"Doughty reports on last week’s hearing on Luther Hotel" By Margaret Doughty

   EDITOR’S NOTE: Margaret Doughty has been following the court action on the future of the Luther Hotel in Palacios.    Doughty details the latest developments in this report.

Coulterville on prairie in late 1800s

   Coulterville, also known as Culver, was in Buckner’s Prairie, 15 miles east of Bay City in eastern Matagorda County.         In 1888 William D. Culver became the first postmaster, and by 1891 a community with two general stores, one owned by Culver, had developed.

Buckner Prairie namesake man of legend, fact

BUCKNER, AYLETT C. (1794?–1832).     Aylett(e) C. (Strap) Buckner, filibuster, Indian fighter, Old Three Hundred colonist, and folklore hero of colonial Texas, was the son of Aylett and Elizabeth (Lewis) Buckner of Louisa County, Virginia.

"Austin Wyche family: A long Matagorda County history"By Sessia Wyche Jr.

   Austin Wyche, a blacksmith born in Virginia in 1827, came to Texas in 1863 with his wife, Emma.     Their son Joshua Wyche was born in Texas in 1866.    In 1885, Joshua married Julia Stewart.     The minister was Orange Doss.

Drott Brothers arrived in early years of Collegeport

   EDITOR’S NOTE: This is first part of a stories about two brothers - carpenters - who left Sweden to start a new life in America, ultimately in Collegeport.

"Sweet water spring on bay" By Margaret Johnson

   Well Point, situated in southwest Matagorda County on Turtle Bay, received its name from the fresh water spring situated in this area.       Due to the erosion of the coastline, the spring is now in the bay.        This area was a favorite camping ground of the Karankawa (Carancahua) Indians.

Founding Bay City was Swickheimer’s biggest success

   David (Dave) Swickheimer, mining millionaire and owner of the Enterprise Land and Colonizing Company, was born near Dover, Ohio, on April 18, 1853, the oldest son of German immigrant parents John Thomas and Anna Mary (Ade) Swickheimer.

Braman: Matagorda mayor, county judge, popular author

   Don Braman - a Matagorda County Judge and Matagorda mayor - the oldest child of Andrew and Nancy (Hawes) Braman, was born in Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, on September 21, 1814.     He attended the common schools of Providence, Rhode Island.