***The town of Dewees has come a long way since the early 1900s. Founded by the Dewees Brothers as a large cattle operation and later passed on to John Edward Dewees, the son of Thomas Dewees. At the peek of its operation the town became a thriving community that supported a commissary, a post office, a school and houses for its employees. Today there's not much left of the town that was, but instead, a tiny little store and a cemetery remain. The town is still based around ranching and agriculture, but due to the economy it is only a sideline job instead of a full time job like the one the town was founded for. The Town of Dewees isn't much to look at, but the folks are friendly and your always welcome at the Schnieder's store.
****
***Founders: In 1862, John O. Dewees joined Company B, 32nd of theTexas Calvary . That same year his brother Thomas enlisted in the 32nd regiment of the Confederate Army. John O. Dewees remained fighting throughout the Civil War, but his brother was discharged early when he received a head wound in one of the battles. After being discharged Thomas began to accumulate land and cattle in Oakville Texas . In the January of 1868 Thomas Dewees married Emily Katherine Tom. Together they gave birth to a son named John Edward. Thomas remarried in 1872 to Kate Ham after the death of his first wife. At the end of the Civil war, the Dewees brothers formed a partnership. As a partnership the brothers began to buy large portions of land and cattle. The land covered three different counties, Karnes , Wilson and Atascosa and spread over 90,000 acres. Together the brothers bought and raised thousands of long horned cattle, which they sent all around the United States. The brothers even drove cattle over the famous Chisolm Trail to Kansas. In one year the brothers sent over 20,000 head of cattle to different portions of the U.S. The Dewees ranch was one of the largest ranch operations of its time and was also home of the longest three plank fence ever built that stretched 211 miles.(The History Of Wilson County (Louise Stadler) pages 58-60)
Economy: The economy in Dewees is almost nonexistent. Most people who still live in the area commute to work and are weekend farmers who own a few cattle. Most of the big ranches have been divided up and sold off into much smaller tracts of land. There is no real source of income in the area with the exception of private oil rigs and cattle operations. For most people in the area the idea of making a living on farming and ranching is just a dream of the past, since most of this is done by large corporations these days.(Texas Almanac 2006-2007 Edition (Dallas Morning News) page 332)
***Bibliography:
R.W. Malcher (interview) R. W. never actually lived in DeWees he lives about 10 miles away in Poth. He has spent most of his life in that community though. Uncle Henry owned six hundred acres there. After uncle henries death R.W. was executor of the estate so he spent a lot of years at the Dewees store having a beer, and catching the local gossip. He was running his cattle operation on Uncle Henry's old place.
Kevin Malcher (interview) Kevin is R.W.'s oldest son he spent many a day working the land at Uncle Henry's place. He also spent many an afternoon drinking soda pop, and then a little beer at that famous little store.
Lance Malcher (interview) Lance is R.W.'s youngest son he was also hauled down to Uncle Henry's place for some free labor. He spent many a day hunting stray calves lost on the farm. He has spent many a day at the DeWees store also. The store in Dewees is also a famous place for bachelor parties, and all three of these guys have been to plenty at the DeWees store.
Rob Moczygemba (interview) He grew up in Floresville, but always loved this little town. Dewees being a rural community meant a lot of hunting and fishing in the area. That is one thing Rob can tell you about down there. He has always had a deer lease in DeWees. So he has spent many a day stopping by the local store for a beer and a little B.S. He is also quite familiar with those bachelor parties. Currently he lives in this small community at present with his wife, and two children. He was a great source on this small community.
Emil Baumann (interview) He is a wealth of information on the town of DeWees. He grew up on a farm outside of DeWees. He even worked at the store pumping gas when he was a kid. He knew a lot about all the history of the town and, all the different people from there.
Floresville and Wilson County Texas (Wilson County News 2000) This map was an okay source. Mainly just for the location of DeWees in Wilson County.
Wilson County (Texas Maps 2001) This was an okay source also. For the fact it showed exactly where the town of DeWees is located.
