Charles H. Lytle, U.S. Navy, was the first African American serviceman from Beeville killed in WWII. He died on January 4, 1945, when the USS Ommaney Bay sank near the Philippines after being bombed. Lytle (listed as "Major Charles Lytle” in the . . . — — Map (db m205626) HM
Statesman, soldier and ambassador, Barnard Elliot Bee, Sr., was a significant figure during Texas’ years as a republic (1836-45). He was born in South Carolina to federal judge, Thomas Bee, and Susannah (Bulline) Bee. In 1809, he married Ann Wragg . . . — — Map (db m132429) HM
Bee County was created in 1857 from parts of five neighboring counties. The first county seat was located seven miles east of this site, and the first commissioners court was held on the banks of Medio Creek in February 1858. The city's earliest . . . — — Map (db m32200) HM
With the coming of the railroad to Beeville in the spring of 1886, Mississippi native William Oscar McCurdy (1866-1913) visited his aunt and uncle here. After spending several days, McCurdy, a printer and editor, decided to stay, becoming a . . . — — Map (db m205672) HM
Long before Mexico granted land (1834) on Poesta Creek to the first settlers, Anne Burke and James Heffernan, savage Indians roamed this valley at will.
Their colony, although successful at first, soon met disaster. In 1836 James Heffernan, his . . . — — Map (db m202007) HM
The first post office was established in Beeville in 1859, the year after the town's founding. The 1918 building was the first Beeville post office constructed on Federal
property - previous locations were county- or privately-owned. The building . . . — — Map (db m132430) HM
I was born free American as American can be America who did I love thee I fought for this land of the free I gave the blood off this body of mine Patriotism you reward me ever so kind I gave the sweat off my back As an American, . . . — — Map (db m213787) HM WM
In the years following the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves across the country, African Americans began organizing church congregations throughout Texas. Early pastors served as circuit riders traveling to preach for several congregations . . . — — Map (db m180892) HM
The Commercial National Bank of Beeville traces its history to January 1893 when several prominent citizens met to organize a financial institution. Elected as officers were Dr. L.B. Creath, A.G. Kennedy, John I. Clare, and D.C. Stone. The bank . . . — — Map (db m32293) HM
Early models of the A4 entered service in 1956 and were produced over a longer time than any other jet in the world. Its simplicity and effectiveness allowed numerous improved models to be developed. The A4 series was used extensively in Vietnam and . . . — — Map (db m32265) HM
From pack trails and wagon roads that marked this area at least 300 years, have developed such modern roads as U.S. Highway 181. The old trails of Indians, wild cattle and mustang horses formed highways for 17th, 18th and 19th century . . . — — Map (db m206886) HM
Block 1, Beeville original townsite, donated 1859 by Anne Burke. First owned by G.W. McClanahan, land was bought 1862 by county for "Public Burying Ground". In 1872, H.W. Wilson donated northeast strip, land was added on the northwest, and Court . . . — — Map (db m206891) HM
This church was organized in 1869 as the Beeville Baptist Church. Its first sanctuary was built near Poesta Creek in 1871. The congregation grew quickly, emerging as the largest among the 39 members of the Regional Blanco Baptist Association by . . . — — Map (db m180920) HM
Victorian architecture. Built 1892 by grocer J.C. Thompson (1836-1905) of brick from Calavaros Kiln near Elmendorf. Upstairs in 1892 was law office of Lon C. Hill, who later founded Harlingen.
Afterward on second floor was . . . — — Map (db m132431) HM
In 1861, three years after Bee County was organized, the Rev. Berry Merchant of Corpus Christi assisted Beeville Methodists in establishing the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Between 1862 and 1870, circuit riding preachers ministered to the . . . — — Map (db m180933) HM
Beeville, the county seat of Bee County since 1860, did not have a secure bank until 1890, when the First National Bank of Beeville opened for business. Prior to that year, the town's only banking facility was A.C. Jones' general store, where some . . . — — Map (db m32296) HM
Presbyterians in Beeville began meeting together informally as early as 1885. In 1890-91 the Rev. Henry Ruffner Laird (1842-1925) was sent to officially organize a congregation in Beeville, and this church was begun with twenty-six charter . . . — — Map (db m207386) HM
Built in 1890 by Will H. and Julia George of materials from early house on land inherited from her father, Maj. J.H. Wood (Texas Cattle Empire Builder) who came from New York to join Texas War for Independence. Remodeled in 1900, house is raised . . . — — Map (db m207402) HM
In 1901, after nearby Evergreen Cemetery had begun to run out of burial space, local undertaker Christopher Rotzien purchased land adjacent to the St. Joseph Cemetery. The same year, the Eeds family purchased plots in the cemetery and Margaret Ann . . . — — Map (db m207403) HM
Born in 1912 to Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore, Lincoln assisted his father on the monument's construction. He oversaw completion after his father's death and served as superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial until 1944. He . . . — — Map (db m180934) HM
This church, organized in 1888, was originally known as Jones Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. At first, it was part of a circuit, and ministers often traveled by stagecoach or horseback as they rotated Sunday services among churches. Jones Chapel . . . — — Map (db m180905) HM
With few formal schools available, education for many African Americans in the 19th century came through church instruction. In 1876, the first African American school in Bee County began in Stephen Canada's store seven miles north of Beeville. The . . . — — Map (db m180882) HM
Constructed 1925
Named for Mose Lott and Allen Canada, the Two Men Responsible for Building the First School for Black Children in Beeville and Dedicated to the Education of All People — — Map (db m180887) HM
Oldest business structure in Beeville, erected about 1867 on east side of courthouse square, near Poesta Creek. General store, lodging house, post office. Pioneer western style, with southern porches.
