Let us start off with Francisco Creek which is located
about two miles west of Divine, between San Antonio and Eagle Pass.
Old settlers tell of a trading post and stage coach stop along this area in the early to mid 1800's. This stop became well known as Francisco and was occasionally referred to by some as Nicksville in 1877, which was also the last year of the Apache raids. It grew to include a general store and a post office.
John L. Nicks was the name of the first known settlers in this area, which is how the name Nicksville originated. He is first known as the
postmaster, storekeeper, and justice of the Peace. Two years later, Robert Sweeten opened a grocery store. However, in 1881 the International and Great Northern railroad stretched through this new development from San Antonio to Laredo with a depot about 2.5 miles east of Francisco. Soon after, Nicks saw a great business opportunity and promptly moved his store and post office.
The railroad renamed the new town station after Judge Thomas Jefferson Devine who was a prominent jurist in the Civil War era and worked for the railroad as an attorney at that time. He was born in Canada in 1820 and came to Texas and worked in 1842. He was employed with the City of San Antonio until 1861; the outbreak of the Civil War. He traveled back and forth from Texas to several other states, as well as Mexico, but eventually stayed in Texas, never to live in the town named after him. Judge Devine died on March 16, 1890, at the age of 70 years. The first Devine's "Texas Historical" markers honors the Judge which was dedicated on December 8, 1964 and gives tourists a brief biography of the man who gave name to the small town. The marker is located at the intersection of Highway 173 and old US Highway 81.
Click on pictures to see larger view.
This is the original building for the Devine News established by Mr. Du Bose. At one point the building was used as a Justice of the Peace court and jail.
Several old structures in Devine currently exist, though many are not formally marked. Take for instance the weekly newspaper which is more commonly known as "The Devine News". The newspaper was established in 1897 by W.L DuBose. DuBose traded two horses and a buggy to start the business. In the first year of publishing, the paper was called "Devine Wide Awake" which only lasted a short time under this name. The paper is coming up on its 100 year anniversary and currently comes out once a week. It is still owned and operated
by the same family under Charles Pat DuBose, grandson of W.L. DuBose. The paper has really developed over the years according to the older residents. When started it told of who went to town or who's cow got sick and now they tell of economics, political, and social and many other areas of the town and those in relation to it.
The original blacksmith shop established in 1903 by Joe Stroud, Sr., which still stands today.
Texas Historical Marker for Stroud's Blacksmith Shop located to the left of the shop was dedicated in October of 1975.
Behind the news office is Stroud's Blacksmith Shop which was established in 1903 by Joe Stroud, Sr. Learning this trade from his father and uncle, the trade has been passed down to generations and currently owned by Sherille Stroud, a son of Joe. This shop became known throughout the Southwest for Stroud's branding irons and with a reputation as an expert farrier. It was said he once shod all four feet of a horse in nine minutes. This establishment still stands and is said to be the oldest such shop in Texas.
"Everything From a Ratskin to a Ranch" and it was true! This was the famous slogan throughout the town created by Walter B. Adams from San Antonio. He moved to Devine in 1890 to open a general merchandise
store. This opened a whole new world for Adams in mercantile, banking,
stock, and farming interests. Elders say that is didn't matter what
you wanted because you knew they had it there. Unfortunately in later
years Loggins and Lilly took over the two-story building and the business management was in the hands of Travis Lilly and Jack Tilley. Eventually, their business closed and in the early 1970's it was liquidated and the building fitted out to be Winn's Store No. 106, which also failed and left the building vacant.
Adams, however, organized Adam's National Bank in 1904, capitalizing at $50,000; the first bank in Devine. He also cleared more land than any other firm in Texas and 100 bales of cotton per day has been produced by local gins to bring in $50 per bale. It is written that once Adams died, October 31, 1906, the community suffered a heavy loss for such a hard worker he must have been.
In 1906, a lumber dealer and contractor by the name of George T. Briscoe, Sr. built a "handsome" red brick Opera House diagonally across from the railroad depot which was owned by Judge Joe E. Briscoe, a nephew of the builder. In the years of traveling troupes of stage players, this was the place to be to have fun and entertainment. However, as technology progressed, television and movies shut it down to later become a bed and breakfast. Currently it has been shut down once again and remains vacant.
In 1975 the Opera House was placed in the National Registry of Historical Places under the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 by the National Historical Committee. Remaining elders from those times can still recall the excitement it once held.
Being in the lumber business, Briscoe built a large two-story Victorian style house for his family of five or six in 1906. It is a beautiful white house with a porch nearly all around the house with a well cared for green lawn. It sits on the corner of what is now Highway 173 and Washington Avenue. It has been awarded a Texas Historical Medallion and marker and unveiled on July 10, 1977. The Briscoes have since sold it to an unknown buyer and reside in a beautiful home a few minutes away from the old homestead. On a more personal note, as to the order of the house, it is said that George Briscoe had strict rules as to the women of the house roaming around in their housecoats. It was a well-kept and orderly household.
