Flatonia, Texas - Fayette County, Her History and Her People

Fayette County, Her History and Her People

Flatonia is situated in the southwestern part of the county on the crossing of the Southern Pacific and the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway. East and south of it are rich black prairie lands, west and north is postoalc. Flatonia is favorably situated, in the best part of the mineral region of Fayette County. In its neighorhood are tine kaoUn and clay beds ; coal may also be found in the neighborhood of Flatonia. While none of these mineral resources are developed right now, there is a chance of their future development on account of tlie city being situated at the crossing of two important railroads.

Flatonia stands on a bed of rich black clay. In wet weather the streets are muddy and cause a great deal of inconvenience. There are several substantial brick buildings in Flatonia.

The land on which Flatonia stands was owned by \Vm. Ferris and bought of him by the Southern Pacific Railway Company which laid out the town on its arrival in that section of country, early in 1878. One mile southeast of Flatonia was situated old Flatonia (a place that has now disappeared from the surface), and three miles northwest of Flatonia was the town of Oso (no trace of that, town is left). The people of these towns moved on the arrival of the Southern Pacific to the new town and in a very short time it was a thriving little city. It soon was incorporated. The election for incorporating the town of Flatonia was held November 8, 1875 ; November 10 it was proclaimed incorporated and on the sixth day of December, lS7o. the first election for mayor and aldermm was held by John Cline.

The population of and about Flntonia was originally entirely American, but after the Civil War a great many Germans and Bohemians have been attracted by the fertile lftnc]g ^nd settled there. Now Ihe^' form the tnnjority of the population. During the last ten years a great many Greeks, Arabians and Italians liave settled in Flatonia and established themselves in business, selling pea-nuts by the pack.

The summit of the nourishing times in Flatonia was reached before the arrival of tiie San Antonio and Aransas Pass. Those were lively times then. C .tton was carried then to P^latonia fronj as far as Yoakuu). At that time the country w:is a stock country. The cowboys held their rendezvous m Flatonia and very often made times too lively for peaceable citizens. But those times liave ])assed. Since the arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, Flatonia had an energetic competitor in tlie thriving town of Moulton, Its trade was cut off from all sides and tlie disappointment of having lost it which could not be helped, still reflects from the business attitude of its citizens. Puringtbe last decade it not only not gained, but

Boot And Shoe Maker. I.

Of the business men who treated this writer with kindness and patronized him in spite of the hard times - which kindness for that reason he appreciates the more - he mentions tiie former mayor of Flatonia, the jovial and popular Stotfers, the proprietor of a iirst-class saddlery ; Mr. Win, .Stein who excels in Jiis line of work in rooting and guttering, and who is prepared to do all kinds of tin work ; Wm. Fritsche, the artistic shoe maker, and last but not least, Ernst Olle, who keeps in his popular barroom the purest and best brands of whiskies, liquors, wines, beer and cigars. In connection with this business he runs a restaurant.

The city of Flatonia has two able newspapers which have ^ been spoken of under the iiead of "Newspaper Press of the County." The [)eople are public spirited and take a great interest , in .county alLiirs. On all public questions Flatonia is generally heard from. The late crop failures have to some extent depressed the spirit of her citizens, but there is no doubt that

Fi.Atonia, - - - Texas

There are two churches in Flatonia: the Methodist with Rev. W. T. iMcDonald, and the Baptist with Rev. J. M. Sallee. The people of Flatonia are religious and earnest members of their churches.

The following lodges are represented in Flatonia : Knights of Pythias; VVoodmen of the World, J. H. Murphy, C. C, H. R. Thulemeyer, clerk ; Woodmen Circle, Miss Maud Murphy, clerk ; Knights of Honor; A. O. U. W.; Hermann Sons; R. A. M.; A. F. and A. M., J. F. Mulcahey, W. M., F. P. Yaeger, secretary; Odd Fellows, J. H. White, N. G., W. A. Beckham, secretary ; Royal Society of Good Fellows.

The following gentlemen are the city officers : Mayor, J. D. Bunting; Secretary, H. R. Thulemeyer; Treasurer, B. A. Kempe ; Attorney, Chas. Nesrsta ; Marshal, W. O. Goode ; Aldermen, J. H. White, F. P. Yaeger, Wm. Stein, R. L. Simmons, Frank Worley, C. Stoffers, Albert Kubjana, and J. A. Ce^dwel}.

This little city is quite an historic place. It was formerly calledTownsend's. Two miles from it is the former colony of the "Nassau Adelsverein," founded in the forties.

Round Top is situated about sixteen miles from La ({range on the Ija Grange-Breniiam road. It is built on top of a hill which overlooks the Cumming's Creek bottom lands. Northeast is the rich La Bahia prairie. North towards Ledbetter is postoak.

Round Top used to be in olden times (juite a considerable l)lace. Even afier the arrival of the Texas Central and the building of Carmine, it held its own f)r a long time. Lately, Carmine being situated on the railroad, has cut off some of the trade of Round Top on account of its more favorable location. Still, the traditions and old established business relations of the place will always retain for it a considerable trade.

The population of Round Top is now entirely German, very few of the old American settlers .having remained in its neighborhood. Among the old settlers of Round Top may be mentioned Geo. Fricke, a vetcan of the Mexican War who served in that war under Gen. Wintield Scott ; C. E. Bauer, the Weyand

Lutheran church who for a generation worked faithfully at that place in the vineyard of Our Lord, higlily respected and beloved by all who knew him.