"Preston a trading center on Caney in years of Republic" By Mary Belle Ingram

   Preston was established in 1838 in the northeastern part of Matagorda County at the head of Bay Prairie.     It was on the road from Matagorda to Columbus and San Felipe and was within four-and-a-half miles of the Colorado River and two-and-a-half miles of Caney Creek.

"Manhattan University proposed at mouth of Caney Creek in 1830s" By Mary Belle Ingram

   The town of Manhattan was situated at the mouth of Caney Creek on the Benjamin Wightman and Margaret Wightman Leagues.      The town was in existence before 1838 as in that year several of the settlers along Caney Creek met to formulate plans to deepen the channel at the mouth of Caney.

Matagorda doctor served in both Texas army, navy

   Albert Moses (Moses A.) Levy, physician, was born to Abraham and Rachel Cornelia (Bernard) Levy in 1800, probably in Amsterdam, Netherlands.     The Levy family moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1818.     His brothers and sisters were: Isaac, Jacob, Lewis, Esther, Mary, Julia and Rebecca.

William Selkirk was the Austin colony surveyor

   William Selkirk, one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists, one of at least two sons of James and Elizabeth (Henry) Selkirk, of Selkirk, New York, was born on July 24, 1792.     His father was a Scottish immigrant.

"Karankawa descendants are reviving" By John Novcal Lomax Texas Highways

   With cane ornaments piercing their noses and nipples, Karankawa warriors were the stuff of nightmares. Reports of their savagery date to the accounts of French and Spanish explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries.

"Sanford center reopening marks 8 years of renovations" by: Mike Reddell

   Sanford Community Center marked its grand reopening after an eight year renovation of the historic Palacios Colored School Building at a ceremony Saturday, June 18.

"Abel ‘Shanghai’ Pierce a Texas pioneer cattleman" By John Runnells

   Abel Head “Shanghai” Pierce was born in Little Compton, Rhode Island, on June 29, 1834.        He was Johnathan and Hannah Pierce’s third son and their sixth child.

Thomas Marshall Duke active in early Texas, Matagorda

   Thomas Marshall Duke, the first constitutional alcalde of Austin’s colony and one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred colonists, the son of Dr. Basil and Charlotte (Marshall) Duke, was born at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1795.     His mother was a niece of Chief Justice John Marshall.

1st Church of Collegeport Federated 1909-1922, 1st Presbyterian Church 1922- Present

The Collegeport Chronicle dated November 20, 1913, reported on a special meeting for a “Review and Preview” of the Federated church, now in its fourth year in which criticisms and suggestions were offered.

Confederate defenses at mouth of Caney Creek

   The specific actions at the mouth of Caney Creek occurred in January and February of 1864.      A Confederate force of 4000 to 6000 men occupied a fortification and camp consisting of a main sand fortress, rifle pits, trench works and several redoubts.