Llano County, Texas

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: llano_county, texas us_history

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Welcome to Llano County, Texas Project!

• Texas Space Page
• The current leader of this project is: Mary Richardson.

Contents 1 History/Timeline 2 Government Offices 2.1 Settlers 2.1.1 Geography 2.1.2 Adjacent counties 2.1.3 Protected areas 2.1.4 Demographics 2.2 Cities 2.2.1 Town 2.3 Formed From 2.4 Resources 2.4.1 Census 2.5 Notables 2.5.1 Cemeteries 3 Sources

History/Timeline

Cactus in spring bloom.

• Llano County was formed and organized in 1856 from Bexar District and Gillespie County. The County name is Spanish for plains.^[1]

Peaceful Tonkawa tribe first inhabitants invited Spanish explorers to establish missions.^[2][3]

1750's Comanches came into the Tonkawa area.^[2]

1841 Conflicts with the Comanches at Enchanted Rock^[2][3]

Apr 20, 1842 - Adelsverein, Fisher-Miller Land Grant sets aside three million acres (12,000 km²) to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.^[2][3]

1844 to Dec 20,1845 - Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sold rights in the land grant to Adelsverein. Prince Solms came over to Texas to inspect the land grant and determined land was too far from coast line. He negotiated for a better area near New Braunfels. ^[2]

1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty ^[3]

Bettina commune, last Adelsverein community in Texas, is established by a group of free thinking intellectuals. Named after liberal Bettina Brentano von Arnim.^[2][3]

1855 Count Castell of the Adelsverein negotiated with the separate Darmstadt Society of Forty to colonize 200 families on Fisher-Miller Land Grant in Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, equipment and provisions for a year. Colonies were expected to support themselves.The colonies attempted were Castell, Leiningen, Bettina, Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm in Comal County; and Tusculum in Kendall County. Of these, only Castell survives. ^[3]The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas.^[2]

1852 Settlers at Tow and Bluffton on the Colorado River.^[2][3]

May 14-15, 1854 The Texas State Convention of Germans meet -San Antonio..Adopt political, social and religious platform, including: 1) Equal pay for equal work; 2) Direct election of the President of the United States; 3) Abolition of capital punishment; 4) “Slavery is an evil 5) Free schools – including universities - supported by the state, without religious influence; and 6) Total separation of church and state.Biesele, R. L. (April 1930). "The Texas State Convention of Germans in 1854". ^[4]

1859 Land donated by John Oatman, Sr., Amariah Wilson, and the Chester B. Starks estate provided 250 acres for the county seat. The donated land was on both sides of the Llano River. ^[2]

1860 Population 1,101 - 21 slaveholders, 54 slaves^[2][3]

1861 Llano had a very high percentage of votes for secession - which is evident by the Confederate statue on the NE side of the square.^[2][3][5]

1862 100 Llano County volunteers join Major John George Walker Division of the Confederate States Army. Several companies were organized in the area, known as the Third Frontier District. ^[2][3]

1863 The county was raided by Indians during the Civil War when most of the men were fighting. ^[2][3]

1869 John W Snyder, a pioneer rancher John Wesley Snyder led a cattle drive from to Abilene, Kansas from Llano County along the Chisholm Trail..^[2][3]

Aug 4, 1873, - Packsaddle Mountain -site of last battle with Indians. County’s farming begins to grow after threats of Indian attacks cease.^[2][3]

1870s, Baby Head - pioneer community Legend says small child was killed by Native Americans, and her remains were left on a hill called Baby Head Mountain. Jodie May McKneely (death January 1, 1884) originated the Baby Head Cemetery. The community no longer exists.^[2][3]

June 7, 1892 - Llano branch of Austin and Northwestern Railroad arrives.^[2][3]

1895 Llano County Jail erected by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St Louis, MO

1900 Frank Teich establishes the Teich Monument Works. ^[2][3]

1901 Llano Women's Literary Society organized - 16 charter members. Victorian style Antlers Hotel, railroad resort in Kingland open. Darmstadt Society of Forty.^[2][3]

Badu building (Carol Phelan Building).

