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Coordinates: 29°24′25″N 97°44′42″W / 29.40694°N 97.74500°W / 29.40694; -97.74500
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====El Capote Ranch====
====El Capote Ranch====
[[File:Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette.PNG|thumb|200px|left|Joseph de la Baume served as an officer to [[Marquis de Lafayette]] (above) in the [[American Revolution]] before acquiring the local land tract of 6 leagues (27,000 acres) from Spain in 1806]]
[[File:Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette.PNG|thumb|200px|left|Joseph de la Baume served as an officer to [[Marquis de Lafayette]] (above) in the [[American Revolution]] before acquiring the local land tract of 6 leagues (27,000 acres) from Spain in 1806]]
[[File:Rough Riders-3c.jpg|thumb|Roosevelt's 1898 horse, depicted above, is claimed to have been from the El Capote Ranch]]



The founder of El Capote Ranch was Joseph de la Baume (1731-1834), a French army officer who came to North America with the [[Marquis de Lafayette]] and fought in the [[American Revolution]]. He later joined the [[Spanish Army]] and for his services received title in 1806 to 27,000 acres of Texas land in what is now Leesville - the original El Capote Ranch. De la Baume's grant was reaffirmed after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Virginia-born Michael Erskine (1794-1862) acquired the property in 1840. He raised cattle here and drove his herds to [[California]] and [[New Orleans]]. Since the San Antonio to Gonzales Road forded the Guadalupe River on El Capote land, many travelers passed this way.
The founder of El Capote Ranch was Joseph de la Baume (1731-1834), a French army officer who came to North America with the [[Marquis de Lafayette]] and fought in the [[American Revolution]]. He later joined the [[Spanish Army]] and for his services received title in 1806 to 27,000 acres of Texas land in what is now Leesville - the original El Capote Ranch. De la Baume's grant was reaffirmed after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Virginia-born Michael Erskine (1794-1862) acquired the property in 1840. He raised cattle here and drove his herds to [[California]] and [[New Orleans]]. Since the San Antonio to Gonzales Road forded the Guadalupe River on El Capote land, many travelers passed this way.

Revision as of 08:17, 29 April 2020

Not to be confused with Leesville, Louisiana or with the distinct neighbor; Nixon, Texas.
Leesville
Unincorporated City
Leesville, Texas State Highway 80
Leesville, Texas State Highway 80
Nickname(s): 
Sandies, Capote, Leesburg, E.W. Cullen[2][1][3]
Motto(s): 
Come and Grind It; Staying Happy
Leesville is located in Texas
Leesville
Leesville
Leesville is located in the United States
Leesville
Leesville
Coordinates: 29°24′25″N 97°44′42″W / 29.40694°N 97.74500°W / 29.40694; -97.74500
TractsE.W. Cullen League; De la Baume Leagues (6) [1]
Granted1806 (de la Baume)[4]
Settled1830s-1936
Founded1874[5][6]
Founded byNewburn H. Guinn, Developer; Changed from Leesburg to Leesville by U.S. Postal Service
Named forLee Guinn, daughter of founder[7][8]
Government
 • TypeDe facto
 • BodyVarious historical, event associations with the Leesville name
 • PatronLeesville Country Fair
 • ElectionsLeesville Cemetery Association
 • TradeLeesville Farmers' Union †
 • JudgeJ.T. Melvin, Leesville Precinct †[9]
 • Rep.James W. Peebles, Leesville District †[10][11]
Area
[12]
 • Total
32,793 acres (13,271 ha)
 • Water.12 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Population
 (2016, estimated)[13]
 • Total
447
 • Density8.8/sq mi (3.4/km2)
ZIP code
Postmaster: 78122-9998; SH80/FM466/FM1682: 78122-42XX; 3700-3799 FM1682: 78122-43XX[14]
LocationSoutheast Guadalupe County Line; West Gonzales County; South of Belmont; North of Nixon; West of Bebe
WebsiteU.S. Post Office, Leesville
Sandies Creek, Leesville, Texas
Map of Leesville Land Tracts

Leesville is an unincorporated city of 51 square miles in the Gonzales—Guadalupe County, Texas area (USA) alongside SH 80 / FM 1682; defined by the south of its Capote Hills at FM 466 / SH 80, and the north of Sandies Creek between FM 1117 / SH 80 / SH 97. Straddling and nearing the southeastern border of Guadalupe County, the real estate origins of Leesville go back to the 1800's survey-plots[1][2] of Texas Revolution figures Ezekiel Wimberly Cullen[15] (late owner of Sandies Creek) and Count Joseph de la Baume of France (late owner of Capote Hills); the latter retaining Texas's founding father Stephen F. Austin as an attorney, to reacquire the early-1800's Spanish land-tract, after Mexico's Independence from Spain in 1825.[16]

Its 19th-century expatriate George W. Littlefield acted as a significant Texan architectural patron and proprietor of the Driskill Hotel, the Littlefield House and the Littlefield Building[17] in Austin, Texas; he relocated to what is now Downtown Austin after three of his family members died in a gunfight in 1880's Leesville.[18][19]

