place called San Diego and sell lots and rent land as he saw fit. Charles Lovenskiold, a Corpus Christi attorney, was named Perez’s counsel. Lovenskiold and John Vales witnessed the document at the request of the owners. The document was witnessed in Starr County before county clerk John Dix. It was filed for record in Duval County on April 4, 1877, before county clerk A.R. Valls.

Duval County Deed Records

August 22

Livestock sale in Collins

C. K. Gravis bought 30 bucks from Adams Bros.

Corpus Christi Caller, August 22, 1886

August 23

Ibanez passing

On August 23, the Corpus Christi Caller reported that Louisa M. Ibanez, 30-years-old, died at the residence of her mother in Corpus Christi on August 19, 1885, of consumption. She was the eldest daughter of W.L. Rogers. She had married seven years before.  

Corpus Christi Caller, August 23, 1885

August 24

News from San Diego

On August 24, 1888, the Laredo Daily Times reported: “there was a marriage amongst the peasantry, or on that style, and the gay and festive dance was kept up all Saturday night, and nearly all of Sunday night.” The newspaper reporter, named “Vigilanti”, apparently felt it was not necessary to report the names of the “peasant” couple.

Laredo Daily Times, August 24, 1888

August 25

“Mexican citizens” dominate new voting precincts

The newly elected Nueces County Commissioners Court established three additional precincts in San Diego; Rancho de los Angeles (Encinal County); and at Fort Ewell. Nueces County included unorganized counties of Duval, Encinal, and LaSalle. It covered an area 150 miles east and west and 100 miles north and south. Within this area were some of the largest ranchos and compact settlements of our fellow Mexican citizens. It doubled the vote in Nueces County and rose questions about whether these new votes were for Lincoln or Breckenridge and for or against slavery. 

The Ranchero, August 25, 1860