Soy de Duval

Early Duval County officials often engaged in a game of musical chairs, resigning posts and taking others. These activities occupied the Commissioners Court as 1878 opened. In February, Road Commissioner for Precinct 2 Rafael Saenz submitted his resignation, which the Court quickly accepted. Just as quickly, the Court appointed Alejo Perez to the fill the new vacancy. Perez, however, had to give up his post as Constable for Precinct 4. A couple of days later, during the same February term of the Court, John Vining resigned as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3. The Court accepted the resignation. The Court did not name replacements for Perez and Vining. The court also fined Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Charles Roach $25 for contempt of court for failing to make his report to the Court as required by law. The commissioners also faced a request by citizens in the form of a petition to delay the construction of a new courthouse and jail. Commissioners tabled the request until the ...

One year after its formal organization and first election, Duval County officials continued to wrestle with a number of issues concerning the new endeavor. Taxes, roads and public buildings were on the agenda for the commissioners December term. The court added to members to the newly appointed courthouse and jail committee. Charles Sullivan and William Hubbard joined County Judge James Luby, N. G. Collins and P. A. Matteson on the committee, which the court empowered to develop plans and specifications and to enter into a contract with the “lowest and best bidder.” The cost for the courthouse building was not to exceed $4,000 and the jail was to be no more than $2,500. The court also accepted the donation made by N. G. Collins of San Diego town lots in which to build the new courthouse and jail. They directed Judge James Luby to prepare the documents needed to complete the deed transfer. The court also continued to deal with transferring funds and documents from Nueces County to D...

On November 15, 1877, Duval County Commissioners Court fined the tax collector $15 for contempt of court. The action came because the tax collector failed to provide a supplemental roll of taxes as ordered by the court. The tax collector had no excuse for the failure. While court minutes do not name the tax collector, during the early years of Texas county government the sheriff of the county was the tax collector. In the case of Duval County, it was R. P. Fly. The sheriff may have been a little miffed at this turn of events for he resigned from office at the same meeting. On the other hand, he may have failed to produce the tax roll because he was planning on resigning. The commissioners court accepted Fly’s resignation “with regret” and gave him the thanks of the county for “his past good services.” The court tabled action on paying the sheriff’s bills. Two days later, the court settled accounts with the sheriff paying him $223.05 for keep and guard of prisoners, $180.75 for att...

Judge James O. Luby Concerned about the crossing at the San Diego Creek, the Duval County Commissioners in 1877 ordered that the sheriff to use convict labor to improve the crossing across from the courthouse. Sheriff R. P. Fly was to seek the advice and consent of County Judge James Luby when using the convicts. The court directed the sheriff to keep the convicts at “hard labor” fixing the crossing and approaches. In addition, convicts were to remove stakes and corrals obstructing the crossing. The sheriff could credit the convicts for one day’s work for every nine hours of labor. He could also purchase all the necessary equipment to get the job done. If convict labor was not sufficient to complete the job, the court authorized the sheriff to use road crews to help with the project. Under no circumstances, however, were road crews compelled to work with the convicts. Commissioners also appointed County Surveyor John J. Dix as sole commissioner to represent the county in working wit...

(This is a news release from my good friend Father Armando Ibañez, OP, which I know many of you would be interested in. Look forward seeing some of you at the preview.) A new documentary about the great impact Dominican friars had in the history and development of central South Texas, especially on how their presence assisted many Mexican-Americans struggle against injustice and harsh racism, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26-27 in Ball Room A, in the Memorial Student Union Bldg. (Sub-M), at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK). South Texas Gentle Men of Steel – Los Padres is written, produced and directed by Assistant Professor of Communications / Radio-Television-Film, Armando P. Ibáñez. He is also the director of TAMUK’s RTF program, is also a Roman Catholic priest, a Dominican friar of the Southern Dominican Province, headquartered in New Orleans. He is a native of San Diego, grew up in Alice, and is a former reporter of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times . In additi...

Houses of ill repute came to the notice of Duval County Commissioners in March 1877. The Commissioners Court ordered that the sheriff, deputies and constables were not to provide services to fandangos, bailes and other places of amusement that did not have a license. In fact, law enforcement officials were to arrest any owner of these places for keeping a disorderly house if any misdemeanor or felony crime was committed at their places of business. Commissioners also urged law enforcement officers and justices of the peace to enforce laws on the books relating to drunkenness forcefully. The court also accepted the resignation of Apolonio Vela as Constable for Precinct Number 1 and then named him Constable of Precinct Number 2. At a subsequent meeting, the court named Luis Cuellar to replace Vela as Constable for Precinct Number 1. The court also received applications from W. B. Jones and from Dr. Alexander to be the county physician. Commissioners tabled the request. Meanwhile, Dr...

In the 21st century taxpayers complain about high taxes. There was a time during its history that Duval County had the distinction of having the highest tax rates in the state. But, in the early days of the county, the ad valorem tax rate adopted by the commissioners court totaled $1.25 cents per $100 of valuation. In February 1877, commissioners adopted a half-cent state ad valorem tax, which today is unconstitutional. The commissioners approved a county ad valorem tax of one-quarter cent and a courthouse and jail tax of half-cent. Men who would be between 21 and 60 years of age during 1877 were also required to pay a $2 poll tax. At that time, the poll tax was not a tax granting the right to vote; that would not come about until 1902. The 1876 Texas Constitution authorized the tax purely as a financial resource and it had nothing to do with the franchise. The court also adopted the occupation tax, as prescribed by the general laws of Texas. Men were not the only ones taxed. Th...