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Cottage Hill was a settlement that once existed in eastern Bexar County, Texas, United States.[1][2]

History[edit]

The beginning[edit]

In the 1840s the Irvin family settled at the 18 mile marker on the San Antonio to Gonzales road. Soon after, D. A. Saltmarsh established there a stagecoach stop. In 1855, two wealthy speculators, Gideon Lee and Joseph Beck, purchased land and laid out a town called Cottage Hill. Henry Bowers opened the 20 mile house just east of town, soon William A. Jackson opened a general store and was the first postmaster.[3]

Post Civil War - incidents of violence[edit]

After the end of the Civil War Cottage Hill became known for lawlessness and violence. In 1876 a well known gunfight happened in Cottage Hill, in which Tom Secrest and William Irvin were killed, James Applewhite of La Vernia was brought before a grand jury but was released. A gang of 12 young men who robbed and terrorized the area called themselves the Cottage Hill gang. In 1877 John Humphrey was ambushed bringing mail from San Antonio and died a day later. This incident caused the post office to be transferred to nearby Saint Hedwig. The result was a steady decline of Cottage Hill as businesses moved to Saint Hedwig.[3][4]

Present Day[edit]

As of 2021, only forgotten ruins and gravestones remain where the town of Cottage Hill once stood.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Allen & Regina Kosub (November 18, 2014). "The Old Gonzales Road". Lost Texas Roads. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "Cottage Hill | Texas Almanac". texasalmanac.com. November 22, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "TSHA | Cottage Hill, TX". Handbook of Texas online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  4. ^ The Monitor Guide to Post Offices and Railroad Stations in the United States and Canada: With Shipping Directions by Express and Freight Lines. Bullinger's Guides, Incorporated. 1876.




source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_Hill,_Texas