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| Columbus has the distinction
of being "the oldest surveyed and platted Anglo-American town in Texas."
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The
Stafford Opera House was built in 1886 and his future looked pretty darn good.
John and Bob Stafford were shot dead in 1890 by Columbus Deputies who confronted
them in front of a saloon.
This opened the lid on a whole bunch of smoldering
feuds which, when fully in flame, continued well into the 20th Century. They even
resulted in Columbus being unincorporated from 1907 to 1927.
Texas'
Second Largest Live Oak Tree AKA
The Necker Estate Oak
1218
Walnut Street.
Compare it to the Goose
Island Oak, 10 miles North of Rockport
in the Goose Island State Park.
Grave
of Gunfighter Dallas Stroudenmire
3 miles East in Alleyton
- Easy to find - it's the only newly fenced grave in the cemetery's large open
field.
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The
1886 Stafford Bank Building / Opera House in Columbus
Photo Courtesy Colorado County Visitors Bureau |
A
view from the courthouse showing the water tower and the Stafford Bank Building
(Opera House) left. Photo c.1906
Courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library, Columbus,
Texas |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Columbus' history
is so rich, it's difficult to mention even the highlights in the space available.
We suggest that the reader consult one of the histories available at the K.
Nesbitt Memorial Library (529 Washington Street). We will attempt to include
some of the more interesting facts, although each could be (and many have been)
written about in length.
The Early Years:
Columbus (as Beason's
Ferry) played an important part in the Texas Revolution and the few houses
that comprised the town were burned by Houston in his scorched-earth tactics during
the Runaway
Scrape. He spent six days on the east side of the river drilling his troops
before continuing on to San
Jacinto. The last Indian raid in Columbus took place in 1838 when two citizens
were killed.
Stagelines connected Columbus to San
Antonio (a 48 hour adventure) and steamships appeared as early as 1838. The
river was navigable from just above Matagorda
and in later years (1871) a steamboat once went as far as Dripping
Springs.
Just prior to the Civil War, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos
and Colorado Railroad came just short of Columbus to Alleyton.
This made Alleyton the most important
town on the Confederacy's "Cotton Road" to Matamoros,
Mexico. The railroad's post-war plan was to bypass Columbus and Columbians
raised money to build a three-mile "tap line" to Alleyton.
The four Stafford Brothers came from Georgia just before the
Civil War.
R.E. "Bob" Stafford drove cattle to Kansas in 1867
and started making his sizable fortune. He opened his bank in 1882 and he also
owned the Columbus Meat and Ice Company on the river. |
| | 400,000
nicely arranged bricks make up the 32-inch walls of this beautiful tower (c. 1883)
The tower stored water piped from the Colorado
River.
The photo left is the earliest photograph
of the tower.
Courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library |
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| Columbus shares its
name with 22 other municipalities (of varying size) around the country. They get
together every two years and compare notes on what burdens and blessings the name
brings. They also vote for a "Miss Columbus, U.S.A." The year 2000 winner was
from Texas' Columbus. |
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Grain elevators in Columbus
Photo by John Troesser, 2-2003 |
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Columbus
Texas ForumI
don't know where Columbus City Cemetery is.....never cared. But this great piece
on Live
Oaks and Dead Folks is fantastic! I will be planning a trip next year just
for this fun time. I love the writing style and the information makes it come
alive (so to speak). Please keep up the good work! I have found you and plan to
read and read and read...then maybe mosey on down the road a piece. - Sandy
Knebel, Garland.... by way of Waxahachie, December 17, 2005
Bibliography: Colorado County Chronicles: From the beginning to 1923 Volumes I
& II Compiled by the Colorado County Historical Commission
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