Built by G.W. McClanahan, Beeville's first . . . — — Map (db m202000) HM
Named by the Spaniards about 1800 because of its midway position between the San Antonio and Nueces Rivers. Rises in Karnes County; empties into Mission River. Crossed by explorers, padres, soldiers, settlers who traveled on three early ox-cart . . . — — Map (db m202009) HM
San Antonio businessman Albert Praeger (1864-1930) moved to Beeville in the 1890s to open a hardware store and tin shop. He built this Romanesque Revival structure in 1906 to house his business, which included buggies and wagons as well as barbed . . . — — Map (db m132433) HM
The emergence of this church is associated with Catholic Services held by itinerant missionaries in the homes of predominantly Irish settlers located along the Texas Gulf Coast in the late 1840s. The oldest written record of St. Joseph's Catholic . . . — — Map (db m180943) HM
This cemetery has served the Catholic population of Beeville since the late 19th century, when the town experienced impressive growth. Noted bishop Peter Verdaguer of the Brownsville Diocese purchased land here from T.H. Nott in 1891, and the . . . — — Map (db m211537) HM
First unit, transept, built 1893 on this site purchased in 1890 from heirs of G.W. McClanahan. In 1910, Nave added with funds from sale of block of land given to the missionary jurisdiction of western Texas by English born H.W. Wilson, 1888. Early . . . — — Map (db m180939) HM
This historic African American burial ground is associated with two congregations organized in the 1880s. Many buried here were members of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church or Jones Chapel United Methodist Church. Some burials took place prior to . . . — — Map (db m32235) HM
On June 14, 1886, the first San Antonio and Aransas Pass (SA&AP) train arrived in Beeville to a cheering crowd. The arrival marked the combined efforts of SA&AP president Uriah Lott; Beeville merchant, banker and cattleman Captain A.C. Jones; and . . . — — Map (db m180919) HM
In the years before Texas became an independent Republic, Hispanic and Irish settlers established ranches and farms in this area. Their children received education at home or in community schools. Bee County organized in 1858, and in 1860 . . . — — Map (db m180909) HM
As superintendent of the Beeville school system for 34 years, William Eldridge Madderra (1870-1936) was responsible for much of the development of the town's early educational programs. Madderra, for whom a local school building is named, . . . — — Map (db m212002) HM
The First Baptist Church in Refugio County was organized on April 22, 1855 and met in the Doughty Schoolhouse near Refugio. In 1865, the first sanctuary was erected (5 Mi.W) and named for the cattle brand of member and benefactor N.R. McDaniel. The . . . — — Map (db m180952) HM
The present St. Catherine Catholic Church of Blanconia was built and dedicated, on this site, on October 17, 1926. On the banks of the Blanco Creek, approximately one mile east, the first church named Our Lady of the Rosary, was erected in 1875 by . . . — — Map (db m180949) HM
Settlement dates from about 1850. First town, 2 miles west, was called San Domingo for its location near junction of San Domingo and dry Medio Creeks. After railroad was built, 1886, citizens moved to Walton (new flag station) to be on line. Name . . . — — Map (db m121886) HM
Built in 1905. First church to serve the needs of Protestants in Pettus. Called a Christian Church at request of land donor, Mrs. S.B. Hodges. Contributions came from all denominations. On August 29, 1906, the First Christian Church (Disciples of . . . — — Map (db m206927) HM
Oil capital of Bee County, Pettus was settled in the 1850's when John Freeman Pettus set up his sprawling ranch about 4 miles south of here.
The son of one of Stephen F. Austin's first 300 colonists, Pettus was an extensive cattle and horse . . . — — Map (db m211746) HM
Earliest known residents were Karankawa Indians who named creek. On this stream was one of the most famous ranches in early Texas, occupied in 1805 by Don Martin de Leon, who in 1824 founded Victoria.
In 1830's Irish colonists came by way of . . . — — Map (db m202006) HM
A few yards south passes Papalote Creek, crossed by the fierce Karankawa Indians who found kite-shaped pebbles and named it Papalote, which means,"kite-shaped" or "wing-shaped". Along its banks came the leaders of the Power and Hewetson colonists, . . . — — Map (db m202002) HM
The Rev. Peter Unzicker led a group of Illinois settlers here in 1906. Buying 53.4 acres of land of the original Uranga Grant and later Chittim-Miller Ranch, he founded Tuleta, named for the daughter of J. M. Chittim. A rail depot and post office . . . — — Map (db m121884) HM