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| 1909-14 |
Duncan Ruthven, who along with A. R. Hillyer, opened a packing company in Palacios in 1903, was elected the first mayor in 1909 when the city was incorporated. Ruthven served until 1914 then, 16 years later, was again elected mayor, serving four more years.
Duncan Ruthven Duncan Ruthven was born June 18, 1869, at Clearville, Ontario, Canada, of Scotch parentage. In early years he learned telegraphy, and came to the United States when 18 years of age. He was trainmaster on the New York Central Ry. in Joliet, Ill., when he decided to make a change, and moved to El Campo, Texas, in 1900. He moved to Palacios in 1903 where he engaged in the wholesale fish and oyster business--some years later in the grocery business. He was a member of Joliet Commandery No. 4 Knights Templar; also of Joliet Council No. 8 R. & S. M. He was also a member of Palacios Lodge No. 990 A. F. & A. M.; also Order of the Eastern Star of Palacios. He was the first mayor of Palacios and occupied this office three or four times in the succeeding years. He was one of the first Deacons of Palacios Presbyterian Church, and remained in this office during the remainder of his life. Mr. Ruthven was married to Edith Richards of Joliet, Ill.., who died in 1904, leaving three children. A year later, he married Hettie Mangold of Cuero, Texas, who with an infant daughter died in 1906. In 1910 he married Mabel Macy of Dayton, Ohio, who survives him. Of this marriage there was one daughter, Elizabeth, who died in 1935. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Dr. Hugh D. and Dr. Donald C. of Houston, and three grandsons. he is also survived by a brother, Niel H. Ruthven, of Detroit, and three sisters, Mrs. D. N. Buchan, Rodney, Canada; Mrs. Watson, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Mrs. Duncan MacFarland, St. Petersburg, Florida. He was seriously ill for about three months, and was in a hospital in San Antonio for some time, and has been during this time faithfully attended by his wife and nurses. He bore his illness with patience and fortitude, and passed to his eternal rest on Tuesday, Jan. 31st. The funeral service was held in the Presbyterian Church, Palacios, on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. There was a large attendance of local people, and of friends from Bay City, and the surrounding territory. Many flowers were sent as tributes of respect and affection to the deceased and his family, and the display in the Church was large and beautiful. Rev. R. M. McGehee, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, had charge of the Service, and two hymns were sung by a quartette. Dr. McGehee gave a short address from the words: Because I live ye shall live also." Mr. Ruthven was always faithful in his attendance at Church both morning and evening, and as a Deacon was always interested in its affairs. A few days before he passed away, he testified to his Pastor that he was ready to go, and these words might fittingly be said of him: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of life, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me to that day; and not to me only, but unto all of them also that love His appearing." Rev. McGehee then called on Rev. George F Gillespie, former pastor of the Church, to speak on Mr. Ruthven's public life and public service. The speaker said he had known the Ruthven family for 25 years. He chose for his text Acts, ch. 13 v. 25: "David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep." Duncan Ruthven's one great desire was to serve the community in which he lived, and he had earned the blessing: "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord." He was a mayor a number of times, he was a member of the Intra-coastal Canal Association, and was instrumental in bringing one of its first conventions to Palacios. He was deeply interested in bringing a system of sanitation to Palacios. In common with all the other citizens he worked to obtain the National Guard Camp. The citizens of the community, and other near-by cities, Danevang, El Campo, Bay City, purchased 1300 acres of land as a location for the camp. The citizens are proud that this camp has been used during this present war. Mr. Ruthven was also interested in bringing public highways to this district--the Hug-the-Coast Hiway and No. 71, which connects with Austin. Until the time of his illness he served on the draft board which met once a week in Bay City. Perhaps the chief characteristic of Duncan Ruthven was disinterestedness--he was disinterested in all things. He served without any thought of reward. He was tolerant , there was nothing bigoted or narrowed about him. In private life he loved his home and his children. Sometimes, by the way of relaxation, he played the violin. He knew some of the songs sung by Harry Lauder, and when he sang the his Scotch brogue came out. Mr. and Mrs. Ruthven had more than their share of sorrows, but they faced life bravely. In conclusion the speaker said, using the words of Dr. Maclaren: "Therefore our final thought in all our grateful commemoration of our friends who have gone on before, should be of the undying Lord. He gave then whatever power was in them, and he is with His Church today, still giving to men the gifts needful for their times. Aaron may die on Hor, and Moses be laid in his unknown grave on Pisgah, but God is with us always. That is our consolation in our personal losses, when our dear ones 'are not suffered to continue by reason of death.' He who gave them all their energy and all their desire to serve is with us still, and has all the grace which He lent them for a time. So if we have Christ with us we cannot be desolate. Looking on all the men and women who have helped forward His cause a little way. We should let their departure teach us His presence "and His all-sufficiency."
Duncan Ruthven would have liked the
words of Robert Browning: --George F. Gillespie Palacios Beacon, February 8, 1945 |
| 1914-20 |
TO THE VOTERS OF PALACIOS: |
|
1920-22 |
Stock Show Founder, Sartwelle, Dies at 78 Services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Saturday in Trinity Episcopal Church, Main at Holman, for James W. Sartwelle, 78, last surviving founder of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, his brainchild. He died in Memorial Arts Hospital Thursday - second day of this year's show--after a long illness. A prominent cattleman and rancher, he was also founder and board chairman of Port City Stockyards. A native of Dallas, he graduated from Deveraux College, Niagara Falls, N. Y., and later studied law. His first job, at 16, was as a messenger boy with the Fort Worth-Rio Grande Railway. He later became a telegraph operator and an agency manager. Came to the Gulf Area He came to the Gulf Coast area in 1914 and managed properties for the Ward Cattle and Pasture Co. He later purchased the Ward Brahman herd and with his brothers operated the Canmore Ranch in Matagorda and Jackson Counties. He married Lura Charlotte Arnold of Palacios in 1920, and was mayor of Palacios from 1920-24. Sartwelle coined the name Brahman and was founder and president of the American Brahman Breeders Assn. 80,000 Cattle Killed When a freeze killed 80,000 cattle in 1924, Sartwelle came to Houston and passed his bar examinations. In 1931 he organized Port City Stockyards and the Port City Packing Co. He suggested and helped organize the stock show in 1932. He was show president during its first 17 years. The first show was held in the old Democratic National Convention Hall and drew about 1500 spectators and about 160 animals. The other seven men who organized the first show were: J. Howard West, W. A. Lee, Julian Weslow, W. C. Mun, Henry Dew, Marcus Meyer and Walter Hudgins. An active churchman, he was a former agriculture committee chairman and board member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce and honorary vice-president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn. He lived at 2250 Quenby. Club Member He was a member of Holland Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M.; Sons of the American Revolution, Society of Cincinnati; Sons of the Republic of Texas; Houston Bar Assn. and State Bar of Texas. Sartwelle is survived by his wife; two sons, Robert Arnold Sartwelle and James D. Sartwelle, all of Houston; four daughters, Mrs. Jack, B. Buckley and Mrs. R. H. Willis of Houston, Mrs. Hugh F. Buffaloe of Palacios and Mrs. F. N. DeBardeleben of Birmingham, Ala.; one sister, Mrs. Margaret S. Barrows of San Antonio; 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bishop J. Milton Richardson, Rev. Arthur S. Knapp and Rev. Ralph C. Miller will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Forest Park Lawndale.
Newspaper and date unknown |
| 1922-26 | |
| 1926-30 |
Daughter -
Emily Ehlers Boyd |
| 1930-34 |
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| 1934-40 |
Joe L. Deutsch, 95, Former Local Mayor, Buried Here Thursday Graveside services for Joseph Louis Deutsch, Sr. were held at Palacios Cemetery Thursday, December 10, at 2 p. m. with Rev. Daniel Baker officiating. Joe Deutsch, a former mayor of Palacios who had made his home in Houston the past six years died at 7:37 a. m. Wednesday at his home at 6437 Mercer. Survivors include his son, Joe L. Deutsch, Jr.; grandchildren, Caroline, Jerry, Joe L. III and Randy Deutsch; niece, Miss Grace Raymond; nephews, Charles A. Raymond, Sr., Alfred J. Raymond, all of Houston. Palacios Beacon, date unknown
Son -
Joseph Deutsch Jr. |
| 1940-44 |
Funeral Services For Arthur G. Skinner, 70, Are Held In Palacios Funeral services for Arthur G. Skinner, 70, formerly mayor of Palacios, were held at the Palacios Funeral Home with the Rev. Wesley N. Schulze officiating, assisted by the Rev. Rayford B. Harris. Mr. Skinner died December 23 in the Bay-View Hospital. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery. Mr. Skinner is survived by two children, Mrs. J. A. Partain and Everett Skinner, and five grandchildren. Mr. Skinner, who was born in Illinois, moved to Palacios in 1913. Palacios Beacon, January 4, 1951
Wife -
Anna
Lucretia McAnally Skinner
Daughter -
Ruth Skinner |
| 1944-48 | |
| 1948-52 | |
| 1952-54 |
Funeral services for Charles Luther, 88, of Palacios will be held 11 a. m. Tuesday at Palacios Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Bernard Ritchea officiating. Burial will be in Palacios Cemetery. Mr. Luther was born Sept. 7, 1899, in Whitney, Texas, to Thomas Monroe and Laura Gollihar Luther and died 1:45 a. m. March 21, 1988, at Wagner General Hospital, Palacios. A resident of Palacios since 1921, he was the owner and operator of the Luther Hotel in Palacios. He was chairman of the Seawall Committee and former mayor of Palacios. He was the former owner of Bayshore Chevrolet and a former Gulf wholesaler for over 50 years. He served with the U. S. Army during World War I in France. Survivors include a daughter, Claire Joy Dilworth of Tilden, Texas; a son, Charles M. (Buddy) Luther of Houston; a brother, retired Col. Henry Luther of San Antonio; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Palacios.
Daily Tribune?, March 21?, 1988 |
| 1954 | |
| 1954-60 | |
| 1960-64 | |
| 1964-66 |
Funeral services for Earnest Fredrick Wehmeyer, 83, were held Nov. 14 at 2 p. m. at the Palacios Funeral home with Rev. J. R. Gwin officiating. Masonic graveside services followed at Palacios Cemetery. Wehmeyer was born Oct. 30, 1899 in Port Lavaca and died Nov. 12, 1982 at Wagner General Hospital. He was the son of William Henry Wehmeyer and Emily Frances Ulrich Wehmeyer. He was a retired state supervisor of Texas Parks and Wildlife. He had been a resident of Palacios since 1931. Wehmeyer was a mason of Palacios Lodge 990, a member of the Gulf Coast Club of Matagorda County, Shriner of Arabia Temple of Houston, and a Scottish 32nd Degree of Galveston Consistory. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Jo Beth and David Frankson; two sisters, Ella Davidson of Pleasington and Lena Crawford of Victoria; one brother, Henry Wehmeyer of Port Lavaca; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Newspaper and date unknown
Mrs. Josephine Wehmeyer PALACIOS--Mrs. Josephine Moore Wehmeyer, 76, of Palacios, died Saturday in Palacios. A resident of Palacios since 1931, she was a member of First Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 3 p. m. Monday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Leon Maxwell officiating. Burial will be in Palacios Cemetery under direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home. 2 Surviving are her husband, Ernest Wehmeyer; a daughter, Jo Beth Frankson, both of Palacios; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Victoria Advocate, May 17, 1981 |
| 1966-68 |