Another one of the well-known families still residing in Devine are the Driscolls. Aubrey Driscoll, son of Will and Callie Driscoll, was born in 1912 and recalls what life was like back then. He had an older brother and younger sister. His family resided about four miles east of Devine near Chicon Creek.
It took two days to travel from San Antonio to Devine by horse and buggy. When Model-T's came out it took about three hours to San Antonio. Apparently if you had less than six flats you were having a pretty good day.
The family had a prominent lumber business as well, running 50 years. Driscoll recalls the saw mills and the hard work of loading and unloading into wagons hauled by a team of horses. No slaves were noted in these businesses aside from the many Mexicans that were paid little to work. Devine was not yet integrated in these times (I800's/ early 1900's), however there wasn't any discrimination or negative attitude noted.
Henry Briscoe, of the Briscoe family, recalls quite a number of African families in his day. In recent times there are may be two or three individuals of African descent. Joe Vance was an athlete who is remembered as one of the greatest athletes to come out of Devine. He played baseball with the New York Yankees and was also a star football player. He was noted to be an extremely fast runner.
Devine did have separate schools. For instance, not only was there a "White" school but also a "Latin" and "Colored" school. According to Aubrey Driscoll, the same material was taught but just in a different building. Both Henry Briscoe and Aubrey Driscoll carry good memories of relations towards other races which is always good to know.
The school itself, in the late 1800's, was remembered as very disciplined. There were 11 grades with no gym, no basketball, no screens or no air. There was a boiler in the basement and almost everyone walked to school.
Many early settlers attended the Primitive Baptist church south of town. The First United Methodist Church is the first noted parish in Devine which began in 1883. As the years have progressed many different religious denominations have evolved in the small town. Older parishes such as the Methodist and the Saint Joseph Catholic Church still stand today with historical markings.
The oldest cemeteries are the Devine Evergreen and the St. Joseph cemeteries. In Devine's Evergreen Cemetery it is known that the first graves are those of Elisha Whitley and Henry McCray killed by Indians in January 1872. There are several others dating back to distant death dates such as: 1874, 1902, and 1877.
In 1922, the current St. Joseph's church was erected but the cemetery graves date as far back as September 23, 1899 in memory of Thomas E. Fitzgerald. Others include: Edna J. Poemer; September 21,1898 and a memorial cross from 1969 for a Reverend and two Monsignors.
Many of the area's veterans of wars and conflicts are buried in the old burial plots as well. An interesting fact about the cemeteries is that they seem to be segregated to begin with. On one side you see mostly "white" originated names and as you go further back you find graves of other races like those of Latin descent.
Economically, Devine was doing and still is doing pretty good. This small town was big on peanuts, corn, cattle, cotton and so much more. Agriculture is one of Devine's sources of income. An estimated $43 million comes from farming and ranching alone. In April of 1909, an average of 30 carloads of onions were shipped daily during the 30-day harvest season.
Medina Dam was built in 1915 filling the lake with water. Thousands of acres under the project landed in the immediate Devine Area providing a major boost to the economy.
In 1860, John Redus bought a ranch nine miles southwest of Devine and at the turn of the century it was bought by Jay Adams of San Antonio. It has since produced a tremendous amount of oil and gas leaving it one of the largest natural gas fields in Texas since the 1920's. Discoveries of such materials are still being made in the Devine Area.
Hunting and fishing are also another great income with the Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico sitting only 120 miles from the town. Other lakes and rivers are within a one or two hour drive.
All in all, Devine has seen it's share of change and growth. Most of the Devine elders don't care for things to grow. Much of the older generations want to keep the small town life. It is the younger generations that have been rebelling for that city-like life. Many of the residents also travel and commute to larger cities close by like San Antonio. Any major institutions, centers, or forms of entertainment are just a short drive away. "Only 30 miles from San Antonio, it provides delightful country living for those who desire or need to work in a big city, but live in a rural area. . . only 40 minutes drive on IH 35 freeway" (Brief History of the City of Devine, pg. 5).
Local Coop Feed just as you enter town was used in the 1800's by farmers to weigh and process their corn. It is currently abandoned.
This was saved for the end because we feel it shows great change. this used to be the social place in town during the day where everyone would meet and talk. It was a quaint little Coffee Shop. Now it's just a run-down auto parts store. How times have changed!!
Bibliography
Bain Bill, Joe E. Briscoe, and Burney W. Driscoll et al. "History of Devine" (Devine Library) C80-C96.
Henry Briscoe, Personal Interview.
Aubrey Driscoll, Personal Interview.
Greater Devine Chamber of Commerce, Devine Texas: The Name Says it all. Brochure.
Greater Devine Chamber of Commerce, Welcome to Devine Texas. "Brief History of the City of Devine." pg 2-5.
The Devine News "Devine and Natalia Newcomer and Visitor Guide" October 1997. pg 2-40.
