Rossville celebrates

This past weekend, we joined the Rossville citizens and the Rossville Historical Association as they celebrated their Sesquicentennial. There were food vendors and many familiar faces on hand. The temperature was hot but there was plenty of fresh watermelon to subdue the heat. After the opening ceremony and prayer by Rossville Pastor Mitch Garcia, I read the Official Proclamation aloud. The Proclamation was made in Commissioners Court on August 28, 2023, by County Judge Weldon P. Cude.

The Rossville Historical Association posted family histories of Rossville on makeshift walls for all to see. The display was a first for me and had a lot of family history and historical information on the surrounding area. Families represented on the wall included Brooks, Navarro, Olivares, Brown, Castañon, Reyes, Ross, Briseño, Galindo, Courbiere, Ogden, Valdez, Van Ness, Martinez, Whittet and Wheeler. I apologize if I omitted anybody. There was lots of information to soak in. Some of it, I have written columns on because their stories are very interesting. Like the story of Clemente Galindo, who was captured by Native Americans as a child. He went on to serve the Confederacy and live out his life in Atascosa County.

I walked by and noticed a studio picture of the Reyes Family dressed in blue shirts. I didn’t have to look at the display to know they were Reyes’. A Poteet native, like me, just knows. I commented on the photo to somebody, saying, “The people in this picture have seen more strawberries in their lifetime than we can imagine!” I am probably correct, and that is a genuine compliment to a hard-working family who always treat me kindly anywhere I encounter them.

Overall, the event was a success, the Rossville folks have a lot to be proud of and our historical commission was ecstatic to be included in the festivities.

Rossville Proclamation

WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the unincorporated community of Rossville; and

WHEREAS, Rossville was founded in 1873 by two brothers John and William F.M. Ross.

WHEREAS, John Ross married Maria Antonia Navarro (granddaughter of Jose Antonio Navarro) and the couple were gifted 160 acres of land by the bride’s father. This gifted land is where modern-day Rossville exists. Thus, the town began to grow thereafter.

WHEREAS, in January 1877 Rossville established its first Post Office with W.F.M. Ross serving as the Postmaster.

WHEREAS, the community of Rossville consisted of two churches, a one-room school, two grocery stores, a bakery, a veterinarian, a midwife, a mercantile store and a cotton gin in its peak day.

WHEREAS, special activities have been planned to celebrate the occasion of this anniversary on September 9, 2023; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting that we should join in the expression of our pride and appreciation for the community of Rossville for its historic and early pioneer contributions that our community has enjoyed over the past 150 years

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Weldon P. Cude, Judge of the County of Atascosa, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as: ROSSVILLE’S 150th ANNIVERSARY in the City of Jourdanton and urge all citizens to join with me in celebrating the Community of Rossville’s Sesquicentennial anniversary.

PROCLAIMED this 28th day of August, 2023.

I sincerely thank you for reading and helping us preserve our history, until next time.

MARTIN GONZALES is the Atascosa County Historical Commission Chairman. If you have history of Atascosa County you’d like to share, you may contact him at 830-480-2741.