Benton City Historical Society Seeks Members

The Benton City Institute was built in 1875. The two-story rock schoolhouse was originally built by J.R.Sweeten and then sold to Col. John D. Morrison, who was a teacher and educator. The building was later sold to Professor B.C. (Bernard Calvin) Hendrick and his wife, Mary (Coleman), both of whom were early-day teachers. They taught in Pleasanton, Jourdanton and Old Frio Town (Pearsall), as well as Benton City.

The upper-floor of this building was the original birthplace of the Benton City Masonic Lodge #379 and Eastern Star #335. In 1909, when the "Masonic Lodge" moved to Lytle, the upper-floor's ownership was transferred to the Benton City School District #9. Both the lower and upper-floors were then used as a schoolhouse until 1934. Mrs. Mozelle (Hughes) Hindes taught the last class there.

Through our research, we have discovered early-day receipts showing students were from as far away as Oklahoma and had paid a tuition fee of $2.00 for a one-month educational session at this school.

At one time, there was an official Historical Marker there, but it has since been stolen.

The old school house is in pretty bad shape, but plans are to completely restore this building to it's original 1875 condition.

The Benton City Historical Society is now offering memberships to anyone that may wish to join us in this worthwhile restoration project: Membership applications may be picked up at the Pleasanton Public Libary by contacting Diana Gutherie at 830 569-3622, or the Jourdanton Community Library via Dorothy Manning 830 769-3087 or by contacting James Collins in Lytle at 830 709-3939.

We are offering several different levels of memberships that range from $5.00 annually for students and seniors to a $25.00 membership for businesses.

If anyone has any information or pictures of the old Benton City schoolhouse, please contact James Collins at 830 709-3939. Once the building is completely restored our plans are to place a memorial tribute and plaque honoring all the names of the boys and girls that once attended school there.

We also need help in gathering names of any of the early-day teachers who may have taught school at the Benton City Institute.

Written by James Collins, President, Benton City Historical Society.

County Courthouse Under Construction in 1913

The Atascosa County seat was moved from Pleasanton to Jourdanton after an election held October 1, 1910. A lengthy court battle ensued, and Jourdanton finally built the court house that is still in use today. The architect who drew up the plans was H.T.Phelps who chose the Gordon-Jones Construction Company to do the building. Their bid for the construction was $65,000.

Sherman Descendants Visit Old Home

He never dreamed he'd have a chance to visit the home his great grandfather built in the 1860's, in fact, he didn't know the house was still standing. Charles Sherman, who is the family historian, knew that John Sherman once lived in Atascosa County and that he had built a home on the Palo Alto Creek, but by the 1880's John Sherman was operating a mill on the Guadalupe near what is now Ingram. When he received a call and discovered that John Preston (see previous post) was looking for Sherman descendants and that the old home was being renovated, he was excited. He eagerly provided the family history and old deeds to the place, including copies of the original land grant with Sam Houston's signature.

On Sunday, September 2, Charles Sherman, his son Charlie, daughter Cindy Hatfield and her son James, drove from Kerrville to Poteet to meet John Preston and to see the old home. Others who came to meet the Shermans were Norman Porter, Sr., chairman of the Atascosa County Historical Commission (ACHC), Morris Porter and Barbara Westbrook, members of the ACHC, and Clyde Westbrook, who went to school with John Preston. During the visit, Norman and Morris discovered some initials carved in an old door. They are believed to be those of Lorenzo D. Williams, father-in-law of John Sherman.

Following the visit at the property, the group went to Don Juan's in Poteet where Adrenia Weyland was waiting and lunch was served. Richard Franklin, Dolly Eichman, and Rudy Forge joined them. Rudy Forge's family once owned the property and he was born in the second story room. During that time they raised strawberries, all sorts of fruits and vegetables and operated a winery from "Palo Alto Farm". Mr.Forge shared many stories about his family on the farm, describing it as "a garden of Eden". Richard Franklin remembered stories his father told about the farm, and that the Palo Alto was a free flowing, clear water creek.

Everyone left feeling good about the day. Adrenia's writing a story for the Pleasanton Express. The ACHC plans to help John Preston get a Texas Historical Marker for the property. Hopefully, more folks will become interested in John Preston's historic home and offer stories and help with the project. For more information contact Barbara Westbrook at 830 769-4333 or drop by the Genealogical Society Library in Poteet.

John Sherman Home

John Preston(he's the son of Willie Mae Preston) has quite a project on his hands. He grew up in a home, north of Poteet, that was built in the 1860's by John Sherman. His family bought the place in the 1940's and he would like to restore the home to it's original glory. It has had additions, and the old sandstone has been plastered over, but John will tear all that away. The original fireplace is intact, as is the rock with "J Sherman"carved out of it. The property is on the Palo Alto Creek and was most likely on or near one of the Caminos Reales.

John Sherman was born in c.1825 in New York. He apparently came to Texas in about 1848. He was granted the 160 acres by Sam Houston in 1861, the result of a process he had begun in 1854. In 1862 he enlisted in the Texas Confederate Army as a Private, signing on with Co. 3, 36th Cavalry, or "Green's Brigade", organized in San Antonio. He was given the nickname "Battery,"working as a teamster in Woods'Reginent.

John Sherman married Eliza Jane Williams in 1866 in Atascosa County. She was the daughter of Lorenzo and Mahala Sweet Williams. John purchased more land in Atascosa County, but by the 1880's John had built a mill on the Guadalupe River near what is now Ingram, in Kerr County. The mill stayed busy sawing lumber, grinding corn and ginning cotton. It stayed in operation until about 1914. It washed away in 1932. Today there is an historic marker near the site of "Sherman's Mill". His descendants still live in Kerr County, Charles Sherman is the family historian and has provided the history and wonderful old deed records. He plans to come to Atascosa County to see the old home built by his ancestor.

Check back later to see the progress on John Preston's project. It's a wonderful thing he's doing, and he has the interest of the County and State Historical Commissions, as well as other local historians.

Pleasanton Depot

This is a photo of a painting by La Merle Koehl. It was featured on a note card by Center Pharmacy. The Pleasanton depot was completed in 1913 to service the freight duties of the expanding S.A.U.&G. Railroad. The fully restored depot now stands on display as part of the Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton.