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Historical MarkersDuval County has nine historical markers that include one at the Duval County Courthouse. The following information about the Historical Markers in Duval County is provided by the Texas Historical Commission.
Barronena Ranch
Town: Feer, Texas
Directions
to Marker: Located 27 miles South of State Highway 16 - the
markers is NOT visible from the road and may be on the actual farm
house which is located on private property.
Erected date: 1989
Marker
Text: The Barronena Ranch is an important reminder of early South
Texas ranching. Named for a creek (now called Los Machos) which
traverses the property, the ranch was part of a larger tract owned by
Diego Hinojosa, who received a grant of five leagues from the Republic
of Mexico. In 1856, Hinojosa received a state of Texas patent for 2237
acres of this land. James O. Luby (1846-1932) later owned a part of the
ranch. a native of England and a Confederate veteran of the Civil War,
Luby became the first county judge of Duval County in 1876. Barronena
Ranch was purchased by J. M. Bennett (1831-1920) in 1905 and has
remained in the Bennett family since that time. The nucleus of the
ranch is a 19th century adobe house, reportedly a stage stop between
Goliad and Laredo. Other structures include a native rock water trough
and storage tank; a native rock wall more than one mile long; remains
of a dipping vat and smokehouse; and rock foundations of other
buildings, including a blacksmith shop. Richard King, grandson of the
founder of the King Ranch, leased the Barronena Ranch in the 1920s.
Santa Gertrudis cattle, developed by the King Ranch, were introduced
here following World War II. (1989)
Duval County
Town: San Diego, Texas
Directions to Marker: 404 East Gravis, San Diego, Texas
Erected date: 1996
Marker
Text: Created by the Texas Legislature in 1858 and organized in
1879, Duval County played an important role in the economic and
political development of South Texas. Early settlers came to this area
in the mid-19th century from Mexico, and Anglo pioneers began arriving
in the 1860s. The early economy was based on ranching and agriculture.
In the late 1870s the railroad brought increased employment and
population to the county. The discovery of oil, gas, and uranium in the
early 1900s boosted the economy and caused increased settlement in the
region. (1996)
Duval County
Town: San Diego, Texas
Directions to Marker: Located on the steps of the Duval County Courthouse in San Diego, Texas.
Erected date: 1936
Marker
Text: Created February 1, 1858, organized November 7, 1876. Named
in honor of Burr H. Duval, 1809-1836. Captain of a company of Fannin's
command at Goliad. Murdered after the surrender March 27, 1836. San
Diego, the county seat.
Duval County Courthouse - Historic Courthouse
Town: San Diego, Texas
Constructed date: 1916
**No marker, just information about the Duval County Historic Courthouse**.
The
courthouse was a three story red brick building with limestone detail.
The architectual firm for the building is Sanguinet, Staats &
Gottlieb, with the contractor as Carl Gordon Staats. The
contractor is L.G. Hamilton and the style of the building is Classical
Revivial. Annex built in 1938. (Page Brothers) Some windows
bricked in, fire escape added on front facade. Jail addition considered
in 1995.
Duval County Historical Museum
Town: San Diego, Texas
**No marker, just a musem exists**.
Directions to museum: 208 East Saint Joseph Avenue, San Diego, Texas
John C. Duval
Town: Freer, Texas
Directions to marker: Marker is missing
Erected date: 1936
Marker
Text: (1816 - 1897) First Texas man of letters. Wrote history not
as a visitor, but a participant, and wrote to entertain and inspire.
His "Early times in Texas" tells of days when, by bringing news of the
outside world to the lonely settlers, a man could travel from the
Sabine to the Rio Grande and spend not a cent for board. It also gives
a personal account of Palm Sunday 1836 at Goliad, when Santa Anna's men
shot down disarmed Texas prisoners of War -- a massacre from which
Duval himself escaped, though an older brother was killed. His books,
including "Early Times," "Bigfoot Wallace" and "Young Explorers," were
not widely distributed at the time of publication, but made history
live. As a young Austin citizen, the renowned O. Henry was influenced
by Duval's work; so was J. Frank Dobie, dean of 20th century Texas
writers. Duval was born in Kentucky; son of a territorial governor of
Florida. Graduate of the University of Virginia. Civil engineer. First
came to Texas in 1835. Fought in the Texas Revolution. Was a Texas
Ranger and made a career of surveying frontier lands. Fought in the
Mexican War and in the Civil War. This county was named for him and for
two of his distinguished brothers. (1965)
El Rancho La Gloria
Town: Freer, Texas
Directions to marker: Unknown
Erected date: 2009
Marker Text: Information needed
St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church
Town: San Diego, Texas
Marker location: 405 South Victoria Street
Erected date: 1996
Marker
Text: Established in 1867 by Father Claude Jaillet, St. Francis
de Paula Catholic Church was built through the contributions of its
members and was the center of religious activity in the area. Father
Jaillet served until 1872, and returned again from 1875-1884. This
church was constructed in 1908 during the pastorate of Father Pedro
Bard. The church was enlarged and remodeled and Parochial Hall was
added by 1950. The church celebrated 100 years of service to its
members and the surrounding communities in 1967, and continues to serve
the area. (1996)
Valerio, Felipe, Store and Garage
Town: San Diego, Texas
Marker location: Texas 44 and Junction with Texas Farm Road 3196
Erected date: 1994
Marker
Text: (1.5 mi. southeast) Built in 1905 by Felipe Valerio
(1878-1953) and his wife Jesusa (1886-1973), the Valerio store was an
integral part of the small community of La Rosita. Located
approximately halfway between San Diego and Freer, the store provided
groceries and other goods for residents of this rural area. An increase
in business from the area oil boom in the 1930s led to the addition of
a gas station and garage. The store also served as a bus station, and
Felipe Valerio was local postmaster from 1917 to 1929. Construction of
State Highway 44 led to the closing of the store in 1956. (1994)
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