This Week in Duval County History, December 9 — 15

POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM DECEMBER 9, 2019

December 9

Killed while resisting arrest

On December 9, 1883, the Corpus Christi Caller reported that Nueces County Deputy P.S. Coy killed Esiquiel De Los Santos while executing an arrest warrant. Two Texas Rangers accompanied Coy. The newspaper reported that De Los Santos came out of his house with a pistol in one hand and a Bowie knife in the other. Coy opened fire killing De Los Santos instantly. In a lapse of journalistic objectivity, the newspaper reported that De Los Santos was a “desperate character” and Coy a “proven and efficient officer”.

“With Coy’s help and that of other deputies,” reported the newspaper, “Sheriff [Pat] Whelan is ridding [the] country of lawless element.”

Corpus Christi Caller, December 9, 1883

December 10

Judge Luby, by order of the Commissioners Court, was having the courthouse painted inside and out. The sheriff was in San Antonio at a Sheriffs Convention. Deputy Leno Cuellar carried witnesses from Benavides to Laredo for District court.

M.C. Spann was thinking of leaving San Diego.

According to the Galveston News of December 10, a sealed car passed through San Diego – believed to contain dynamite.

Corpus Christi Caller, December 17, 1887

December 11

Court confirms San Diego de Arriba and San Diego de Abajo grants

On December 11, 1860, the fourteenth judicial district entered a judgment in the case involving San Diego de Arriba y Abajo, styled Trinidad Flores y Perez vs. The State of Texas. Grant was originally deeded by the Spanish government and perfected under Article 23 and 26 of the Decree No. 42, the colonization law of the state of Tamaulipas issued on December 15, 1826.

Juan Saenz, born on the ranch in 1815 and lived on the ranch until 1832 testified that he knew that the lands had been in possession of Julian Flores at all times. “except at such times when to save their lives from the Indians, they had to remove and seek protection in the settlements,” (standard language in all cases.)

General Land Office

December 12

Post Office opened in Ramirez

Post Office was opened in Ramirez for the first time on December 12, 1910. The first Postmaster was Pedro Chapa. The community was also known as Chapa and that name was used.

Texas Post Offices

December 13

Part of San Diego de Arriba sold

On December 13, 1881, Roman Perez sold 287.5 acres to Anastacio Perez for $287.50. This was part of the San Diego de Arriba grant originally made to Julian Flores and which was divided from the estate of their mother Maria Vicenta Barrera de Perez.

Duval County Deed Records

December 14

Christmas approaching

On December 14, 1888, as Christmas was approaching stores were placing up holiday dress and displays. Mrs. Martineau was making a considerable addition to her house/hotel, a two-story spacious structure. The district court was scheduled to hear election cases on January 7, 1889.

Laredo Daily Times, December 15, 1888

December 15

Realitos locals

On December 15, 1887, the Realitos public school was reported to be making progress with Miss Laura Modd as a teacher. It had 30 pupils. P. Downs and R.R. Savage went hunting and killed two deer. Business was lively with two large stores – Cadena & Co and P. Downs.

Federal authorities arrested three mescal dealers, one was an 80-year-old Mexican.

Corpus Christi Caller, December 17, 1887

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