BEAUKISS, TEXAS

The year was probably 1870 to 1875 that the neighbors of this small community got together and decided to apply for a post office.  This community is located about the point where Lee County (so named by the Ex-Confederate soldiers in honor of their beloved Robert E. Lee), Bastrop County and Williamson County meet.  Almost all the citizens were ex-confederates with their families.  My father was elected to officially apply for the permit for the post office.

                My father, Capt. F. S. Wade, had been the Schoolteacher, but was now beginning to farm and ranch.  Most everyone was feeling a real responsibility for re-building that portion of Texas – the War and reconstruction had left its mark.  There were two doctors, one with a drugstore by the side of the general store.  There was also a blacksmith, a Masonic Lodge, a community church, a hardware store that also sold wagons and buggies and farm implements.  There was a feed store, a barbershop, and a cotton gin.  These were all connected by a boardwalk that made delightful noises as footsteps, especially those with spurs, passed up and down the walk.  Alongside the boardwalk there were strong rails to which horses were tied.  Horse trading, cattle buying and home products were sold as the people in the area gathered during the week, and especially on Saturdays.  Sunday was the “Dress up” day, usually with preaching, singing, and dinner on the ground.  The heads of families, all the children and visitors              were in attendance at the church services. 

                 My father wrote to the U.S. Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. applying for a post office, suggesting the name of a beloved Confederate soldier who had died in action.  The Department answered, saying they would probably grant the post office but there was already a post office by that name in Texas, suggesting that another name be selected or that a description of the area be sent in that the Washington Office might select a name.  My father wrote back that there was nothing unusually different about the community.  The new “rage at the time”, however, were the “hug me tight buggies.”  This was a one horse drawn buggy for two people.  My father told of these new buggies and said if one were out about dusk or later in nearly every lane or corner could be found beaus kissing.  This caught the happy imagination of the P.O. Department, so the  name Beaukiss came into being and was granted a Post Office.

Today the small town is gone—all except the Masonic Lodge and the church.  Elgin has become the post office, and the community is merely a Rural Route.  The automobile takes the place of the buggies and wagons.  The community is still prosperous and the people travel near and far—but I strongly suspect that in the lanes and corners one might still find today’s beaus kissing.