100 years ago, in Duval County

 

Photo by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM AUGUST 26, 2021

It was an exciting time in Duval County during the year 1921. However, it was somewhat of a lull between the high drama that occurred during the previous decade and what was on the horizon in future years. Still, one can never say that things in Duval County were ever dull.

At the end of 1920, on December 27, San Diego movers and shakers held a meeting to organize a chapter of the Boys Club. Father Cunningham took the lead in this movement and might have organized a troop at the beginning of 1921.

The year got off to a quick start with Sen. Archie Parr introducing a bill in the Texas Senate to amend the territory of the Benavides Independent School District. The change was needed because some of the school district’s lands took in property in the newly created county of Jim Hogg. At the same time that this change was taking place, the Legislature also created the new Jim Hogg County Independent School District. The Texas Legislature approved the transition to the Benavides district on a unanimous vote in the House and Senate. Still, Governor William P. Hobby, no friend of Parr, did not sign or veto the bill, so it went into effect without his signature.

Sen. Parr also took an interest in other issues of controversy. In January, he introduced legislation to repeal the minimum wage law. At the same time, he called for an investigation of the “mistreatment” of inmates in state prisons. Parr got support from Sen. Bailey of Dewitt County. The latter motioned that the Senate refer the matter to the Senate’s Committee on Penitentiaries and suggested that the committee hear testimony from the Prison Commission.

Reenactment of Tequileros caught by Border patrolmen. Image courtesy of the University of Texas at Austin, Humanities

Research Center, Smithers Collection

The state had also adopted a measure on prohibition, which opened up contraband opportunities for Duval County men. Texas Rangers and customs inspectors arrested three men, believed by law enforcement to be the “mastermind” of a smuggling ring allegedly operating out of San Diego.

Not all was doom and gloom. At the end of January, the Corpus Christi Caller ran a story headlined,

“Duval and Jim Wells County Present Picture of Industry and Fields Ready for Coming Season.”

Farmers had already picked the cotton and corn crop and prepared the fields for their next crop. Farmers in each county reportedly had picked some 10,000 bales of cotton and sold them at reasonable prices. In Duval County, efforts in the newfound oil wells continued to attract much interest from throughout the state.

As the hunting season approached, deer hunters got some bad news. In the northern part of the county, tracks of large mountain lions covered every deer trail. In addition, hunters found carcasses of two large deer killed and partly eaten by mountain lions.

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4 COMMENTSON "100 YEARS AGO, IN DUVAL COUNTY"

1. Humberto Rodriguez Martinez | August 27, 2021 at 11:12 am | Reply
   Alfredo,
   Just wanted to let you know that I very much enjoy reading your excerpts – in particular historical excerpts – about Duval. I am a native “Duvalian.” I was born in 1946 and spent my first 21 years growing up on my paternal grandfather’s (Felipe B. Martinez) ranch in Cruz Calle, Texas. I also spent the first two years of my life living on my maternal grandfather’s (Jose Rodriguez) ranch just northwest of Concepcion, Texas. I call my paternal grandfather, the modern dude and my maternal grandfather, the old fashioned dude. I base the nicknames on the equipment for their farm and ranch. My paternal or “modern” grandfather owned everything with an internal combustion engine. My maternal or “old fashioned” grandfather did all his farm and ranch work with horses and mules. Both did well supporting their families. I will carry the experience both they and my grandmothers gave me to my grave. Thanks for sharing! I remain eternally grateful.

• cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 27, 2021 at 11:22 am | Reply
  Thank you, Humberto, for sharing your story. I’m sure many of my readers had similar experiences.

2. David Velau | August 26, 2021 at 5:20 pm | Reply
   My parents came to Duval County in 1927 but other family members came in early twenties, my dad working for Magnolia Oil Company!

• cardenas.ae@gmail.com | August 26, 2021 at 5:32 pm | Reply
  Thank you, David, for this info. During this period many of Freer’s first families began arriving.