N. J. Badu was a native of Nancy, France. Educated and trained as a geologist in Europe, who emigrated from France to Mexico who worked in Texas teaching French, and geology. While working in Paris, Lamar co., he heard of the Llano county geology..Badu was hired by the Llano Improvement and Furnace Company to manage the Algona Hotel, the area's grand upscale establishment. new Algeria Hotel, upscale establishment. also known as Carol Phelan Building. When the Llano Improvement and Furnace Company went bankrupt, the Algona closed. Badu took a position as manager of the Driskill Hotel in Austin, however he maintained the home in Llano. also known as Carol Phelan Building. Badu became a full-time mineralogist, with his laboratory based in Llano.^[6]

Government Offices

Llano County has had four courthouses: 1859 (burned in 1880), 1881, 1885(burned in 1892) and 1893. Lot of trouble with fire. Most courthouses burned down, the present on had 2 fires, but was renovated.^[7][8]

1st courthouse, 1850 was box-like, and burned 1880. This fire destroyed all county records. ^[7] 1873 Courthouse and records destroyed by fire, 1880. ^[8]

2nd Llano county Courthouse, 1880. 1880--The Llano County Courthouse and records destroyed by fire in October 1880. ^[8]

3rd 1885 - courthouse, burned 1892. This courthouse resembled closely the Gillespie county Courthouse.The Llano County Courthouse was built in 1892. This was designed by A. O. Watson and Jacob Larmour. A fire on January 22, 1892 destroyed the previous courthouse. ^[7]

1892--The Llano County Courthouse, built in 1885, was destroyed by fire on January 23, 1892. Papers and records of the clerks office were the only records saved.^[8]

1885 courthouse also resembles Gillespie courthouse.

4th courthouse ( present one) was completed August 1, 1893.Photographer's Note: designer of the courthouse, "The architectural firm of Larmour & Watson was apparently dissolved during the construction of this building, which is why only Watson's name is on the cornerstone.^[7]1932--The tower and parts of the interior of the Llano County Courthouse, built in 1893, was damaged by fire in Sept 1932.^[8]

1892 .

According to the Texas Historical Commission, the original tower was modified to the former pavilion shaped tower in 1913. The restoration of the original tower with its colonnades and cupola increases the height of the structure. The iron cresting on the roof has also been restored." - Terry Jeanson ^[7]

1951--The second and third floors of the Llano County Courthouse, built in 1893, were damaged by fire, on December 17, 1951. Some older county records were destroyed. ^[8]

1892 courthouse postcard.

WW I Doughboy sculpture.

Settlers

Settlers:

1. Spanish
2. Mexican
3. American
4. German
5. other

Of note: from The handbook of Texas: The 1990 United States census revealed that 1,175,888 Texans claimed pure and 1,775,838 claim partial German ancestry. This equals to 2,951,726 Texans with German ancestry (17½% of the state's total population). This gives a result that Germans rank behind Hispanics, and are the 3rd largest national origin group. ^[9]

Most of the emigrant German's tended to settle in a broad, yet fragmented belt. This is evident in Galveston, Houston, Kerrville, Boerne, Fredericksburg, Mason county, Hondo, Lindsay in Cooke County, Waka in Ochiltree County, Hurnville in Clay County, Russian German Baptist; and Lockett in Wilbarger County into the very heavily settled Hill County north and near San Antonio, Austin, Texas. ^[9]A majority settled in a broad, fragmented belt across the south central part of the state. This belt stretched from Galveston and Houston on the east to Kerrville, Mason, and Hondo in the west; from the fertile, humid Coastal Plain to the semiarid Hill Country and even Muenster, in North Texas. ^[9]

Contributions are Chester W. Nimitz (military), Robert J. Kleberg (ranching), Gustav Schleicher (politics), and Charles A. Schreiner of Kerrville (retail business) German settlements contributed to architecture, food, customs, rock fences, Gothic churches, sausage and sauerkraut and beer-- Texas German beers as Pearl and Shiner (see PEARL BREWING COMPANY, and SPOETZL BREWERY) ^[9]

Geography

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcl12 Llano County, in Central Texas, is bounded on the north by San Saba County, on the east by Burnet County, on the south by Gillespie County, and on the west by Mason County.

Llano County is in Central Texas.

County Seat, Llano , is 72 miles NW of Austin and near the center point of the county

Latitude/longitude -approximately 98'40° west longitude and 30'45° north latitude.