The New Handbook of Texas 2nd Edition (Texas State Historical Association) This was a good source for the fact it told the history of the town. It was not a lot of history since it was such a small community, and there was not a lot recorded about the town, but it is one of the better written sources.
************************************************************.
****
***Founders: In 1862, John O. Dewees joined Company B, 32nd of theTexas Calvary . That same year his brother Thomas enlisted in the 32nd regiment of the Confederate Army. John O. Dewees remained fighting throughout the Civil War, but his brother was discharged early when he received a head wound in one of the battles. After being discharged Thomas began to accumulate land and cattle in Oakville Texas . In the January of 1868 Thomas Dewees married Emily Katherine Tom. Together they gave birth to a son named John Edward. Thomas remarried in 1872 to Kate Ham after the death of his first wife. At the end of the Civil war, the Dewees brothers formed a partnership. As a partnership the brothers began to buy large portions of land and cattle. The land covered three different counties, Karnes , Wilson and Atascosa and spread over 90,000 acres. Together the brothers bought and raised thousands of long horned cattle, which they sent all around the United States. The brothers even drove cattle over the famous Chisolm Trail to Kansas. In one year the brothers sent over 20,000 head of cattle to different portions of the U.S. The Dewees ranch was one of the largest ranch operations of its time and was also home of the longest three plank fence ever built that stretched 211 miles.(The History Of Wilson County (Louise Stadler) pages 58-60)
Economy: The economy in Dewees is almost nonexistent. Most people who still live in the area commute to work and are weekend farmers who own a few cattle. Most of the big ranches have been divided up and sold off into much smaller tracts of land. There is no real source of income in the area with the exception of private oil rigs and cattle operations. For most people in the area the idea of making a living on farming and ranching is just a dream of the past, since most of this is done by large corporations these days.(Texas Almanac 2006-2007 Edition (Dallas Morning News) page 332)
***Bibliography:
R.W. Malcher (interview) R. W. never actually lived in DeWees he lives about 10 miles away in Poth. He has spent most of his life in that community though. Uncle Henry owned six hundred acres there. After uncle henries death R.W. was executor of the estate so he spent a lot of years at the Dewees store having a beer, and catching the local gossip. He was running his cattle operation on Uncle Henry's old place.
Kevin Malcher (interview) Kevin is R.W.'s oldest son he spent many a day working the land at Uncle Henry's place. He also spent many an afternoon drinking soda pop, and then a little beer at that famous little store.
Lance Malcher (interview) Lance is R.W.'s youngest son he was also hauled down to Uncle Henry's place for some free labor. He spent many a day hunting stray calves lost on the farm. He has spent many a day at the DeWees store also. The store in Dewees is also a famous place for bachelor parties, and all three of these guys have been to plenty at the DeWees store.
Rob Moczygemba (interview) He grew up in Floresville, but always loved this little town. Dewees being a rural community meant a lot of hunting and fishing in the area. That is one thing Rob can tell you about down there. He has always had a deer lease in DeWees. So he has spent many a day stopping by the local store for a beer and a little B.S. He is also quite familiar with those bachelor parties. Currently he lives in this small community at present with his wife, and two children. He was a great source on this small community.
Emil Baumann (interview) He is a wealth of information on the town of DeWees. He grew up on a farm outside of DeWees. He even worked at the store pumping gas when he was a kid. He knew a lot about all the history of the town and, all the different people from there.
Floresville and Wilson County Texas (Wilson County News 2000) This map was an okay source. Mainly just for the location of DeWees in Wilson County.
Wilson County (Texas Maps 2001) This was an okay source also. For the fact it showed exactly where the town of DeWees is located.
The New Handbook of Texas 2nd Edition (Texas State Historical Association) This was a good source for the fact it told the history of the town. It was not a lot of history since it was such a small community, and there was not a lot recorded about the town, but it is one of the better written sources.
************************************************************.
***The town of Dewees has come a long way since the early 1900s. Founded by the Dewees Brothers as a large cattle operation and later passed on to John Edward Dewees, the son of Thomas Dewees. At the peek of its operation the town became a thriving community that supported a commissary, a post office, a school and houses for its employees. Today there's not much left of the town that was, but instead, a tiny little store and a cemetery remain. The town is still based around ranching and agriculture, but due to the economy it is only a sideline job instead of a full time job like the one the town was founded for. The Town of Dewees isn't much to look at, but the folks are friendly and your always welcome at the Schnieder's store.
****
***Founders: In 1862, John O. Dewees joined Company B, 32nd of theTexas Calvary . That same year his brother Thomas enlisted in the 32nd regiment of the Confederate Army. John O. Dewees remained fighting throughout the Civil War, but his brother was discharged early when he received a head wound in one of the battles. After being discharged Thomas began to accumulate land and cattle in Oakville Texas . In the January of 1868 Thomas Dewees married Emily Katherine Tom. Together they gave birth to a son named John Edward. Thomas remarried in 1872 to Kate Ham after the death of his first wife. At the end of the Civil war, the Dewees brothers formed a partnership. As a partnership the brothers began to buy large portions of land and cattle. The land covered three different counties, Karnes , Wilson and Atascosa and spread over 90,000 acres. Together the brothers bought and raised thousands of long horned cattle, which they sent all around the United States. The brothers even drove cattle over the famous Chisolm Trail to Kansas. In one year the brothers sent over 20,000 head of cattle to different portions of the U.S. The Dewees ranch was one of the largest ranch operations of its time and was also home of the longest three plank fence ever built that stretched 211 miles.(The History Of Wilson County (Louise Stadler) pages 58-60)
Economy: The economy in Dewees is almost nonexistent. Most people who still live in the area commute to work and are weekend farmers who own a few cattle. Most of the big ranches have been divided up and sold off into much smaller tracts of land. There is no real source of income in the area with the exception of private oil rigs and cattle operations. For most people in the area the idea of making a living on farming and ranching is just a dream of the past, since most of this is done by large corporations these days.(Texas Almanac 2006-2007 Edition (Dallas Morning News) page 332)
***Bibliography:
R.W. Malcher (interview) R. W. never actually lived in DeWees he lives about 10 miles away in Poth. He has spent most of his life in that community though. Uncle Henry owned six hundred acres there. After uncle henries death R.W. was executor of the estate so he spent a lot of years at the Dewees store having a beer, and catching the local gossip. He was running his cattle operation on Uncle Henry's old place.
Kevin Malcher (interview) Kevin is R.W.'s oldest son he spent many a day working the land at Uncle Henry's place. He also spent many an afternoon drinking soda pop, and then a little beer at that famous little store.
Lance Malcher (interview) Lance is R.W.'s youngest son he was also hauled down to Uncle Henry's place for some free labor. He spent many a day hunting stray calves lost on the farm. He has spent many a day at the DeWees store also. The store in Dewees is also a famous place for bachelor parties, and all three of these guys have been to plenty at the DeWees store.
Rob Moczygemba (interview) He grew up in Floresville, but always loved this little town. Dewees being a rural community meant a lot of hunting and fishing in the area. That is one thing Rob can tell you about down there. He has always had a deer lease in DeWees. So he has spent many a day stopping by the local store for a beer and a little B.S. He is also quite familiar with those bachelor parties. Currently he lives in this small community at present with his wife, and two children. He was a great source on this small community.
Emil Baumann (interview) He is a wealth of information on the town of DeWees. He grew up on a farm outside of DeWees. He even worked at the store pumping gas when he was a kid. He knew a lot about all the history of the town and, all the different people from there.
Floresville and Wilson County Texas (Wilson County News 2000) This map was an okay source. Mainly just for the location of DeWees in Wilson County.