Services

In 2000, Leesville had 7 businesses.[20] It is situated in southwestern Gonzales County, approximately 26 miles west of Gonzales and 19 miles south of Luling (Greater Austin).[21] The historical city center of Leesville is located alongside the street of FM 1682, where the city’s original church and cemetery reside; currently acting as a location for local events.[22][23][24]

Leesville is within 59 miles of the city centers of these significant, medium-to-large cities; respectively: Seguin, New Braunfels, Schertz, Lockhart, Universal City, San Marcos, Converse, Live Oak, Kirby, Kyle, Canyon Lake, San Antonio, Leon Valley, Pleasanton and Austin.[25]

Housing

The local median cost of housing, as of 2016, is an estimated $546 per month;[26] with the households of the city paying an aggregate $23,500 in annual property taxes.[27] In estimation, of local workers 16 years and over who do not work at home, 16% commute within 5 minutes of their place of work; 28% commute within 15 to 24 minutes; 56% commute half an hour or more.[28]

An estimated majority of homes (40.5%) in the area were built from 1980 to 1999.[29] The estimated median year Leesville homes were moved into was 1996.[30]

In 2000, all occupied residential real estate in Leesville was valued at 13.9-million dollars,[31] leading to a residential value density of more than $400.00 per acre, of 32-thousand acres of Leesville land.

As of 2020, vacant Leesville land not yet developed, sold at $4,649 per acre; based on recent volume-land sales data of more than 200 acres;[32] within the same time period, an additional sample of volume-land sales data of more than 300 acres, indicates $4,995 per acre.[33]

Economy

In 2016, Leesville business owners earned, in total, an estimated 1.3 million dollars.[34] In 1999, the aggregate household income for the city was 7.8 million dollars.[35]

All commercial and residential properties in Leesville paid a combined estimate of $192,500 in property taxes in 2016.[36]

Civic

Leesville has a post office with the zip code of 78122.[37] The U.S. Postal Service offered to close the Leesville Post Office in 2011.[38] Under postal code 78122, the Leesville post office serves relevant areas from FM 466 (Capote Road) to SH 97; with the UPS and FedEx parcel services offering doorstep service to every residential address.

Public education in the community of Leesville is provided by the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District.[39]

Leesville relays issues of improper garbage disposal to state and county authorities.[40]

Cemeteries

Churches

  • Camp Valley Full Gospel Church[53]
  • Dewville United Methodist Church[54]
  • Leesville Baptist Church, held regionally-publicized citywide revivals as late as 1904[55][56][57]
  • Leesville Encouraging Word Church, former election polling place[58]
  • Leesville Methodist Church,[59][24][23] acting as an election polling place[60][61]

Agriculture

  • Belmont Wildlife Management Association[62]
  • Leesville 4-H Club[63]
  • Quien Sabe Ranch (Pioneer Santa Gertrudis Breeder)[64]
  • Sandies Creek Wildlife Management Association[65]

Transportation

Map
Map of Leesville roads; Guadalupe River indicated north

Intercity

  • FM 1682 / SH 97 connection (TxDOT); Downtown Leesville
  • County Road 105 (78122-4205), Uptown SH 97 / FM 466 connection
  • County Road 108 (78122-4218), East Uptown SH 80 bypass
  • West County Road 109, West Uptown SH 80 bypass

Neighborhoods

  • County Road 159 West (78122-4209), West Midtown access-road
  • County Road 102, West Uptown
  • East County Road 104 (78122-4238), Northeast O'Neill Creek - Baker Branch
  • West County Road 104 (78122-4272), East Fork O'Neill Creek
  • East County Road 109, East Uptown access-road
  • County Road 155, Downtown loop and bypass
  • County Road 159 East (78122-4273), East Midtown access-road
  • Sandies Creek Bridge - SH 80, 8000-block (78122-428X)

Airports

History

Early population

Within a limited historical record of the Leesville population, a 1904 voting press-record from The Houston Post indicates at least 708 ballots were cast in Leesville during a primary election.[67] In the 1880s, during the Texas House of Representatives election of what was considered a Leesville district, vote counts were measured in the thousands.[10][11]

One of the earliest forms of social establishment and organization in the Leesville area, or interchangeably Leesburg at the time, involved common-property of "the people of Leesburg" most-especially a single crowbar; quoted as being shared contiguously by the community from 1863 until as late as 1883, when it was thought to have been used in a local theft of the Peebles & Brown store.[68]

Name

Ezekiel Wimberly Cullen, an original owner of Leesville

The first settlement and commerce of the area began around Sandies Creek, said to be once landmarked by a giant granite stone; leading to the Leesville area once being referred to as Sandies. From the 1830s until the 1870s, significant amounts of social activity climaxed around this area; with theft of watermelon, corn and food occurring at a nearby property. The nearby proprietor destroyed the granite landmark in response, ending the original rapid growth of the area.[69]

The general area was then named Capote, named after its hills. In the late 1800s, local land developer Newburn H. Guinn attempted to name the town Leesburg after his daughter Lee. The local post office at the time refused to recognize the name, as another Texas town had already claimed the name Leesburg. It was then compromised that the city would be named Leesville.[5]

In 1880, a significant portion of Leesville's southern territory was owned by Ezekiel Wimberly Cullen, with Leesville alternatively and legally known as the Ezekiel W. Cullen League (E.W. Cullen).[2][1][3]

Industry

Texas Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell dispatched a campaign surrogate to the Leesville Farmers' Union in 1906
Leesville School House with Historical Marker

Original businesses and organizations since the area's settlement used to include, in greater capacity:[70]

  • Fayette Smith's saloon (late-1800s)[71]
  • A Masonic Lodge, with $60 in silver recorded as deposited in the local bank (late-1800s)[68][10]
  • Peebles & Brown mercantile storehouse and bank, with as much as $5,000 in goods and $1,400-$1,500 in currency deposits (east-side of O'Neill Creek, late-1800s)[68]
  • Sylvester A. Hubbard‘s ox-driven corn grinder and lumber saw (1860)
  • Sandies Home Guard C.S.A.; Captain Michael Erskine, First Lieutenant W. H. Burris, Second Lieutenant Larkin N. West, Third Lieutenant N. W. Guinn (June 22, 1861)[72][73][74]
  • Daniel Brown‘s general merchandise store (1868)
  • A brick kiln (1868)
  • A saddletree and stirrup factory (1868)
  • Leesburg Male and Female Institute, known as “Leesville school house” (January 21, 1873)
  • L.C. Cocke Pharmacy (1890s-1910s)[75][76]
  • Medical doctor, Dr. M. A. McBride having moved his practice from West Point, New York to Leesville, Texas (1894)[77]
  • Southern Pacific Railroad - GHSA, a "Glidden to LaGrange" ("Glidden Subdivision") spur connecting to the late "Stockdale to Cuero" branch line (constructed 1905-1907); this railway easement has been converted to an overhead power line at present-day[78][79]
  • Leesville Farmers' Union (as late as 1906), focus of Thomas Mitchell Campbell's 1906 Texas gubernational election[80]
  • Hupmobile dealership, J.W. West (1913)[81]
  • Leesville School System, elementary and high schools (closed in 1951)
  • Lumber production
  • Grain production
  • Beef production
  • Cotton production
  • Peanut farming
  • Melon farming
  • Various churches including a Missionary Baptist church[10]

Since 1998, an organization known as the Happy Quilters has produced quilts for auction at the annual Leesville Country Fair, to maintain Leesville landmarks such as the Leesville school house; while supporting local education, by raising $1,000 or more in support per quilt.[82][83]

Rail proposals

In March 1912, the Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway was being built 2.5 miles east of Leesville; The Houston Post indicated citizens attempted to financially cause the railroad to build near the city with a "bonus offered" at the start of its construction.[84] In the same time period, engineers of the "Quanah, Seymour, Dublin and Rockport Railroad" completed a preliminary survey for the construction of a line through Leesville.[85]

In 1916, to "J. H. Berryman & Co." served by its president Steve Holmes from Leesville; with vice-president and general manager W. A. Reinhardt from Houston: An "electric railway" contract was awarded to grade the first 60 miles out of Houston for the "Houston Richmond & Western Traction Co." A line was proposed to reach San Antonio from Houston; stopping at Richmond, Garwood, Gonzales, Steve Holmes' home of Leesville, Willow Springs and New Berlin; totaling 190 miles of proposed track.[86]

Events

James W. Peebles, Leesville District Rep.; 21st-22nd Texas Legislature

In 1835, at Sandies Creek in what is now Leesville, 13 traders of Mexican and French origin traveling from Louisiana to Mexico, were killed by Comanche Native Americans.[87]

In 1889, while having lived in Leesville since 1869 with a lack of "political aspirations," over a thousand people of the Leesville general-area elected the Representative James William Peebles for the local legislative seat without Peebles direct involvement in the campaign; beating his competitor by a margin of a thousand votes. He was elected to a second-term, in the same Leesville district, from 1891.[10][11]

In 1909, there were over a dozen cases of smallpox around Leesville, spanning over months with only one case of quarantine. Traveling African-Americans were reported to be disproportionately affected.[88]

Littlefield-Martin

Further information: George W. Littlefield § Early life
George W. Littlefield, notable former resident of Leesville

In 1880, two generations of Leesville families Littlefield[89] and Martin, received national attention after three Littlefield belligerents died in a revolver gunfight between the two families. It was postulated that the family feud would continue.[90]

The late George W. Littlefield was the grandson of one of the belligerents, through a son named Fleming Littlefield; in 1883, George Littlefield relocated to the state capital of Austin, Texas from South Texas. His Littlefield Building on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin now houses Capital One Bank. From 1895 to 1903, Littlefield owned the Driskill Hotel, located near the Littlefield Building. He installed the first electric lighting system in the hotel, which became a gathering place for Texas politicians during much of the 20th century. He willed his residence, the Littlefield House, to the University of Texas.[18][19]