Size: 941 square miles of the Hill Country on the E part of the Edwards Plateau.

Altitude from 800 to 2,000 feet above sea level.

Rivers/Creeks - Colorado River, through the Llano River running West to east or Sandy Creek, which flows across the southern part of county.

Trees -Ashe juniper trees on hills, mesquites, live oaks, post oaks, pecans, and elms grow in most of the county.

Soil sandy to sandy loam, although there are granite outcroppings throughout much of the county, including Enchanted Rock.

Granite quarries and finishing sheds operate in the county,

Produced - talc, vermiculite, and feldspar have also been produced.

Temperatures high of 98° F in July to low of 34° in January

Rainfall averages 26.20 inches a year

Gowing season lasts 229 days.

Location: 30° 45′ 0.36″ N, 98° 40′ 33.96″ W

Adjacent counties

• Blanco

adjacent coiunties

• Burnet
• Gillespie
• Mason
• San Saba

Protected areas

• Enchanted Rock, a designated state natural area and popular tourist destination, is located in southern Llano county.

• Two significant rivers, the Llano and the Colorado, flow through Llano County. These rivers contribute to *Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, and Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, which are all located partially within the county.

• Protected American Eagle nests Near Lake Buchanan

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were17,044 people, 7,879 households, and 5,365 families resided in the county with a population density of 18 people/sq mi. The racial makeup of the county was 96.27% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. About 5.13% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.^[3]

The median income for a household in the county was $34,830, and for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $30,839 versus $21,126 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,547. About 7.20% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over.^[3]

Highways:
Texas State Highway 16 Texas State Highway 29 Texas State Highway 71 Texas State Highway 261

Cities

• Horseshoe Bay (partly in Burnet County)
• Llano (county seat)
• Sunrise Beach Village

Town

• Castell
• Buchanan Dam
• Kingsland

• Bluffton
• Tow
• Valley Spring

• • Ghost Towns
  • Baby Head
  • Bettina
  • Click

Formed From

• 1856--Llano County was created 1 February 1856 from Bexar County.

Resources

• Llano Estacado Genealogical Society 1313 W. 9th St., Littlefield 79339

• Kingsland Genealogical Society, PO Box 952, Kingsland, TX 78639

• Hill Country Genealogical Society, Prairie Mt. Rd., Llano, TX 78643

Census

1860 --- 1,101 —

1870 --- 1,379 25.2%

1880 --- 4,962 259.8%

1890 --- 6,772 36.5%

1900 --- 7,301 7.8%

1910 --- 6,520 −10.7%

1920 --- 5,360 −17.8%

1930 --- 5,538 3.3%

1940 --- 5,996 8.3%

1950 --- 5,377 −10.3%

1960 --- 5,240 −2.5%

1970 --- 6,979 33.2%

1980 --- 10,144 45.4%

1990 --- 11,631 14.7%

2000 --- 17,044 46.5%

2010 --- 19,301 13.2%

Est. 2015 --- 19,796

Notables

Emil Kriewitz, who lived with the Penateka Comanche, served as guide for Fisher-Miller Land Grant settlers, 1870 Llano County justice of the peace, 1871 Llano County election judge, and postmaster of Castell from 1876 to 1883. He was buried in Llano County Cemetery.^[3]

Cemeteries

• Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery
• Board Branch Cemetery

 :::Board Branch Cemetery on FindaGrave

• Mayes Chapel Cemetery

• • FindaGrave cemeteries
  • LLan Cemeteries Gloria Mayfield
  • FamilySearch genealogy

Sources

1. ↑ https://texasalmanac.com/index.php?q=topics/government/llano-county
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18} https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcl12
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llano_County,_Texas
4. ↑ Southwestern Historical Quarterly. Denton, TX: Texas State Historical Association. 33, No. 4: 247-261.
5. ↑ :http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/LLanoTexas/LlanoTexas.htm
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badu_Building
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/LLanoTexas/LlanoTexasLLanoCountyCourthouse.htm
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5} https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Llano_County,_Texas_Genealogy
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/png02

• https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/png02
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badu_Building
• http://www.co.llano.tx.us
• https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcl12
• FindaGrave cemeteries
• LLan Cemeteries Gloria Mayfield
• FamilySearch genealogy
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelsverein