A Little History of Victoria, Texas

Did you know that the first European colony was located in Victoria County?
In 1685, Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle seeking the mouth of the Mississippi River established Fort St. Louis on Garcitas Creek. He brought with him some 280 colonists. While a majority of the colonists remained at the fort, La Salle explored the region and claimed it for France. Disease, overwork, malnutrition, and Indians reduced the fort's population significantly. While on an expedition to reach Canada, La Salle was assassinated by one of his men. Afterwards, in December 1688, the colonists who remained at the fort were either killed or take prisoner by the Karankawas. Among those killed was the first white child born in Texas.

Did you know that the first great Texas cattle ranch was established in Victoria County?
The Spanish Mission Espiritu Santo was relocated from Jackson County to the Guadalupe River in 1725. The new site became known as Mission Valley. During the period the mission functioned in Victoria County, cattle ranching became a primary enterprise for its inhabitants. The mission Indians who were trained to work the cattle are considered by some historians as the first American cowboys. In 1748, the year before mission was moved to Goliad County, a celebration was held in Mission Valley to honor the crowning of King Ferdinand VI. The Indian vaqueros at the event provided demonstrations of their ranching skills, producing what may have been the first rodeo in Texas. After the mission was relocated in Goliad County, cattle ranching remained its main economic priority. Mission Espiritu Santo owned more land and cattle in the eighteenth century than any other mission or individual in Texas.

Did you know that a Victorian received the first divorce granted in Texas?
Margaret Hays Trudeau moved to Victoria from Louisiana in the 1820's and was granted a league of land above the community. In the meantime, she married John David Wright who settled on her league. During the Texas Revolution, she placed her own safety in peril by assisting survivors of the Goliad Massacre. Because of Margaret's heroism, Sam Houston referred to her as the "Mother of Texas." Her marriage to Wright was very stormy. When Margaret's son, Peter Hays, was murdered on the Rio Grande, she held her husband responsible and filed for a divorce. After bitterly contested proceedings that involved three appeals to the Texas Supreme Court, Margaret was granted a divorce, the first in Texas.

Did you know that Victoria had a gravedigger named Black Peter in the mid nineteenth century?
Not much is known about Black Peter other than he was paid by the city $2.50 and a quart of whiskey for each burial. When the town experienced a cash shortage, the city council decided to cut expenses by eliminating Black Peter's job. This decision did not set well with the gravedigger. He retaliated by leaning a corpse against the door of an alderman's store late one evening. The next morning the alderman opened the door, he was startled as the corpse came crashing down on him. Black Peter was immediately rehired.

Did you know that the only woman to lead a cattle drive was from Victoria?
Margaret Heffeman was born in Ireland and migrated to Texas in 1829 with her mother, father, and siblings. The family was part of the John McMullen and James McGloin colony and settled at San Patricio. Margaret married three times. Her fist husband, Harrison Dunbar, was shot to death in Victoria as a result of a local dispute. Margaret's second spouse, Milton Hardy, died of cholera. Her third husband was Alexander Borland, a rancher. During the 1867 yellow fever epidemic, Alexander died, leaving Margaret to oversee the operation of the ranch. By the 1870's she owned in excess of 10,000 head of cattle. In 1873, Margaret, along with her two sons, a daughter, a granddaughter, and trail hands, drove some 2,500 cattle to Wichita Kansas. This was the only know cattle drive led by a woman. Shortly after reaching Wichita, however Margaret died of "trail fever" and "congestion of the brain." Her body was returned to Victoria and buried in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Did you know that "Popeye, the Sailor Man" considers Victoria as his hometown?
The comic strip "Thimble Theatre" was originated by E.C. Segar who originally drew cartoons for the Chicago Herald and the Chicago Evening American. His drawings attracted the attention of King Features Syndicate in New York. He was employed by the organization and began producing "Thimble Theatre." The Victoria Advocate was the nation's first newspaper to carry the comic strip. Although Popeye was not an original cast member, he became the primary character. Segar always considered Victoria to be the birthplace of Popeye. This view was acknowledged by him when he drew a cartoon especially for the Advocate in 1934. In the sketch, Popeye is riding in a wagon with Wimpy, a cartoon character who loved hamburgers, stating that "Victoria is me ol' home town on account of tha's where I got born'd at"

Did you know that the first successful producing oil well in Victoria County was on the McFaddin Ranch?
Interest in oil production increased sharply in Victoria after the Spindletop discovery in 1900. Land in the county was leased by various petroleum companies for as little as ten cents an acre. Several local residents such as city councilman E.L. Dunlap, druggist L.D. Heaton, and dry goods merchant J.M. Haller made significant attempts to find oil, but their efforts were unsuccessful. It was not until the 1930's that oil production became reality for the country. In 1930, on the McFaddin Ranch, the Texas Company brought in the first oil well in Victoria County yielding favorable results. Before the decade ended, productive oil fields were located throughout the area. The emergence of the oil industry in the country was a factor in Victoria's transformation from an agrarian/ranching based economy to one that is more service, industrial, and retail oriented.