El Capote Ranch

Joseph de la Baume served as an officer to Marquis de Lafayette (above) in the American Revolution before acquiring the local land tract of 6 leagues (27,000 acres) from Spain in 1806
Roosevelt's 1898 horse, depicted above, is claimed to have been from the El Capote Ranch


The founder of El Capote Ranch was Joseph de la Baume (1731-1834), a French army officer who came to North America with the Marquis de Lafayette and fought in the American Revolution. He later joined the Spanish Army and for his services received title in 1806 to 27,000 acres of Texas land in what is now Leesville - the original El Capote Ranch. De la Baume's grant was reaffirmed after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. Virginia-born Michael Erskine (1794-1862) acquired the property in 1840. He raised cattle here and drove his herds to California and New Orleans. Since the San Antonio to Gonzales Road forded the Guadalupe River on El Capote land, many travelers passed this way.

The Erskine family hosted several eminent visitors, including William Bollaert (1840), Ferdinand von Roemer (1845-1847), and Frederick Law Olmstead (1857). After the Erskine family sold the ranch in the 1870s, part of the land was deeded to Edith Kermit Carow, the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt. During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt rode an El Capote horse, "Seguin", at the Battle of San Juan Hill (1898). The ranch was acquired in 1897 by Judge Leroy Gilbert Denman (1855-1916), a Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and is owned by his descendants.[91]

Climate

The Leesville-Belmont area has an annual average of 33.1 inches and 35.8 days of rainfall. The average day consists of 12.6 hours of light. Temperatures are high with very mild winters. Generally, described as a humid subtropical climate.[92][93]

Events

Tropical Depression Eight of 1981, Rain Totals; Leesville indicated with Indigo (>15-inches of Rain)

In 1903, implicitly due to heavy rains, cotton crops failed at a rate of one bale per thirty acres of land.[80]

In 1910, an agricultural report in The Houston Post on Leesville, Texas crop conditions indicates excessive dryness with most crops and pastures in a "burned" state; with cotton crops in a derelict state. Local farmers indicated cotton yields had lowered to one bale per 8 acres of land; approximately half of the year before. Corn yields improved year-on-year.[94]

In 1912, Leesville cotton yields were rated as generally poor with corn yields excellent, despite a two-month drought. Hay crops reported satisfactory. The cotton shortfall was reported at a record low since 1904, one-third lower year-on-year.[95]

In 1918, the Dallas "Farm and Ranch" of March 23 reported that G. N. Linecum of Leesville raised 47 bales of cotton in the previous season, on 30 acres of black sandy land "in a drought stricken area of Texas." The result was described to have been achieved through "irrigation from artesian wells and intensive cultivation."[96]

In 1936, Leesville was once established with a number of grocery stores, barbershops, cotton production and a pharmacy; now said to be non-existent and depopulated due to flooding and displacement from a local creek, after 26 inches of sudden rain.[23][97]

During Tropical Depression Eight of 1981, several dwellings in and around Leesville suffered water damage after the O'Neill Creek reached its highest level since at least 1936. Leesville experienced some part of the county's $5-million estimated damages, caused by the storm.[98]

Culture

Leesville is a hub of the collection of historical remnants and cemeteries it houses.

Folklore

In folklore, locals claim to see a ghost of a little girl in a blue dress, playing in Leesville Cemetery; seen only at a significant distance.[99]

Ghost towns

The border of Leesville once acted as a location of these former towns:

Southwest

East

  • Bebe, Texas; the community had an estimated population of 52 in 2000.[103] A post office called Bebe was established in 1900, and remained in operation until 2002.[104] The community was named after the brand-name Beebee baking powder.[105]

Notable people

  • African-American Los Angeles—Patrolman Frank E. Corley of the LAPD, was born July 14, 1895 in Leesville, Texas. In 1924, leaving behind a wife and two children, he served Los Angeles for only three years before being shot and killed while aiding another police officer. His African-American identity was not revealed until 1998. Notably, alone he had captured an armed bank robber at the Pacific Southwest Bank on LA's 7th Street.[106]
  • Lance Corporal Billy Ray Baker USMC of Leesville, Texas received the Silver Star, as cited by the U.S. government:
"...on 24 April 1970, while the lead platoon of Company H prepared a night defensive position during a company-sized combat operation in Quang Nam Province, Lance Corporal Baker skillfully positioned his machine gun team in emplacements which could effectively cover possible avenues of enemy approach and, while he was thus engaged, the Marines came under a heavy volume of rocket-propelled grenade fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force. Reacting instantly, he fearlessly exposed himself to the hostile fire to pinpoint the hostile soldiers and direct the accurate suppressive fire of his men.
With a marked increase in the tempo of battle, the machine gun nearest him became low on ammunition and he instructed a nearby Marine to procure additional rounds. Observing that the man was repeatedly forced back into his emplacement by the intensity of the North Vietnamese Army fire, Lance Corporal Baker valiantly braved the enemy fusillade as he raced across the fire-swept terrain to the nearest supply point but, as he was rushing back to the machine gun with the vitally-needed supplies, he was extensively wounded. Struggling desperately, he used his last remaining strength to crawl another twenty-five meters, dragging the ammunition behind him, until he lapsed into unconsciousness..."[107][108][45]

See also

South of Leesville

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Library of Congress; Gonzales County, Texas". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Lubbock Morning Avalanche, 1926". Retrieved 19 September 2018. ...State of Texas, being a part of the E. W. Cullen League, in the town of Leesville...
  3. ^ a b "...Leesville on the E. W. Cullen league..." Archived from the original on 2018-09-02.
  4. ^ "...The Spanish government made one of the first land grants in the Guadalupe County area to José de la Baume in 1806 for land in the Capote Hills..." Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b ...Sometime between 1868 and 1887, Mr. Newburn H. Guinn divided land on the west bank of the creek into town lots and sold them to various businesses. In about 1870, Guinn decided to name the town Leesburg, after his daughter, Lee. When the town applied for a post office however, they had to do so under the original name of Capote -- there was already a Leesburg in Texas at the time. The post office opened in 1873. Finally, in 1874, the town became known as Leesville...
  6. ^ Current name adopted in 1874.
  7. ^ Davis, Fletcher. The Hondo Anvil Herald. (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, July 9, 1937, newspaper, July 9, 1937; Hondo, Texas.
  8. ^ Leila Guinn Miller (1854-1937)
  9. ^ Reports of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Court of Appeals of Texas, Volume 19, Page 644. Texas Court of Appeals. 1885. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Distinguished Texans, 21st Legislature; Biographical sketch, James William Peebles (PDF). State of Texas. 1889. pp. 236–238. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d "James Wiley Peebles". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. State of Texas. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  12. ^ "AREA CHARACTERISTICS". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  14. ^ "United States Postal Service". Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  15. ^ Ezekiel Wimberly Cullen (1814-1882)
  16. ^ "La Baume of Bexar...He soon became interested, along with several Anglo settlers in purchasing more land, specifically, a 26,568 acre tract among the Capote Hills. Acting governor Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante granted the right to the land purchase..." Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  17. ^ "The George Washington Littlefield Building".
  18. ^ a b Gracy, David B. (1971). George Washington Littlefield: A Biography in Business. Texas Tech University.
  19. ^ a b Haley, J. Evetts. George W. Littlefield, Texan. University of Oklahoma Press.
  20. ^ "Leesville, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  21. ^ "Leesville, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  22. ^ The annual Come and Grind It gravel road cycling event is back in Leesville for the fourth year in a row. The ever-growing race, starting with 125 participants in 2017 which ballooned to 225 racers (in 2019)...at 6077 County Road 155 Leesville, Texas...The race includes a 22, 33 and 66-mile option.
  23. ^ a b c d "Leesville celebrates 80th homecoming". Retrieved 21 August 2018. Used to be, a couple of thousand people lived in the area. There were two barbershops, two grocery stores, a cotton gin and a drug store...the flood of 1936 caused hardships that changed the dynamics of Leesville's development in forcing people to move elsewhere.
  24. ^ a b c "Leesville lets loose this weekend...at the Methodist Church grounds, is a fundraiser for the Leesville Cemetery". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  25. ^ ...center of each city listed is within 59 miles of Leesville, TX...
  26. ^ "MONTHLY HOUSING COSTS...Median (dollars)...546". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  27. ^ "AGGREGATE REAL ESTATE TAXES (DOLLARS)...23,500". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  28. ^ "TRAVEL TIME TO WORK...U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  29. ^ "YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT...1980 to 1999, 40.5%". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  30. ^ "Median year householder moved into unit...1996". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  31. ^ "AGGREGATE VALUE (DOLLARS) FOR ALL OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS...13,985,000". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  32. ^ "78122...262.93 acres...South #80, Leesville, TX is a vacant land...sold for $1,222,361 in January 2020". Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  33. ^ "$1,573,425 - 315 acres...CR 105 , Leesville, TX". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Aggregate self-employment income in the past 12 months (in 2016 inflation-adjusted dollars); 1,314,300". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  35. ^ "AGGREGATE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999 (DOLLARS) BY TENURE AND MORTGAGE STATUS...7,864,200". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  36. ^ "Aggregate real estate taxes paid (dollars): 192,500". Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  37. ^ United States Postal Service...9606 N STATE HIGHWAY 80 LEESVILLE, TX 78122-9998
  38. ^ A review of business activities of the Post Office at this location revealed that the office workload has declined. This reduced workload suggests the maintenance of an independent Post Office here may no longer be warranted.
  39. ^ ...the Nixon-Smiley CISD school board election...The poll places include...Leesville Methodist Church, FM 1682, Leesville (Precincts: 5, 13)...
  40. ^ ...”We need to get something done about a certain property in the Leesville community”...Commissioner Donnie Brzozowski proposed that per state law, the constable for the precinct in question should be responsible for enforcing the laws that require people to keep their property cleaned up...
  41. ^ ...Highway 80...Leesville...battle was near the Antioch Cemetery...
  42. ^ Antioch Cemetery Photos
  43. ^ Askey Cemetery African American...Memorials...20...No maintenance, in bad condition.
  44. ^ Caraway Cemetery Photos
  45. ^ a b "Billy Ray Baker : Lance Corporal from Texas, Vietnam War Casualty". Retrieved 17 April 2020. Billy Ray Baker is buried or memorialized at Caraway Cemetery, Leesville, Gonzales County, Texas. Billy is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 11w, Line 71.
  46. ^ Dewville Cemetery...Also known as Dewville I.O.O.F. Cemetery...Memorials...473
  47. ^ Gravel bike race success in...Leesville Cemetery
  48. ^ Pct. 13 – Leesville Cemetery Assn., 1677 CR155
  49. ^ 6077 CR 155...Leesville, Gonzales County, Texas...Memorials...23...Cemetery is located next to the Leesville Cemetery behind the Leesville Baptist Church. There is a fence that divides the cemeteries.
  50. ^ O'Neill Cemetery...Leesville, Gonzales County, Texas...Memorials...9...Cemetery located on private property.
  51. ^ Sandies Chapel Cemetery...Memorials...91
  52. ^ Union Hill Cemetery...Leesville, Gonzales County, Texas, USA...Memorials...204
  53. ^ ...Camp Valley Full Gospel Church in Leesville, Texas...
  54. ^ Dewville United Methodist Church, 5755 CR 121, Leesville, TX 78122
  55. ^ Leesville Excited. Houston Post Special, April 16 (1904)...The revival conducted at the Baptist church is taking on great interest. All of the stores close in the town every afternoon for the 3 to 4 o'clock services....
  56. ^ Lillie Lea Lay...Contributions may be made to the Leesville Baptist Church
  57. ^ Genelda Talley Pruett...contributions may be made to...Leesville Baptist Church
  58. ^ ...Election Day voting is usually held at...Leesville Encouraging Word Church...but certain factors came into play requiring a couple of adjustments...
  59. ^ Leesville Country Fair takes place Saturday...Leesville Methodist Church grounds
  60. ^ February 27, 2020...ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS...Leesville Methodist Church...6077 CR 155...
  61. ^ Leesville Methodist Church, FM 1682, Leesville (Precincts: 5, 13)
  62. ^ "Texas Parks and Wildlife Department". Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  63. ^ ...Whitney Pena, a member of the Leesville 4-H Club, showed the grand champion market hog. It was purchased for $1,400 by CGP Manufacturing Co...Keith Clifton, a member of the Leesville 4-H Club, showed the grand champion broilers. His chickens were purchased for $1,400 by State Bank of Gonzales, Holmes Foods and Nixon Feed. The reserve grand champion broilers were shown by Kayla Elkins, a senior at Nixon-Smiley High School and a member of the Leesville 4-H Club. Her chickens were bought for $750 by Tyson Foods....
  64. ^ The Cattleman (Volume 60 ed.). Pennsylvania State University: Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Hereford Association. 1973. p. 132. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  65. ^ "Texas Parks and Wildlife Department". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  66. ^ "International airports near 78122". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  67. ^ Houston Daily Post...Leesville, Texas, July 9 (1904)...In the primary election, the following vote was cast at this box: Schuter 2, Davidson 61, Simmons 19, Blanchette 31, Stephens 64, Robbins 67, Strong 27, Lefevre 643, Cousins 65...(Lefvre-Cousins Superintendent Vote: 708 ballots)
  68. ^ a b c Reports of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Court of Appeals of Texas, Volume 19, Page 642. Texas Court of Appeals. 1885. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  69. ^ ...early settlers used to gather by Sandies Creek around a huge granite stone. From the 1830s until 1870, it was a spot for revivals, picnics and general get-togethers...The landowner of the property adjacent to this granite gathering became quite annoyed...They would raid his fields for watermelon, corn and other food. So, in 1870, he blew up the piece of granite.
  70. ^ ...One of the first businesses began there in the 1860s when Sylvester A. Hubbard built an ox-powered treadmill to grind corn and saw lumber. In 1868, Daniel Brown and his brother opened the first general merchandise store to be located at old Capote. About the same time, a brick kiln along with a saddletree and stirrup factory began operations...the Leesburg (Leesville) Male and Female Institute on January 21, 1873...At one time the school system had an accredited high school. It was later consolidated with the Nixon Independent School District. The last high school class graduated in 1947, but four elementary grades were taught at Leesville until 1951...The economy of Leesville depended mostly on cutting and selling oak as well as, other hardwood for use as building material. The residents also raised grain and cattle. Cotton became the big money crop after the Civil War, with three cotton gins operating at the same time. In later years, ranching along with peanut and melon farming contributed to the local economy...
