Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
Cascade Cavern | Comfort Historical Society | Freidenker (Nineteenth Century Freethinkers)
| Kendall County | Kendall County Courthouse | Potter, Andrew Jackson
| Treue Der Union (Loyalty to the Union)
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Killing of Goodhart | Killing of Kendall's Sheepmen | Kendall County Citizens on Curry Creek | Capture on Currey's Creek | F.C. Kaiser Shoots Indian | Smith Brothers
Cascade Cavern
Marker Title: Cascade Cavern
City: Boerne
County: Kendall
Year Marker Erected: 1984
Marker Location: At main building at Cavern on Cascade
Cavern Road, off I-10 exit 543, south of Boerne.
Marker Text: Probably formed during the Pleistocene epoch by
the underground passage of the Cibolo River, Cascade Cavern presents
an interesting mix of geological, archeological, and historical features.
It exhibits a combination of the joint and the dip and strike types
of caverns, and is the home of a number of unusual animals, including
cliff and leopard frogs, Mexican brown bats, and Cascade Cavern salamanders.
Archeological evidence uncovered near the cave indicates the presence
of two Indian sites. It is probable that the Indians used the cave for
shelter, and soot found on the sides of a natural chimney suggests that
they had fires. Commercial development of the cave, known earlier as
Hester's Cave, began in the 1930s. The current name, taken from the
seven waterfalls at the entrance to the cathedral room, officially was
adopted in a 1932 ceremony led by State Attorney General, and later
Governor of Texas, James V. Allred. Over the years, Cascade Cavern has
provided visitors and Boerne area residents with many opportunities
for recreation and exploration, and it remains one of the state's important
geological sites. (1984)
Comfort Historical Society
Museum Name: Comfort Historical Society
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 244
City: Comfort
Zip Code: 78013
Street Address: High and 8th Street
Area Code: 210
Phone: 995-3807
County: Kendall
Freidenker (Nineteenth Century Freethinkers)
Marker Title: Freidenker (Nineteenth Century Freethinkers)
Address: 301 SH 27
City: Comfort
County: Kendall
Year Marker Erected: 2000
Marker Location: 301 SH 27, Comfort
Marker Text: From 1845 to 1861, a number of German Freidenker
("Freethinkers") immigrated to the Texas hill country. Freethinkers
were German intellectuals who advocated reason and democracy over religious
and political authoritarianism. Many had participated in the 1848 German
revolution and sought freedom in America. The Freidenker helped establish
Bettina, Castell, Cypress Mill, Luckenbach, Sisterdale ,Tusculum (Boerne)
and Comfort. Laid out in 1854, Comfort soon was home to about half the
population of hill country Freethinkers. Freethinkers valued their newfound
freedoms of speech, assembly and religion. Their settlements, where
a knowledge of Latin was considered essential for a cultured intellectual
society, became known as "Latin Colonies." They strongly supported
secular education and generally did not adhere to any formal religious
doctrines. They applied themselves to the crafts of physical labor and
divided their time between farming and intellectual pursuits. Freethinkers
advocated universal equal rights, and their moral values were dominated
by their respect for life. They actively supported such social issues
as the abolition of slavery and the rejection of secession. Their loyalty
to the Union during the Civil War cost many their freedoms and their
lives. Following the war, many Freethinkers relocated to nearby urban
areas, while others returned to Germany. (2000)
Kendall County
Marker Title: Kendall County
City: Boerne
County: Kendall
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: San Antonio and Watts, east of Main Street
Marker Text: Kendall County; created January 10, 1862; organized
February 18, 1862. Named in honor of George Wilkins Kendall, 1809-1867;
poet, journalist, author and farmer. One of the founders of the New
Orleans Picayune; member of the Santa Fe Expedition; most successful
sheep raiser in the Southwest, Boerne, the county seat
Kendall County Courthouse
Marker Title: Kendall County Courthouse
City: Boerne
County: Kendall
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: San Antonio and Watts Streets, east of
Main Street, Boerne.
Marker Text: First and only courthouse in county. Erected
1869-1870, seven years after county organization. Many locally prominent
men were associated with the structure. The first county judge, Joseph
Graham, was appointed U.S. Consul to Argentina. The first sheriff, Capt.
John Sansom, was a member of the U.S. Army, a Texas Ranger and Indian
fighter. S.B. Patton, former Alabama legislator, was elected second
county judge. Early records reveal cases for horse theft, cattle rustling,
illegal sale of liquor, assault. An addition was built in 1909, and
structure was remodeled, 1954. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark -- 1970
Potter, Andrew Jackson
Marker Title: Andrew Jackson Potter
City: Boerne
County: Kendall
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: 2.6 mile northeast Boerne at Statron
142 plus 40 Hwy. 87.
Marker Text: (1830 - 1895) Born in Missouri. Orphaned
at age 10, was a jockey, gambler, ruffian. Fought in Mexican War, 1846-47.
Was a Texas Ranger later. Converted in a camp meeting, he learned to
write and became a Methodist minister. Served 4 years in the Confederate
Army. Like any chaplain, had pay and rations of a private. In camp he
conducted regular religious services, counseled, taught men to read
and write, handled mail, visited the sick. Once whipped an editor for
libeling the Army. In battle line, until firing order came he had Bible
in hand, preaching to his men "on the brink of eternity".
Fought to end of battle, then took down from lips of dying men words
to family or friends; prayed for the passing soul; aided the wounded.
After war, with Bible in left hand, pistol in right, preached 30 years
on Texas frontiers. Gave many a wild town its first sermon, sometimes
preaching in a settlement's only public building-- a saloon. Founded
several churches. From enforcing respect for his work with fists and
guns, was called "The Fighting Parson". At home he owned on
this site, 1868-83, several of his 15 children were born. He died in
his pulpit, and was buried in Caldwell County. (1965)
Treue Der Union (Loyalty to the Union)
Marker Title: Treue Der Union (Loyalty to the Union)
City: Comfort
County: Kendall
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: Between 2nd and 3rd Streets, High Street, between
2nd and 3rd, Comfort.
Marker Text: This German language monument, erected 1866, honors
the memory of 68 men (mostly Germans) from this region who were loyal
to the Union during the Civil War. Trying desperately to reach U.S.
Federal troops by way of Mexico, about 40 of the men were killed by
vengeful Confederates bent on annihilating them, in the Battle of the
Nueces (on Aug. 10, 1862) and a later fight (Oct. 18). The bodies of
the slain and those who drowned swimming the Rio Grande were left unburied.
A group of Germans gathered the bones of their friends and buried them
at this site in 1865. (1968)
Killing of Goodhart Near the Kendall-Comal County Line
It was shortly after the close of the Civil War, and about 1866, that Mr. Goodhart was killed by the Indians while working in the cedarbreaks, about eight miles east of Boerne. Goodhart had stopped for dinner, and had led his horses about four hundred yards to water. Here he was killed and scalped by wild men.
Killing of Kendall's Sheepmen
During 1867, about four miles east of Boerne, Major Kendall had five Mexicans and a white man herding about fifteen thousand sheep. The Indians killed the six sheepmen, and none were left to relate the story.
Note: Author interviewed: F.C. Kaiser, who lived in that section at the time.
The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.
