This Week in Duval County History, November 4 — 10

 

POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM NOVEMBER 4, 2019

November 4

Rangers patrol at Benavides

November 4, 1886 – Privates McNamara and Picket returned from Benavides where they were sent to keep order on Election Day, Nov. 2. They arrested Juan Garcia and Phil Village (Villegas?) for carrying weapons and Pedro Benavides and Alejandro Cantu for assault to kill and murder. They were all turned over to civil authorities. (The Rangers probably were stationed in Laredo at this time. They were ordered to Pena on November 19.)

Frontier Ranger Battalion, Company C Monthly Returns

November 5

Some things never change

In Duval County, the more things change the more they stay the same. The 1887 hunting season was beginning to open up, judging from a fine lot of venison hams displayed at Otto Brandt’s shop. “We think we can safely and truthfully say that Duval is the boss county of this kind of game,” The Caller reported.

Corpus Christi Caller, November 5, 1887

November 6

San Andres grant patented to Andres Garcia

The San Andres grant was patented on November 6, 1877, to the heirs of Andres Garcia. A suit was filed by Concepcion Garza and others (Rafael Garcia y Garza, Antonio Juan de Dios, Jesus Melona and Juanita Garcia y Garza) on February 14, 1873. The case ended up in the Texas Supreme Court.

Book K, Travis County

November 7

Results of the first election in Duval County

On the theme of the more things change… there was the 1876 election.

Duval County Commissioners Court held its first meeting on December 4, 1876, after the election held on November 7, 1876, to organize the county. Following are the winners:

James O. Luby………………..County Judge

Andrew R. Valls……………….County Clerk

P. Fly………………………………Sheriff

W. Moses………………………..County Attorney

Charles Hoffman……………..County Treasurer

Theo Lamberton ……………..Hides Inspector

John O. Dix …………………….Surveyor

Precinct 1

Frank R. Gravis………………..Commissioner

John Humphries……………..Justice of the Peace

Apolonio Vela………………….Constable

Precinct 2

W. Toklas……………………….Commissioner

Modesto Garza………………Justice of the Peace

————- …………………Constable

Precinct 3

Rafael Salinas………………..Commissioner

P. Vining……………………….Justice of the Peace

Peter Skaes…………………..Constable

Precinct 4

H. Caldwell…………………….Commissioner

Chas Roach……………………Justice of the Peace

Alejo Perez…………………….Constable

The court met at the store of James O. Luby in San Diego. Luby, Gravis, and Salinas were present and represented a quorum. They presented their election certificates to Nueces County Judge Joseph Fitzsimmons. The first order of business was to accept the bonds for Dix in the amount of $10,000, signed by N.G. Collins, Jose Maria G. Treviño and E.G. Garza. Luby administered the oath to Valls who took his seat with the court.

Duval County Commissioners Minutes, Book A

November 8

More on the murder of Rafael Salinas

The Rockport Transcript reported that Edward R. Gray from Concepcion wrote to his father in Rockport that Rafael Salinas, who was the head clerk of Gray’s and son-in-law of Thomas Parker of Corpus Christi, that people heard four shots fired about 7 p.m. near Boca Negra Lake. The next day Richard Hancock went out after his remuda and found Salinas’ body near the lake. Gray wrote that they went out to investigate, since Mr. Vining (presumably the JP) was not available, and found that Salinas had four bullets in his body. Tracks around the body indicated five men were involved. Salinas’ hat was burned with powder. The five men scattered in different directions. 

The Galveston Daily News, November 8, 1879

November 9

And staying with our theme of the most things change…

The election results for statewide candidates were reported with identical results for all races, the winners (presumably the Democrat) received 1,168 and the losers 85 votes.

Fort Worth Daily Gazette, November 9, 1886

November 10

San Diego Doings

November 10 – Wool sales slowed. Hirsch bought the Adami clip at 14 3/4 cents. E.L. Clang bought Parkham at 14 1/8. Hirsch was expected to buy 200 bags in the warehouse of John Buckley at 14-14 1/2 cents.

Caller correspondent Jeffreys met the newspaper’s editor Eli Merriman on the street. The editor offered Jeffreys some pointers. 

Jeffreys reported that Fermina Serna was tried “before one of our yellow-legged chicken courts” as JP courts were called. She was fined $2 and failed to pay, and was thrown in jail.

Judge Luby went up the road with his gun as far as Pena, probably after the robbers in that section. County commissioners were expected to burn all the ballots cast a year before, whether they were legal or illegal.

Corpus Christi Caller, November 12, 1887