  71. ^ Reports of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Court of Appeals of Texas, Volume 19, Page 638. Texas Court of Appeals. 1885. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  72. ^ The Seguin-Gazette Enterprise (September 23, 1998); 'Sandies Home Guard' of 1861 muster printed...A list of officers and members composing of the Voluntary Cavalry Company known as the "Sandies Home Guard" was organized on June 25, 1861 in Gonzales County. This company consisted of 70 men, including officers. Most of the men agreed to equip themselves with a good reliable gun, either a rifle or a shot gun, a six shooter and a good horse fit for service. Most of the company had rifles, some shot guns and some of them had six shooters. The recruits who did not have arms assured Erskine that they would be procured on reasonable terms as soon as possible. The names of those appearing on this muster are listed as follows. Officers: Captain Michael Erskine, First Lieutenant W. H. Burris, Second Lieutenant Larkin N. West, Third Lieutenant N. W. Guinn...
  73. ^ At Sandies...In 1861 a volunteer cavalry company was formed. Called the Home Guard it was organized by Capt. Michael Erskine and was made up of 70 men.
  74. ^ ...One of the volunteer companies that organized in Gonzales County was the Sandies Home Guard. The Sandies Home Guard was organized June 22, 1861...under Captain Michael Erskine...The guard’s name probably came from Sandies Creek or Sandies Hill in Leesville, TX.
  75. ^ The Era Druggist's Directory of the United States, Canada, Cuba, Porto Rico, Manila, Hawaiian Islands and Mexico. University of Michigan: D.O. Haynes & Company. 1916. p. 172. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  76. ^ "Antique Small Pharmacy Medicine Box, L. C. Locke (sic), Leesville, Texas, 1890's". Retrieved 21 April 2020. Antique small pharmacy paper slide box, L. C. Cocke, Leesville, Texas, from the 1890's, 2 1/4" x 1 1/4", some rough areas on label (some small bits gone and wear, etc.)
  77. ^ Eugene Daniel, Ferdinand (1894). Medical Insurance, Devoted to the Insurance Examiner and Clinical Diagnostician (Volume 9 ed.). University of Michigan: Texas Medical Journal. p. 414. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  78. ^ Former track mapped alongside West FM 466 and South SH 80
  79. ^ United States Interstate Commerce Commission. Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States. Valuation reports, Volume 36. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932.
  80. ^ a b "Farmers' Union at Leesville". Farmers' Union at Leesville. (Houston Post Special.) LEESVILLE Texas. July 18 (1906) J. C. Albritton at 3 p.m. yesterday addressed a large audience at this place upon the aims and purposes of the Farmers' Union after which a number of the candidates for county offices addressed the assembly. Mr. Hicks of San-Antonio is billed to address the people at this place on the 19th instant in behalf of T. M. Campbell for governor who has a number of supporters but Colquitt Is largely In the majority with none so far heard of for Brooks and but one for Bell. This section received a heavy rain last night which will be very detrimental to cotton causing It to shed many of its forms and will cause a rapid Increase of boll weevils from which many farmers fear another 1903 failure when this section averaged about a bale to thirty acres.
  81. ^ San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 194, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 13, 1913
  82. ^ Quilters keep patching a tradition since 1998...a group known as the Happy Quilters were hard at work on the premier attraction for the auction — a handmade quilt that brings in big bucks for the annual fundraiser...All agreed that the quilt is the big auction item that everyone looks forward to at the fair, with the highest bid fetching $2,000 one year, but the average is $1,000 or so. The money raised from the quilt and the fair goes to two scholarships for Nixon-Smiley students, upkeep of the old Methodist Church building — which is now used as a community center for the Leesville Cemetery Association — and upkeep of the cemetery next door...
  83. ^ Handmade quilt takes center stage at annual fair
  84. ^ HOUSTON DAILY POST...LEESVILLE, Texas...March 10 (1912) The Quanah and Gulf railroad Is now being surveyed two and one-half miles east of this place. The citizens are anxious to induce the road to come by Leesville and a nice bonus will be offered when building begins.
  85. ^ Engineering and Contracting (No. 17, Volume 37 ed.). University of Michigan: Myron C. Clark Publishing Company. 1912. p. 37. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  86. ^ Mason Camp, Walter (1916). Railway Review (No. 1, Volume 59 ed.). New York Public Library: W.A. Smith. p. 678. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  87. ^ ...Leesville...marker...for the 1835 attack at Sandies Water Hole, where a party of 13 French and Mexican traders was ambushed by Comanches while going from Natchitoches, LA. to Mexico. All died...
  88. ^ Houston Post Special...LEESVILLE, Texas, January 22 (1909)...Three miles north of this place a dozen or more cases of smallpox exist. It has prevailed almost continuously in some part of this county for many months and only one case (that in the town of Gonzales) has been quarantined. If quarantine is not immediately established there soon may be a hundred cases, as it is among (African-Americans) and they are traveling night and day, some with it broken out on them.
  89. ^ WILLIAM W. LITTLEFIELD has for practically half a century been actively identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Gonzales County, his home being at Leesville, and he has also for a number of years been a prominent political figure in that section of the state. The Littlefield family has been one of prominence in Texas and elsewhere for a number of generations. The name is of Scotch origin, and Philip Littlefield, grandfather of the Leesville resident, was one of three brothers who left the old country and came to the United States about 1801...
