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DOSS, TEXASGillespie County,
Hill Country
FM 783
14 miles NW of Harper
19 miles NW of Fredericksburg
Population 75 (2000)
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Catfish
Heads
Photo courtesy Justin Parson, January 2006 |
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History in
a Pecan Shell
Founded by the industrious Doss Brothers (Tom and John) in 1849, the
community's first enterprises were a gristmill and distillery. The
brothers also built a dam on Threadgill Creek and built a sawmill.
In 1864 August Steiness bought the brothers out and started a post
office in his house. Steiness died in 1866 and William F. Lange, came
into possession of the property. The dam was expanded but later washed
out in a flood. In 1875 a stone dam was constructed. |
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The
Doss Post Office
Photo courtesy Justin Parson, January 2006 |
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| In 1898 a post
office was opened in the store of F. W. Lange and the town was briefly
known as Lange's Mill. The name Doss was assumed in 1907 when the
post office moved two miles north. |
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St.
Peter Lutheran Church
Photo courtesy Justin Parson, January 2006 |
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| Doss' population
seems never to have reached 100. In 1925 it was 50 and seven years
later it had only increased by 10. In 1964 it was down to a mere 22,
but rebounded to 75 by 1972 - the number that continues to be used
on the state map. |
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St.
Peter's Lutheran Church Marker
Click on the image for close-up. |
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