This Week in Duval County History, September 30 — October 6

 

POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

September 30

Dubose Post Office closes in 1929

Dubose was on the Texas-Mexican Railway fifteen miles southwest of Benavides. A post office was established there in 1911 with John F. Dubose, after whom the community was named, as postmaster. In 1914 the community had a general store and cotton gin. Estimates of the Dubose population remained at twenty-five from the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s. Its post office was closed in 1929, and the community no longer appeared on maps of the area by the late 1940s.

Martin Donell Kohout, Handbook of Texas Online

October 1

Sundry Items of Interest from Pena

There were four candidates for county judge. Ramon Guerra shipped three cars, 50 potros, to San Antonio. Dr. J. Grant shipped 25 cars, 400 head of beeves, and two cars, 28 saddled horses to Gainesville. He was paid $13 and $14 American money. It was exceedingly low price.

W.H. Jennings trying to gather 240 yearlings which he lost the previous month.

Heavy rains continued. Rio Grande City mail and passengers had to cross the creek in boats. The first norther arrived.

Corpus Christi Caller, October 3, 1886

October 2

News from San Diego

The area received good rains; prairies were carpeted with grass; wool shearing was done; cotton-picking continued.

The H.W. Parkman steam gin and press was turning out 500 pounds bales daily. Encarnacion G. Perez & Sons, a popular merchant, went into cotton planting. Had gathered 100 bales and was not near done yet.

The Laredo correspondent, Vigilanti, was complaining about the lack of a dam. He said the plaza was called so out of courtesy for it was full of waist-high weeds and was “a disgrace”. Houses were renting for half what they did five and six years before. If they could be rented. Public men expressed no interest in public improvements.

Election only thing that caused excitement. Parties were simply the outs and ins with Democrats and Republicans in both ranks.

Laredo Daily Times, October 2, 1888

October 3

San Diego pencilings

Duval County let out bids for the construction of a new jail. Several contractors were on hand but the commissioners did not show up and the item was postponed. Rumor had it that heavy taxpayers “will make a vigorous kick against the building of the jail.” The jail would be made of brick, two-stories, steel cells, and modern improvements. Would require a $10,000 bond issue. Present jail could be enlarged with a few thousand dollars.

The area got a little rain.

Cards went out for the wedding of John D. Cleary and Julia Martinet, for the following Wednesday night. There would also be a ball.

The Tibilier family had “big fat boy baby.”

T. Murphy was in town to buy sheep but prices offered did not make sheep raisers happy.

Rev. A.H. Sutherland was scheduled to dedicate the recently completed Methodist church.

Everything was very quiet, even politics.

Corpus Christi Caller, October 5, 1884

October 4

New attorney in town

J.D. Latta received his license to practice law.

Corpus Christi Caller, October 4, 1885

October 5

There’s gold in them there … turkeys!

A hunter who killed some wild turkeys at the ranch of Maj. Simmons on a branch of the San Diego Creek found the birds had gold in their stomachs. It was believed that they picked up the gold while eating. The gold was estimated to be valued from 15¢ to $4. It was believed that “rich washings may be found in the vicinity.”

Denton County News, October 5, 1893

October 6

News from Duval’s Capital

Wool clips coming were in but none had been sold yet. A couple of buyers were in town “prospecting.” 

Professor Pollard started a school for boys with good attendance. Public schools run by Miss Feuille and Pollard. Private school run by Mr. Pueblo.

Sheriff Wright, under execution, levied on 19 horses, 32 cattle and 28 bucks belonging to A.L. Labbe on a judgment in favor of R.H. Corbet. Labbe Appealed.  

Corpus Christi Caller, October  8, 1887

1 COMMENTON "THIS WEEK IN DUVAL COUNTY HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 6"

Teresa Burkholder | September 30, 2019 at 4:12 pm | Reply
Thank you so very much Mr Cardenas. I so enjoy reading
our past DUVAL COUNTY history brought back to life by you. God Bless You.