The Live Oak County community comes together to preserve the legacy of Geronimo.
Preserving Geronimo's Legacy
In 1927, George West's favorite steer Geronimo was preserved and placed in an all-glass structure on the grounds of the Live . . . — — Map (db m231027) HM
One of George West's favorite lead steers, Geronimo stands today as a symbol of this community's longhorn legacy.
King of the Road
Spanning hundreds of miles over rough terrain, the cattle drives of the mid 19th century required . . . — — Map (db m231020) HM
Noted folklorist James Frank Dobie was born at the old Dobie Ranch near Lagarto in Live Oak County on September 26, 1888. Dobie was the eldest of six children born to Richard J. and Ella (Byler) Dobie and a descendant of ranchers and cattlemen. At . . . — — Map (db m132237) HM
Charles (Charlie) and Emma Tullis, native Live Oak County residents, shared roots preceding the Republic of Texas and Live Oak County. Charles' (b. Oct. 10, 1873) forebears, James and Rhoda Creel Beall Winters and family, walked from Tennessee to . . . — — Map (db m220687) HM
In 1856, Live Oak County organized, first officers elected, at this site. Scene of picnics, horse races, school programs. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark — — Map (db m291003) HM
George Washington West invited Chauncy Canfield to build a business in his new town of George West in 1914. Canfield preceded his family and established a store. His wife, Minnie Elizabeth (Hale), sister Callie and three children arrived on the . . . — — Map (db m220646) HM
Founded 1913 by George Washington West, rancher and civic leader, who secured railroad route through Live Oak County and provided several municipal buildings and plots for others. Became county seat in 1919. Market and shipping point for cattle . . . — — Map (db m132236) HM
In Live Oak County, two generations of the Chapa family are remembered for their imprint on the land and the people. The family does not appear to have descended from aristocracy, yet those who knew them best bestowed the traditional honorific term . . . — — Map (db m220684) HM
Raised by hard-working entrepreneurs, George West became a successful businessman who had a lasting impact on Live Oak County.
Texas or Bust
Seeking opportunity and success in a new land, the entrepreneurial West Family of West Point, . . . — — Map (db m231024) HM
Until the 1870s, Live Oak County had private schools taught by clergymen and ranch employees in cabins, brush arbors, dugouts. County Judge G.W. Jones initiated (1876) community schools with tuition set at 7 1/2 cents a day per student. In time . . . — — Map (db m220689) HM
By 1912, when George W. West began developing his namesake town in Live Oak County, Oakville Baptist Church, located in the county seat of Oakville, had an active ministry locally and throughout the county. Six other Live Oak County communities . . . — — Map (db m220640) HM
The George West Cemetery was originally part of the George West Ranch. The ranch dates to the 1880s, when George Washington West (1851-1926) and his wife, Kitty Searcy West (1858-1939), purchased 140,000 acres in Live Oak County. On March 4, 1916, . . . — — Map (db m288603) HM
In 1914, combined Protestant Christian services began in George West. Methodist circuit riders Alonso Brown and Roswell Gillett were among the ministers. Later in June 1916, Methodists organized as a branch of Oakville Methodist Church, South, led . . . — — Map (db m220648) HM
Created by legislature Feb. 2, 1856, and organized Aug. 4 with Oakville as county seat. Formed from San Patricio and Nueces Counties. Named for its Live Oak trees.
County seat moved, 1919, to George West on railroad. Center for ranching, . . . — — Map (db m131941) HM
The Texas Legislature created Live Oak County in 1852 and the first county seat was in Oakville. A native stone and lumber building constructed on the public square and modified through the years served as the county courthouse for more than sixty . . . — — Map (db m220682) HM
From the early days of Spanish colonial Texas well into statehood, the only "Highways" in the area were primitive dirt roads. Although many had names, others were simply called "Ox-Cart roads" for the sturdy Mexican carts so frequently seen on them. . . . — — Map (db m220633) HM
Early Catholic activities in Live Oak County included services at Gussettville dating to 1869, and the formal establishment of St. Joseph's Church in 1878. St. Joseph's was initially a mission of San Patricio and membership reflected diverse . . . — — Map (db m220681) HM
Brought by early settlers and shaped by the wild Texas landscape, the tough longhorn is a Texas original
A True Texan
Spanish explorers introduced cattle to the new world. These long-horned ancestors of Geronimo roamed over the Texas . . . — — Map (db m231022) HM
A fourth-generation Texan, Thelma Pugh-Lindholm descended from Irish emigrants Thomas and Margaret (McCann) Pugh, who purchased from empresarios McMullen and McGloin in 1835 a Mexican league and labor of land across the Nueces River from present-day . . . — — Map (db m132235) HM
In the early 1870's an unknown traveler died at the home of Samuel and Mary Beall, proprietors of a general store in the ranching town of Lagarto. The Bealls buried the man at a site on their property. In 1876, land surrounding the gravesite was . . . — — Map (db m286399) HM
Site of Live Oak County's only college. Opened 1884, with 4 teachers. Promoted locally to further town's growth (population 500).
