VICTORIA COUNTY, TEXAS (A part of the TXGenWeb project and the USGenWeb Project.)

The city of Victoria was incorporated in the year of 1839 with the following serving as the first officials:

Subsequent mayors and the years of their terms are as follows:

1840 - J.A. MOODY	1906-1909 - J.H. SCHNEIDER
1841 - Jas. D. OWENS	1910-1913 - Wm. J. CRAIG
1842 - A.S. McDONALD	1914-1915 - A. KLEIN
1843 - A.M. WIGINGTON (1st part of year)	1915-1916 - J.H. FLEMING
1843 - John J.H. GRAMMONT (last of year)	1927-1918 - A. KLEIN
1844 - Richard ROMAN	1919-1920 - Isaac Augustus HEATH
1845-1846 - J.O. WHEELER	1921-1931 - S.S. SITTERLE
1847 - Jas. C. ALLEN	1931-1932 - E.J. BLACKERT
1848-1849 - J.O. WHEELER	1932 - Jake HUMMEL (last of year)
1850 - Felix B. WEBB	1933-1946 - Ben T. JORDAN
1851 - Jacob B. PRICE	1947-1952 - H. W. GRIFFITH
1852 - Richard OWENS	1953-1956 - Cliff BERKMAN
1853 - A.C. BEATY	1957-1960 - W. R. McCRIGHT
1854 - John A. CUNNINGHAM	1961-1963 - Joe KELLY
1855 - Geo. W. PALMER	1963-1972 - Kemper WILLIAMS, Jr.
1856-1857 - Wm. MILLER	1973-1978 - C.C. CARSNER, Jr.
1858 - Johnson J. ROSELL	1979-1980 - R.E. HOBBS
1859 - A. LOWE	1981-1986 - Ted B. REED
1860 - R.D.J. HATFIELD	1987-1989 - John E. BLACKALLER
1861-1862 - Johnson J. ROSELL	1990-1994 - Ted B. REED
1863-1864 - Sam A. WHITE	1995 to present - Gary MIDDLETON
1865 - J.J. LINN
1866-1869 - H.E. BRADFORD
1869 - J.P. KEAN (last of year)
1870 - W.G. THORNTON
1871 - John MAHON
1872 - Wm. BILLINGS
1873 - A. LOWE
1874 - Wm. SOUTHERLAND
1875 - Wm. BILLINGS
1876 - Geo. WILLIAMS
1877 - Chas. MALITZ
1878-1883 - no records
1884 - N.A. THOMPSON
1885 - I.P. KIBBE
1886 - B.F. WILLIAMS
1887-1888 - Isaac Augustus HEATH
1889-1891 - B.F. WILLIAMS
1892-1893 - Isaac Augustus HEATH
1894-1895 - J.A. MUNN
1896-1898 - B.F. WILLIAMS
1899-1902 - K.J. SCHNEIDER
1902 - E.L. DUNLAP (last of year)
1903-1905 -L.A. FRITZ

From 1824 until 1888, there are no records of mail service. It is assumed that mail was carried by horseback, stagecoach & riverboat. The first post office was founded in a log cabin in 1838, with James A. MOODY as postmaster. The post office was established in 1846. Rural delivery was started in 1905, with city delivery beginning in 1909.

The Post Office has occupied 10 local sites. The original bilding was the site of the present Morris Kamin residence at 307 S. Bridge. Federal troops destroyed this building during their occupation at the end of the Civil War. The second post office was on the present site of One O Connor Plaza at 106 w. Forrest. The third was at 205 S. Bridge. The fourth location was in the 100 block of S. Main. The fifth location was across the street from the present McFaddin Building. The sixth was 116 E. Constitution. The seventh was in the 100 block of S. Liberty. Eighth was at 110 E. Santa Rosa. The ninth was built in 1913 at William and Constitution and was occupied until 1961 when the present building was built at 312 S. Main.

For Postmasters in other town in Victoria County, see Postmasters & Post Offices of Victoria Co." by Jim Wheat. To return to this page use the "back button" on your tool bar.
Towns included are:
ANAQUA, 1852-1919; ARENOSA (ARINOSA), 1851-1881; BLOOMINGTON, 1907-1931; CARLOS, 1886; CARSNER (?), 1892-1893; COLLETTOVILLE, 1875-1877, DACOSTA, 1903-1921; FORDTRAN, 1898-1917; GARCITAS, 1854; GUADALUPE, 1850-1852 & 1897-1901; HOLLUB, 1895-1900; INEZ, 1884-1927; JASMINE, 1895-1908; KEMPER CITY, 1860-1909; MARIANNA, 1907-1923; McFADDIN, 1923; MISSION VALLEY, 1854-1927; NURSERY, 1884-1929; PLACEDO, 1906-1908; PLACEDO JUNCTION, 1911-1921; RAISIN, 1892-1914; and TELFERNER, 1908-1928.

UNDER STATE GOVERNMENT

1846-1847 - James T. PEARSON	1886-1892 - C.L. THURMOND, Sr.
1847-1852 - A. S. THURMOND	1892-1896 - H.D. SULLIVAN
1852-1854 - Jas. W. CUNNINGHAM	1896-1902 - W.R. CALLENDAR
1854-1856 - Robert W. TURNER	1902 - E.W. KLEIN (offices of sheriff & tax collector separated. Klein became tax collector.)
1856-1858 - John FIELD	1902-1906 - George H. HECK
1858-1862 - G.J. HAMPTON	1906-1920 - Robert S. WEISIGER
1862-1863 - Hugh P. JORDAN & A.F. HALL	1920-1928 - Louis O. HUDLER
1863-1865 - Wm. W. DEVINEY (DENNING?)	1928-1934 - Robert S. WEISIGER
1865-1866 - John L. CUNNINGHAM	1936-1937 - S.R. WEISIGER
1866-1868 - Harold GARNETT	1937-1941 - R.A. ROGAN
1868-1869 - M. STUART
1869 - W.M. HAMMOND
1869-1870 - Charles R. ALDEN
1870 - W.T. VAN NORMAN
1870-1873 - C. CARSNER
1873-1874 - T.W. PEARSON
1874-1880 - C.L. THURMOND
1880-1882 - J.E.J. MOODY
1882-1886 - F.A. FENNER
1886 - Charles MALITZ

UNDER STATE GOVERNMENT

1846-1848 - C.W. PETERSON	1919-1921 - Wayne DAVIS
1848-1854 - W.S. GLASS	1921-1925 - R.L. DANIEL
1854-1856 - R.E. WILLIAMS	1925-1929 - J.V. VANDENBERGE, Jr.
1856-1858 - John L. HARPER	1929-1934 - Howard P. GREEN
1858-1862 - Wm. TATE	1939 - Frank MARTIN
1862-1864 - Volney ELLIS
1864-1866 - ___ JOHNSON
1866-1870 - Samuel G. LACKEY
1870-1872 - Osceola ARCHER
1872-1873 - John S. GIVENS
1873-1878 - William H. CRAIN
1878-1879 - L.H. BROWNE
1879-1893 - S.F. GRIMES
1893-1897 - A.B. DAVIDSON
1897-1904 - J.V. VANDENBERGE
1904-1908 - G.E. POPE
1908-1910 - Geo. H. SCHLEICHER
1910-1914 - Guy MITCHELL
1914-1917 - Wayne DAVIS
1917-1919 - August HARTMAN

This extraction of doctor's names is from "300 Years in Victoria County", by Roy Grimes, 1985. Thanks to Billye Jackson for researching this.
(See also an item from THE VICTORIA ADVOCATE on fees below.

