Ricardo in Kleberg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Producing Gas Well in Kleberg County
(3.3 Miles East)
Photographed by Dave W, March 19, 2022
1. First Producing Gas Well in Kleberg County Marker
Inscription.
First Producing Gas Well in Kleberg County. (3.3 Miles East). Natural gas was first encountered in 1912 by Frank House while drilling for water on the Oscar Rosse Farm. Other efforts to obtain fresh water resulted in more gas pockets or water contaminated with salt or oil. An unsuccessful attempt was made in 1915 to develop gas production. In Oct. 1919, the Kleberg County Oil and Gas Company was formed in Kingsville by lumber and hardware merchants Charles H. Flato and his son, Charles, Jr., oil sales manager H. C. Dennett, grocer J. F. Ivey, postmaster Marcus Phillips, Kingsville mayor J. C. Nolan, and retail merchants Sam Sellers, Ben F. Wilson, and C. M. Allen. The company leased the Rosse farm on October 30, 1919, and contracted Hammill and Bess Drilling Company of Bay City to drill a well. The Rosse No. 1 was completed on January 16, 1920, at a depth of 3,000 feet. Pipelines were soon laid into Kingsville to supply businesses and residences with gas. Another well, the Rosse No. 2, completed in March 1920, was the first producing oil well in the county. , The discovery of gas and oil in the county provided a foundation for economic growth through development of petrochemical and refining industries.
Natural gas was first encountered in 1912 by Frank House while drilling for water on the Oscar Rosse Farm. Other efforts to obtain fresh water resulted in more gas pockets or water contaminated with salt or oil. An unsuccessful attempt was made in 1915 to develop gas production. In Oct. 1919, the Kleberg County Oil and Gas Company was formed in Kingsville by lumber and hardware merchants Charles H. Flato and his son, Charles, Jr., oil sales manager H. C. Dennett, grocer J. F. Ivey, postmaster Marcus Phillips, Kingsville mayor J. C. Nolan, and retail merchants Sam Sellers, Ben F. Wilson, and C. M. Allen. The company leased the Rosse farm on October 30, 1919, and contracted Hammill and Bess Drilling Company of Bay City to drill a well. The Rosse No. 1 was completed on January 16, 1920, at a depth of 3,000 feet. Pipelines were soon laid into Kingsville to supply businesses and residences with gas. Another well, the Rosse No. 2, completed in March 1920, was the first producing oil well in the county.
The discovery of gas and oil in the county provided a foundation for economic growth through development of petrochemical and refining industries.
Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2111.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 27° 26.664′ N, 97° 51.448′ W. Marker is in Ricardo, Texas, in Kleberg County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 77 and County Road 2130, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 77. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 US-77, Kingsville TX 78363, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the American Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere,
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the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
2. First Producing Gas Well in Kleberg County Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2025, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 106 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 4, 2025, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
