The little town of Stockdale began with the establishment of a few homesteads during the late 1830's.  During that time, a growing number of families moved into the area.  Before the name Stockdale was chosen, other names such as High Prairie, Free Timber, and Bunker's Store were used for the small area in Texas.  It wasn't until 1871 that it needed a formal name due to a designated post office that was located inside a general store within the town.

  Stockdale was named for Fletcher S. Stockdale, Lieutenant Governor, when the town was established in 1863.  His services as counselor for the  Southern Pacific must have led the city fathers to believe that he might use his influence  in promoting railroad service for the town that bore his name. Whatever the reason, Free Timbers became Stockdale. German and Polish immigrants brought the population to 300 by 1885, when the town had four churches, a school, two mills and cotton gins.

In 1889, the San Antonio and Gulf Railroad reached Stockdale.  Ranching gave way to diversified farming by 1910.  By 1925 industries included a planing mill which manufactured furniture and cabinets.  The incorporated town had a population of 926 in 1940 and 1,100 in 1950. With many of the people settling in and around Stockdale coming to Texas from the deep South, the farmers turned to raising cotton for their cash crop. Cotton gins were constructed locally to meet these growers needs. Soon after, as a result of the depletion of the soil by cotton farming, this crop gave way to the production of watermelons.

J. R. King was among the group who founded Seguin and was its first Mayor.  He later became a member of the Texas Legislature and succeeded in getting a bill passed for the creation of Wilson County on February 13, 1860.  In 1916 Stockdale was incorporated under the mayor-counsel form of government.

CEMETERY:                                                                                                                                                                                                

    A deed to the Stockdale Cemetery dated December 31, 1881 shows that John R. King.  H.B. Brown, D.P. Kane, W.S. Palm, and John E. Wheeler, acting for the citizens of Stockdale purchased 2.5 acres of land from Miss Sue Robinson to be used as a public burying ground for the city of Stockdale for the price of $25.00 in cash.  The first person to be buried in the graveyard was a man who was killed when his horse ran under the limb of a tree, knocking him from the horse and killing him.  He does not have a tombstone and it has been impossible to discover his name. At first, contributions and help from the small town is what kept up the cemetery. Perpetual care had its beginning in 1973 with the establishment of the Stockdale Memorial Cemetery Association, Inc.  A historical marker has been erected on the cemetery grounds in honor of those people who over the years have created a beautiful spot in which to bury the area's dead and have insured that it will remain in that condition.

    There are many different events that take place through out the years in this small town, but the biggest celebration would be the Watermelon Jubilee.  This event is in June every year.  This event first took place in the 1950s.  This celebration takes place for normally one whole week.  It is a money maker for Stockdale.  There is a rodeo, a carnival, and a parade during this week.  The rodeo has wild horse riding, calf roping, both breakaway, tie down, bulldogging, and a calf scramble.  The carnival comes at the beginning of the week and stays until that Sunday.  There are games, rides, and many snacks.  Every year there is a band and a dance.  There is voting on who will be elected Jubilee Queen.  

    Stockdale is mainly made up of Caucasians and Hispanics.  There are few African American families, but there is a story of when the first German family entered the neighborhood.  The Lorenz family was the first German family to come to what is now called Stockdale.  The Lorenz family consisted of six sons, one daughter, and two parents.  They started their trip to America in the early part of 1852.  From Henizenback, Germany, they  went to Rotterdam, here they stayed for five weeks.  From there they went by boat to Hull, England, then by rail to Liverpool.  One of the son's died here.  They waited another six weeks.  Finally, they boarded a three-masted schooner destined for the United States.  Fourty-five days and a number of trying experiences later, they landed in New Orleans.  Three people died in transit, and their bodies were buried at sea.  A schooner carrying some black people came along next to their ship, and some of the women wanted to return to their homeland for fear that the hot climate was responsible for the coloration of their skin.  They got to New Orleans and then were supposed to board the ship Mexico, but something prevented them from doing so.  This turns out to be a good thing though.  The Mexico blew up on her way to Galveston.  They took another ship, but before reaching their next destination the father died of cholera.  The mother died the next day.  They believe that it, too, was from cholera.  So now there were six orphans ranging in age from six to 21, in a foreign place, not knowing the language, and with little money.  Their destination was Fredricksburg, but upon reaching New Braunfels, 12-year-old Adam got typhoid-pnemonia.  Adam's condition only got worse as the days went on, and the doctors said there would be no way that he could recover, but a miracle came along and soon Adam was back to his old self.  So soon some of them slowly made their way to this small town.     

