By Steve Hathcock
Special to the PRESS
Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley.
Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and sharing the history of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as treasure hunting and formerly owning an Island-based bookstore.
Attention, Champion
Liar!
We can remember when folks mentioned with awe the physical development of the New Jersey mosquito. The Rio Grande skeeter makes him look like a piker, and only last week one of extreme muscular build tried to fly away with our old hat cord, presumably to build a floating nest with it! (The Oklasodak (San Benito Texas) Nov 1, 1916)
Notice; Warranty deed from Frank H. Jinks to E. F. McCarty, Sr., conveying 6500 acres in Padre Island. Consideration $500. (Brownsville Daily Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), November 12, 1906)
Editor’s Note: This is a standard “deed record” or legal notice from a 19th-century Texas newspaper These were published to publicly affirm property transfers, often in the “Real Estate Transfers” section. A warranty deed guarantees clear title (no liens or disputes). The $500 “consideration” was nominal—common for large tracts in undeveloped frontier areas like Padre Island, which was mostly ranchland at the time.
The Circus property of Conklin Brothers is to be sold at auction on the 3d day of next December. This misfortune all happened because they wouldn’t advertise in the RANCHERO. Let it be a warning. We have advertised men into a business, and when they won’t take that, we generally have to advertise them out of it.
(The Daily Rancher Nov 18, 1866)
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