Wilson County (Texas Maps 2001) This was an okay source also. For the fact it showed exactly where the town of DeWees is located.
The New Handbook of Texas 2nd Edition (Texas State Historical Association) This was a good source for the fact it told the history of the town. It was not a lot of history since it was such a small community, and there was not a lot recorded about the town, but it is one of the better written sources.
************************************************************.
****
***Founders: In 1862, John O. Dewees joined Company B, 32nd of theTexas Calvary . That same year his brother Thomas enlisted in the 32nd regiment of the Confederate Army. John O. Dewees remained fighting throughout the Civil War, but his brother was discharged early when he received a head wound in one of the battles. After being discharged Thomas began to accumulate land and cattle in Oakville Texas . In the January of 1868 Thomas Dewees married Emily Katherine Tom. Together they gave birth to a son named John Edward. Thomas remarried in 1872 to Kate Ham after the death of his first wife. At the end of the Civil war, the Dewees brothers formed a partnership. As a partnership the brothers began to buy large portions of land and cattle. The land covered three different counties, Karnes , Wilson and Atascosa and spread over 90,000 acres. Together the brothers bought and raised thousands of long horned cattle, which they sent all around the United States. The brothers even drove cattle over the famous Chisolm Trail to Kansas. In one year the brothers sent over 20,000 head of cattle to different portions of the U.S. The Dewees ranch was one of the largest ranch operations of its time and was also home of the longest three plank fence ever built that stretched 211 miles.(The History Of Wilson County (Louise Stadler) pages 58-60)
Economy: The economy in Dewees is almost nonexistent. Most people who still live in the area commute to work and are weekend farmers who own a few cattle. Most of the big ranches have been divided up and sold off into much smaller tracts of land. There is no real source of income in the area with the exception of private oil rigs and cattle operations. For most people in the area the idea of making a living on farming and ranching is just a dream of the past, since most of this is done by large corporations these days.(Texas Almanac 2006-2007 Edition (Dallas Morning News) page 332)
***Bibliography:
R.W. Malcher (interview) R. W. never actually lived in DeWees he lives about 10 miles away in Poth. He has spent most of his life in that community though. Uncle Henry owned six hundred acres there. After uncle henries death R.W. was executor of the estate so he spent a lot of years at the Dewees store having a beer, and catching the local gossip. He was running his cattle operation on Uncle Henry's old place.
Kevin Malcher (interview) Kevin is R.W.'s oldest son he spent many a day working the land at Uncle Henry's place. He also spent many an afternoon drinking soda pop, and then a little beer at that famous little store.
Lance Malcher (interview) Lance is R.W.'s youngest son he was also hauled down to Uncle Henry's place for some free labor. He spent many a day hunting stray calves lost on the farm. He has spent many a day at the DeWees store also. The store in Dewees is also a famous place for bachelor parties, and all three of these guys have been to plenty at the DeWees store.
Rob Moczygemba (interview) He grew up in Floresville, but always loved this little town. Dewees being a rural community meant a lot of hunting and fishing in the area. That is one thing Rob can tell you about down there. He has always had a deer lease in DeWees. So he has spent many a day stopping by the local store for a beer and a little B.S. He is also quite familiar with those bachelor parties. Currently he lives in this small community at present with his wife, and two children. He was a great source on this small community.
Emil Baumann (interview) He is a wealth of information on the town of DeWees. He grew up on a farm outside of DeWees. He even worked at the store pumping gas when he was a kid. He knew a lot about all the history of the town and, all the different people from there.
Floresville and Wilson County Texas (Wilson County News 2000) This map was an okay source. Mainly just for the location of DeWees in Wilson County.
Wilson County (Texas Maps 2001) This was an okay source also. For the fact it showed exactly where the town of DeWees is located.
The New Handbook of Texas 2nd Edition (Texas State Historical Association) This was a good source for the fact it told the history of the town. It was not a lot of history since it was such a small community, and there was not a lot recorded about the town, but it is one of the better written sources.
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