People of Stockdale

    The first interview is with Shirley Dudley.  She works in Stockdale on Main Street.  She also owns the museum in Stockdale.  She loves Stockdale, and is involved in everything possible.  She attends every school function that is open to the public. Most of Ms. Dudley's family also live in Stockdale.

The second interview is with Lynn Ray West.  He has lived in Stockdale his whole life.  Mostly all of his family is also to this day living in Stockdale.  Mr. West, and his three sisters, and two brothers all attended Stockdale High School.  All of their children attended this same small school.  Lynn Ray says he loves living in this community, and loves being involved in the fun-filled events that occur also.

The third interview is with Norman Kallies.  He also has lived his whole life in Stockdale.  He remembers when Main Street was the happening place to be.  He also remembers the Old Wheeler Mill.  Believe it or not there was also a place to see movies.  He said that when he was little there were many more things to do in Stockdale, or maybe they just enjoyed what was there more than the kids do now.

The fourth interview is with Linda West.  She moved to this small town when she was in her twenties.  She said she remembers it like it was yesterday.  Main Street was the "hoppin place".  There were many more stores and things to do on Main Street than there is now.  Linda has six children, and all but one still live in Stockdale.  She loves being close to her family and friends.  We asked her what the main event was in Stockdale, and she replied "Well of course the Watermelon Jubilee, it always has been."   

List of Businesses in 1837

Akin Service Station, Alamo Lumber Co., Brown Mercantile, City Meat Market, Clark Service Station, Coffee Shop, Citizen Telephone, Davis Cafe, Depot, S.P.R.R., Eastland Service Station, Farmers Gin, Gulf Service Station, Garner Barber Shop, Hardin Brother's Drug, Haverlah Motor Co., Hayes Barber Shop, Hotel (Mollie Smith), Johnson's Cash and Carry, Johnson Feed and Poultry, Linnie Grocery, Lorenz Gin, Martin Service Station, Moffett Brothers Barber Shop, Person Beauty Shop, Person Garage, Pope, R.L., Red and White Grocery, Rice Variety Store, Ross Cafe, Salmon (Undertaker), Salmon (Hardware and Furniture), Security State Bank, Smith's Drug Store, Smith Planning Mill, Spear's Grocery, S&S Grocery, Stockdale Progress, Stahl Beauty Shop, Sutherland Service Shop, Tailor Shop, U.S. Post Office, Ware Auto Parts, Wheeler Market, Woods General Merchandise

These were most of the businesses in Stockdale in 1937.  Only the bank still exists.    

Security State Bank (Since 1937)

Stockdale location on local map                                        General Store

Websites for Stockdale:
Stockdale, Texas
Handbook of Texas: Stockdale, Texas

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Webb, Walter Prescott and H. Bailey Carroll, eds.  The Handbook Of Texas. Austin, Texas, 1952

Illustrated in this book is the gradual increase in population and businesses that existed at the time Stockdale was founded.

Tyler, Ron and Roy Barkley, eds. The New Handbook Of Texas.  Austin, Texas 1996

In this book you will find reference to the exact location of Stockdale, Texas.

Lorenz, Birdie   Stockdale: A Glimpse Into The Past.  

I Found that this book was the most helpful.  Everything about Stockdale from it's beginnings are to be found in this book.  Also included are interviews from people way back when it was founded.

Dudley, Shirley. Personal Interview. 15 March. 2002

I found Shirley's interview to be quite helpful because she now owns a small museum of some of Stockdale's old belongings.  She is a friend of my mothers and is a very interesting person. She has a lot of knowledge about Stockdale. 

West, Lynn Ray.  Personal Interview. 10 Feb. 2002

One of my better sources was Lynn Ray.  Reason being that he has lived in the Stockdale community for his entire life and raised his children there also.  You will find him to be quite helpful with the events that take place in this community.

Kallies, Norman. Personal Interview. 9 Feb. 2002

He was a great source because he know a lot about all the entertainment that took place in Stockdale many years ago.  If you like to know about entertainment, he would be the person to contact.

West, Linda. Personal Interview. 20 Feb. 2002

I think Linda was a good source to use for the Watermelon Jubilee.  She seemed to know more than anyone else I know that lives in Stockdale.