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Meansville
TX Historical Marker ›
History in
a Pecan Shell
Texas towns have
been destroyed by flood, fire, hurricane, deforestation, sunk under
reservoirs, and the all-time #1 reason - "death by railroad bypass."
Meansville has the distinction of being depopulated overnight by order
of the Texas Rangers.
Named after early settler William Means, who was elected and served
as county sheriff (1862 - 1867), the town was centered around one
building that served as school, Union Church, and lodge hall. The
building was sold in 1881 - having "been abandoned as a school."
The trouble began in January of 1876, when three Means boys shot up
Papalote, Texas
in neighboring Bee County.
It stirred up a swarm in the form of a posse who rode immediately
to the Means Ranch. The short version is that Old Man Means was shot
and the boys (later) shot the Bee
County sheriff in retaliation.
Citizens who weren't named Means appealed for outside help. In 1879
Texas Rangers "persuaded" the Means family that the grass was greener
anywhere but San
Patricio County.
All that remains of Meansville today is the Meansville Cemetery.
The much more entertaining story of Meansville's demise is told by
Western Historian Charley
Eckhardt in his "The
Rise and Fall of Meansville, Texas." |
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Photographer's
Note:
"This marker sits in a park in Odem,
Texas telling of 2 small communities that no longer are on the
map." - William
Beauchamp |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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