Kuykendall began ranching career at age 10

Wylie Martin Kuykendall was born in Fort Bend County, Texas on Oct. 22, 1839, to Robert H., Jr. and Electra Shannon Kuykendall.   He was named for the family friend and prominent colonist, Wiley Martin.

County newspaper gave Kuykendalls a close look

EDITOR’S NOTE: We thought this feature newspaper article on the Kuykendalls - four years before their deaths in 1920 - provided anecdotes about their personal lives.PEOPLE WE KNOW   Mr. Wiley M. Kuykendall is a native of Fort Bend county, born on the Brazos river 77 years ago.

Robert Williams interests went from politics to farming

Robert Harris Williams, alcalde of the District of Mina and one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred colonists, son of Marmaduke “Duke” and Ede (Harris) Williams, was born in Caswell County, North Carolina, on October 10, 1796.   His siblings included Charles F. Augustus and John Williams.

Henry Thorp became prominent Matagorda legislator and attorney

Henry Thorp, lawyer and state representative, was born in Greensville County, Virginia, in 1830.   Thorp came to Texas with his older brothers about 1848 and settled in Matagorda County.   Here, he studied law and went into practice with an older brother.

John Matthews letter to mother reveals strain of early Civil War years

EDITOR’S NOTE: As the above story indicates, John Matthews is known for the letters he wrote to his family.  These letters were written in Baltimore, Maryland and later in Texas. The originals are in the Texas State Archives and copies are in the Matagorda County Museum.

John Matthews made made his mark as an early merchant

John Matthews came to Texas in 1856 from Loudoun County, Virginia. He was born six miles south of Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, on February 23, 1834, the son of Susan Fritz and Simon Matthews.   John’s father was a successful farmer, but died at the age of thirty-five.

Bruising 1854 hurricane was first recorded in Matagorda County

The first recorded hurricane that struck the county made landfall in September, 1854, even though there was evidence in the county of previous storms. J. Morgan Smith described the effects of the storm:  The 1854 storm struck hardest at the mouth of Caney.

Matagorda County history: From Paleo-Indians to STP

Matagorda County is in the Coastal Prairie region of Texas, bounded on the north by Wharton County, on the east by Brazoria County and the Gulf of Mexico, on the west by Calhoun and Jackson counties, and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Tres Palacios, Matagorda, and East Matagorda bays.

Early newspaper headlines, articles about Bay City

PERSONALS.  Ira G. Lord and family are spending a few days on the beach.  Mrs. Dr. Scott is visiting her father on lower Caney this week.  Roland Inglehart and wife returned from a two weeks visit to friends at Matagorda.

Blessing Masonic Lodge history tied to its community

The Blessing Masonic Lodge building is a two-story vernacular building that dates to 1875 and has been used continuously by the Masons.