• Dr. J. B. P. JANUARY, b 1811, in Ky, practiced abt. 1836, the first doctor associated with the new county. For more information on Dr. January go to this site.
• Dr. WELLINGTON, practiced Kemper City abt. 1836 & 1840, pre Victoria.
• Dr. WEBB, here abt 1838.
• Dr. John B. RAGLAND, s/o William RAGLAND, who came to Victoria abt 1845.
• Dr. Thomas R. COCKE, b 1816, Springfield, Washington, KY., to Victoria abt 1846. He was the father of Mrs. THOMAS J. STERNE of Victoria
• Dr. J. E. SUTTON, from Ky, in 1848.
• Dr. HUGHES, came abt 1852, practiced until the Civil War.
• Dr. Sherman GOODWIN, came first in 1850, went home to Sandusky, Ohio for his family, returned 1851. Foster brother of Gen. W. T. Sherman.
• Dr. Joel L. BONNEY (Bonny) came from Maine, no date, but died around 1851.
• Dr. Ben T. DAVIS, came abt 1853.
• Dr. Joseph WEISIGER, b 1794, in Ky, to Victoria in 1852. For more information on Dr. Weisiger go to this site.
• Dr. Heinrich FISCHER, b Germany, 1817, came in 1856.
• Dr. W. J. THORNSTON, to Victoria 1854.
• Dr. Charles WEISING b 1826, Germany, came 1856.
• Dr. Robert BELLO, came 1857.
• Dr. E. H. SMITH, b San Augustine, (Republic of TX), 1831came in 1858.
• Dr. William G. THORNTON, from Galveston to Victoria, soon after the Civil War.
• Dr. Thomas G. DUNCAN, came during Civil War.
• Dr. John S. CURD, came from VA, practiced during Civil War period.
• Dr. William H. SUTHERLAND, from Ky in 1867.
• Dr. T. W. MOORE came from LaGrange, TX, abt 1878.
• Dr. Abner S. CROCKER, no date, but mentioned as pioneer "horseback" doctor. For more information on Dr. Crocker, go to this site.
• Dr. R. R. HOPKINS, native of New Orleans, La, to Victoria in 1880.
• Dr. Joseph V. HOPKINS, died about 1966
• Dr. P. STAMMER, came around the 1880's.
• Dr. Theo SCHULTZE practiced from 1881-1885.
• Dr. Max URWITZ, from Germany, to Victoria 1882.
• Dr. M. F. MUNSON, from PA, to Victoria 1882.
• Dr. L. DUNCAN, from KY, to Victoria 1882.
• Dr. E. S. BOATNER, practiced about 1895.
• Dr. GARRISON, came in late 1880's, or early 1890's.
• Dr. E. M. SHAW, came in 1890's.
• Dr. J. L. LINCECUM, from a family of TX physicians, came early 1890's.
• Dr. G. B. TOWNSEND here during 1880's, was a Negro doctor.
• Dr. John H. WILKINS, began practice in 1890's, was a Negro doctor.
• Dr. Fred B. SHIELDS, from family of doctors, b 1875, Crawfordville, GA. To Victoria 1894, began practicing about 1900.
  • Dr. Allen SHIELDS, son of Dr. Fred B. SHIELDS, practiced until died in 1950's.
  • Dr. George SHIELDS, son of Dr. Fred B. SHIELDS, practicing still in 1966.
  • Dr. Allen H. SHIELDS, son of Dr.Allan SHIELDS, practicing still in 1966.
  • Dr. Ted SHIELDS, son of Dr. Allan SHIELDS.
• Dr. Daniel H. BRAMAN, from Matagorda County, TX, to Victoria abt 1890.
• Dr. William L. WARD, native of Alabama, to Victoria in 1890.
  • Dr. R. W. WARD, son of Dr. William L. WARD, began practice in Victoria in 1920.
• Dr. William T. DETAR, from Boone, Iowa, came 1895.
  • Dr. Webb T. DETAR, son of Dr. Willam T. DETAR, came here to practice, 1925.
  • Dr. Webb T. DETAR, son and grandson, practicing 1966.
• Dr. Mervin RIVES, native of Mission Valley, Victoria Co., practiced during 1890's.
• Dr. DOLD, brother-in-law of Dr. Mervin RIVES, practiced Mission Valley. (about same time)
• Dr. Wesley A. RAPE, b 1864, Nacogdoches Co., TX, came 1894.
• Dr. Hugh W. CROUSE came 1896 or 1897.
• Dr. William C. SWAIN, from Galveston, came 1898.
• Dr. J. L. SMITH, from GA in 1900.
  • Dr. Heaton SMITH, son of Dr. J. L. SMITH, practicing 1966.
• Dr. F. L. SARGENT, came early 1900's.
• Dr. Edmund A. MALSCH, from Houston to Victoria, 1903.
• Dr. Oscar S. McMULLEN, native of Arkansas, came 1907.
• Dr. J. G. PETTIT, of Fannin, unknown date of beginning of Victoria practice, died 1921.
• Dr. Louis J. SPIVAK, native of Philadelphia, PA, came 1913.
• Dr S. G. BEATY, native of Austin, began practice here in 1916.
• Dr. J. T. BORDEN was here for a while before going into WW1.
• Dr. Lytoon G. AMENT, from Laredo, came shortly before WW1.
• Dr. S. E. McCULLY, native of Ontario, Canada, came 1918.
• Dr. J. O. HICKS, came after WW1.
• Dr. J. A. MALONE, began practice about 1920.
• Dr. J. H. LANDER, of MS, came abt 1919 or 1920.
  • Dr Roy L. LANDER, son of Dr. J. H. LANDER, practiced until his death in 1965.
  Other doctors practicing here at various times:
  • Dr. M. McD. WHITEMAN
  • Dr. F. SCHULTZ
  • Dr. John MOORE
  • Dr. E. R. THURBER
  • Dr. THISTLE
  • Dr. LEE
  • Dr. YERWOOD
  • Dr. D. GOODSON
  • Dr. WHITTIER

  ---

  FROM THE VICTORIA ADVOCATE, APRIL 15, 1909:

  We, the undersigned physicians of Victoria, Texas, hereby agree that beginning on the first day of May, 1909, will charge a fee of $2.00 for day visits and $4.00 for night visits.
  Any visit made between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am will be considered a night visit.
  Obstetrical cases, $25.00 and up. Office consultation, $1.00 and up.

  R.R. HOPKINS	THOS. G. DUNCAN	F.B. SHIELDS
  D.H. BRAMAN	Oscar S. McMULLEN	E.A. MALSCH
  J.L. SMITH	J.L. LINCECUM	W.T. DeTAR
  W.L. WARD	WESLEY A. RAPE

  
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