Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-29
WILLACY STORY
IS INTERESTING
Hudge Lamar Gill Describes
Past and Foretells The
County's Future
By ID :. Il. GILL

IUk DdEGEA VII AAaAA4A % $50
Melton Of the organization Of the
cou-ty was effected by the qualify
Ing OF a majority Of the commits
sioners court on August II, 1921
villacy county Is made up OF
parts Of what was formerly Gem
eron, Hidalgo and old willacy coun-
ty, now Kennedy county. The first
willacy county was created by oct
of the Legislature in 1911, and was
finally organized in 1912. AT that
time John O.. Willacy. who Is now
q resident Of San Antonio, was the
state senator from this district now
known as the twenty-seventh sena-
tF rial district.
It was decided to name the coun-
tv Kennedy in honor OF Capt. Mlfflin
Kenedy, who came TO Brownsville,
Texas. from Philadelphia. about
1854 and who. IN partnership with
Capt. Richard King. founded the
King and Kennedy vanches.
Senator WiIlacy Popular
Senator Willacy was very popular
among members Of the legislature
and when the bill creating the coun-
ty was called UP in the senate for
its third reading and final passage.
someone moved to amend the bill
and name IL Willacy instead Of
Kennedy and this was done over
willacy's protest. He attempted 70
have 10 changed In the house but
due TO his popularity nc was I'M
successful. At subsequent sessions
Of the legislature he made efforts
TO have a bin passed changing the
name from Willacy 70 Kennedy, but
was unsuccessful. So, IN 1921, when
he endeavored 10 create a new
county for the reasons above given.
During the time necessary TO have
the bill passed, an arrangement
was made with John G.. Kennedy,
owner or La PARA ranch near Sa-
rita. Texas, who Is a son OF Capt.
Mifflin Kennedy, to exchange names
and this was done.
The bill, when finally passed, pro-
vded that what had been Wllacy
county was TO be known as Kennedy
from that time on. and that n
new county was to be known as
Willacy.
Hold Same Honor
The first county Judge Of old VII
Yacv county was Amos Rich who
lives in Houston, Texas. and the
county seat was located at Sarlta
which is now the county seat OF
Kenedy county. s. L. Gill was the
first county Judge Of what Is now
known as Willacy county. so eacn
~ these men, who are still living,
can truthfully claim the distinction
~ having been the first county
Judge Of Wilacy county, Texas.
Willacy county Is the 253rd coun-
~ RI have been created in Texas,
there are now 254. n county nav
ing been created since the creation
of Willacy. The bill which created
this county was w printed and
contained many surprises Tor p
people in the territory affected.
The bin provided for the disor-
Plantation o. Cameron, Hidalgo and
Willacy counties, and the creation
from the territory so affected, OF
four counties to be known as CAM
o Hidalgo, Willacy and Kennedy.
So that al four counties, although
Cameron and Hidalgo have been
functioning as counties since the
early fifties, have the same date OF
organization The county seat In
each OF the four counties was desig-
mated by this act and 10 will take
AZ act OF the legislature to remove
the county seat from its present
location in any Of these counties
Has Some Fun
A rather amusing Incident occur
red In connection with the final
passage in the senate Of the bill
creating this county. The bill had
been passed by the house and re-
ferred to the senate and was UP
for It's third reading and final pass
age. Senator McNealus. q lovable
old Irishman, was the senator from
Dallas. He was a great friend OF
U own jovial senator, Archer
Parr. When the roll was called on
the final vote and his name was
reached, he asked permission TO
ask some questions. Permission was
granted and he asked Senator Parr
III this bill had been printed. Sen
ator Farr replied that it had not.
McNealus then asked. lust what
doc this bill provide?"
Parr replied, ct is a bin 70 ere
ate a new county for some OF my
constituents who are required 70 60
more than so miles 10 their county
seat. II is a meritorious bill and
7 request that YOU vote for it."
Senator McNealus said, III vote
aye" The bill was passed unani-
mously and the senate Immediate
w adjourned. As the senators were
filing out OF the senate chamber.
McNealus came UP 70 Parr and put
his arm around PARIS shoulders
and said.
"Archie. We say that bill hasn't
been printed"
Parr replied. mo, Senator. 10
has not been printed"
Senator McNealus smiled and
looked at Senator Parr and said.
Slyly. There isn't q dam bit az tell
in what's In that bill, Is there9'
Much TiIIabIe Land
The total area Of Willacv county
Is 854 square miles. Of which ap-
proximatelv 675 square miles are
land and DO are water. making ap-
proximately 10 per cent land area
and 90 per cent water area. The
total land area Il approximately
10000 acres rf which 10000 are
-anch lard. or this ranch land.
probably half IS good tillable land
and Will he cleared finally and
farmed. The other half Is salt flats
driffed sand dunes and good graz
inr land. now considered practically
unfit for cultivation. At the time
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