Once-prosperous Lagarto failed after 2 railroad bypasses. School closed, 1895. Two story building was moved and . . . — — Map (db m286400) HM
Dinero was settled in the year 1838 by farmers and ranchers. The town was first named "Barlow" after the local ferry operator. The townspeople were instrumental in organizing Live Oak County, 1856; they started a school by 1858. By about 1872, . . . — — Map (db m291006) HM
Oakville, seat of Live Oak County from 1856-1919, first called "On the Sulphur," was near a Nueces River crossing called Puente de la Piedra (Rock Crossing). Joseph Bartlett built a stone courthouse and attached log jail in 1857 as a center of . . . — — Map (db m180855) HM
Donated in 1857 by Thos. Wilson, who also gave land for main town square. The property was originally part of the 1831 McMullen-McGloin Land Grant from Mexico. Among graves are those of J.T. James, the founder of Oakville; early pioneers; and . . . — — Map (db m180853) HM
So named from its live oak trees. County seat from 1856 to 1919 of Live Oak County, which was created February 2, and organized August 4, 1856 — — Map (db m180857) HM
Founded by Irish Catholics of McMullen and McGloin colony in 1830's. Called "Fox Nation" for the Fox family; was renamed Gussettville in 1850's in honor of N. Gussett, owner of general store. First Catholic church in Live Oak County built here . . . — — Map (db m291004) HM
As late as 1920 dilapidated rock walls stood on this site, known as Fort Ramirez. Treasure hunters pulled them down and workmen hauled them to the hollow below. Erected by two brothers named Ramirez, from whom Ramirena Creek derived its name, . . . — — Map (db m286473) HM
Originally ranchland, bought in 1900 by Dr. C.F. Simmons (wealthy St. Louis manufacturer of "Liver Regulator"), who also built this all-faiths church, 1908.
After Simmons' son and heir died of snake bite, he sold 60,000-acre ranch to 4,200 small . . . — — Map (db m286307) HM
Until the 1870s, Live Oak County had private schools taught by clergymen and ranch employees in cabins, brush arbors, dugouts. County Judge G.W. Jones initiated (1876) community schools with tuition set at 7 1/2 cents a day per student. In time . . . — — Map (db m220625) HM
The funeral rites of Three Rivers native Felix Longoria advanced public debate on the status and rights of Mexican-Americans and military veterans. Private First Class Longoria enlisted in the U.S. Army in Nov. 1944 and was killed during the . . . — — Map (db m155384) HM
Late in 1899 James (Jim) Monroe Cunningham moved to Oakville from Devine and bought the Live Oak County Leader. Cunningham soon married Sara Emma (O'Neal) and they began a family. When Oakville was bypassed by the San Antonio Uvalde and Gulf . . . — — Map (db m220622) HM
Educator, soldier, politician, and businessman, Jessy Franklin Gray was born in Wilson County on December 5, 1895. Passing the state teacher's exam at 17, he taught in Oakville and became school superintendent. Resigning when the United States . . . — — Map (db m155398) HM
The Native American bands that inhabited the southern Texas and northern Mexican gulf coast before European colonization were hunter-gatherers.
In this vicinity starting in 1973, Texas Highway Department (later Texas Department of Transportation) . . . — — Map (db m180852) HM
Irish immigrants settled this area as part of the John McMullen and James McGloin Mexican Land Grant. Located on Sulphur Tributary of the Nueces River, this site was known as “on the Sulphur”. Live Oak County was organized in 1856 and “Oakville” was . . . — — Map (db m288599) HM
This theater traces its roots to the developmental years of Three Rivers. From 1913 to the mid-1920s, movies were shown in tents. By the 1930s, Beeville Theater owners W.S. and J.S. Hall Jr. built a one-story movie house near the railroad tracks. . . . — — Map (db m155404) HM
Opened 1922 by company headed by Charles R. Tips (b. 1892), the founder of town of Three Rivers.
Powered by local natural gas, plant used quartzose sand mined in area to make glass bottles for milk and other beverages and jars for food and . . . — — Map (db m220583) HM
Founded March 1913 by Charles R.Tips, an investor. Chartered June 12, 1913, as Hamiltonburg - named for local family. Town lot sale began July 4, 1913.
Townsite renamed by U.S. Postal department May 1, 1914, to mark fork of three rivers - . . . — — Map (db m220579) HM
Situated on 1835 land grant of Mexico to John Houlihan. At this site in 1800's was water and a camp for cross-country drives of cattle, hogs. Town arose in 1913 when San Antonio, Uvalde & Gulf railroad was built here and post office opened. Named . . . — — Map (db m43368) HM