Former Palacios mayor and businessman Herman Bond, 68, died at his home in Coleyville, Tx. on Aug. 23 2004. Private burial service was at the family plot in Patillo, Tx. He was born in New London, Tx. to L. H. "Chick" Bond and Ora Gillis Bond. "Chick" played baseball for the Houston Buffaloes in the twenties and was a longtime employee of Humble Oil Co. Mr. Bond was a longtime Dallas banker and civic leader. his varied commercial interests also included land development, residential construction, manufacturing and real estate brokerage. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda Leibrock Bond, of Colleyville; sons Zachary Wyatt Bond of New York City and Lee Gillis Bond of Houston; sisters Jonnie Smith of San Antonio and Jean Bond Davis (R. J.) of Tulsa; and five nephews and two nieces. He was preceded in death by his eldest son, Stephen Bond. Mr. Bond began his banking and civic careers in Snyder, Tx. at the West Texas State Bank at the age of nineteen. In Palacios, he served as president of the Palacios State Bank and as mayor of Palacios from 1966 to 1969. In the seventies, Mr. Bond was president of the Bank of the Southwest and served as President and CEO of Hampton State Bank and First Continental Bank in Dallas. His other banking interests spanned the state from El Paso to Waxahachie and DeSoto and to Houston. In business partnerships, he developed residential subdivisions, The Summit in Cedar Hill and Steeplechase in Midlothian. He built homes in these areas and in Kessler Park. In family business, Mr. Bond and his wife, Linda, created Agency 007, Inc. which manufactured a wholesale line of handmade gifts internationally. This entity now operates in real estate brokerage in Colleyville, Tx. He received a national service award from the U. S. Junior Chamber of Commerce for his work in public relations for the El Paso Jaycees. he served as president of this chapter in 1961 and was president of the Oak Cliff Country Club and director of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce. Because of his avid sporting interest in field training, Mr. Bond built, owned and operated Willow Run Kennel and Hunt Club in DeSoto in the eighties. His favorite pastime was supporting and attending performances of marching bands, drum corps, civic and university level orchestras in which his sons performed. Memorials may be made to the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, 3630 Harry Nines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75219
Palacios Beacon, September 8, 2004 |
| 1969-70 | |
| 1970 |
George Holst was elected in 1970, but resigned after 10 months
because he said his other duties as superintendent of the Palacios
School District prevented from devoting full time duties that the
mayor's office required. His resignation came after voters in a
special election, decided to do away with a briefly-tried city
manager-type position. Three councilmen (former mayor Ed Dumas,
Charles Harvey and Hugh Wallis) resigned at the same time. |
| 1971-77 |
Bill Jackson was elected in a special election on January 9, 1971 to
complete Holst's unexpired tem. Jack was elected to full terms in
1972, 1974 and 1976, but resigned in 1977 for health reasons.
Councilman Cliff Elliott was appointed mayor then elected to a full
term in 1978. Councilman Leonard Lamar defeated Elliott in 1980 and
went on to serve 12 years (6 terms) as the city's longest serving
mayor before stepping down in 1992. Beverly Watson, in a 5-candidate
race, was elected with 35.5% of the vote to become the city's first
woman mayor. |
| 1977-80 | |
| 1980-92 | |
| 1992-94 |
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| 1994-97 |
George Holst returned as mayor in 1994 and served until his death in 1997, midway thru his second term. The council left the mayor's position vacant until the 1998 election. Councilman Ed Schulze, as mayor pro-tem, performed the mayor's duties during the interval. |
| 1997-98 | |
| 1998-2002 |
Newcomer Bob McMahan was elected in 2-person race in 1998,
defeated one opponent in 2000, then declined a third term try.
|
| 2002-06 |
John Connor, another newcomer, was elected mayor in 2002, beating
two opponents with 46.5% of the vote, then became the first
incumbent since Lamar in 1988 not to be challenged for re-election.
He was mayor when Palacios became a Home Rule city. Connor did not
seek re-election in 2006. |
| 2006-2010? |
Joe Morton, also a newcomer who was elected councilman in 2002, re-elected in 2004, won a three-way race with less than 50% of the vote to become mayor in 2006. He was re-elected with no opponent in 2008.
|
| 2010-present | |