  90. ^ ...A triple tragedy lately took place at Leesville, Texas. Three leading citizens and brothers, Houston, William and Phipps Littlefield, while working on a road, met Orvie, James, and Edward Martin. Houston Littlefield had had a previous difficulty with the party, and separated without settling it. Meeting again, they renewed the quarrel. Houston Littlefield drew his pistol on Orvie Martin, who was unarmed. James Martin, seeing his brother in danger, ran up and struck Houston Littlefield with a hoe, felling him to the ground. At that Phipps Littlefield drew his revolver and shot James Martin, the ball hitting him on the head. By this time all hands had drawn revolvers, and a general fire began. Ed. Martin was wounded in the hand, but not before he had shot and instantly killed Houston and William Littlefield. The two Littlefields lay dead, while their brother, mortally wounded-cast his dying gaze upon their ghastly bodies, reddened with gore. The Martins then left...Phipps Littlefield died a few hours after the fight. It is thought the Littlefield family connections will take up the fight and wreak vengeance on the Martins.
  91. ^ "Texas Historical Marker - El Capote Ranch". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  92. ^ MONTHLY - ALL WEATHER AVERAGES
  93. ^ Climate Summary
  94. ^ HOUSTON DAILY POST...August 4, 1910...LEESVILLE Texas. August 3.-It Is exceedingly dry In this section and all crops and pastures arc about burned up. Half of the leaves and all squares and small bolls on the 'cotton have fallenoff. The opinion of farmers are that it will require eight acres to make a bale of cotton; that It Is the shortest cotton crop since 1904. Picking Is now pretty general and gins are now running every day. If this dry weather continues all will open this month and soon be gathered. Corn Is some better than last year but cotton about half.
  95. ^ LEESVILLE COTTON POOR. Corn Is Excellent Despite Two Months Without Rain. Houston Post Special. LEESVILLE Texas August 26 (1912) There has been no rain In this section for over two months and only partial showers In county. Farmers have made fine corn and hay crops but cotton Is shortest since 1904. From Interviews with a great number of leading farmers we find they agree that cotton Is one-third shorter than last year. Very nearly all cotton is opened and being gathered very slowly on account of scarcity of cotton pickers. A large majority of Mexicans have left this country since the rebellion In Mexico.
  96. ^ Commerce and Finance (No. 14, Volume 7 ed.). The Ohio State University: Theodore H. Price Publishing. April 3, 1918. p. 361. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  97. ^ ...On June 30, 1936, over 26 inches of rain devastated the town and the surrounding area. After the flood, many people moved out. Although some businesses were rebuilt a half mile west of the original site on Highway 80 -- the flood signaled an end to any future growth for the town...Leesville still exists, to some extend, and although it may not be the thriving place that it once was, before the great flood in 1936 -- the memories remain for those folks who were brought up there and the people who still call Leesville, home...
  98. ^ "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena" (PDF). Storm Data. 23 (8). Asheville, North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center. August 1981. ISSN 0039-1972. Retrieved June 26, 2017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  99. ^ The Leesville Cemetery Ghost...Many people have reported seeing a little girl in the Leesville cemetery, and they always see her from a distance. They also say the same thing – that she wears a blue dress and is playing in the graveyard like a living child would do in a schoolyard. But the second someone starts to walk toward her, she disappears...
  100. ^ Albuquerque was on the Clear Fork of Sandies Creek two miles south of the junction of Gonzales, Wilson, and Guadalupe counties in Gonzales County. The site was believed to be in Wilson County until a 1914 survey showed it inside the Gonzales county line...
  101. ^ Dewville is at the intersection of a country road and Farm Road 1117, near the southwestern corner of Gonzales County twenty-five miles southwest of Gonzales...
  102. ^ Sandies Chapel was on a country road off Farm Road 1116 near the confluence of McCoy and Sandies creeks twenty-five miles southwest of Gonzales in southwestern Gonzales County...
  103. ^ "Bebe, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  104. ^ "Gonzales County". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  105. ^ Tarpley, Fred (5 July 2010). 1001 Texas Place Names. University of Texas Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-292-78693-6.
  106. ^ Thomas, Lieutenant John (May 2003). "Los Angeles Police BEAT" (PDF). Office of the Chief of Police. p. 4. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  107. ^ "Silver Star - Vietnam War - Marines B". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  108. ^ "The Wall of Faces - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund". Retrieved 17 April 2020.

Newspaper References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leesville, Texas.
Sandies Home Guard
Captain C.S.A., rank of Sandies Home Guard commanding officer
ActiveAmerican Civil War
CountryConfederate States of America
BranchConfederate States Army
TypeConfederate Home Guard
Size70
Part ofMilitia
Garrison/HQSandies Creek (later Leesville), Texas
AnniversariesJune 22, 1861 (mustered June 25)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Captain Michael Erskine; First Lieutenant W. H. Burris; Second Lieutenant Larkin N. West; Third Lieutenant N. W. Guinn
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Leesville,_Texas&oldid=953833544"