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COMETA

The Cometa community is located in southwestern Zavala County and can be identified by a series of mail boxes at the intersection of FM 393 and FM 2691 This intersection is about 1 mile east of the Spanish trails that ran from Presidio San Juan Bautista (in Mexico, opposite from El lndio) to the northeast until it intersected the Del Rio San Antonio Road at a camp­site and station on the Leona River about 2 miles south of the City of Uvalde. This road was used in the late summer and early fall when the numerous water holes along its route were full.
The history of the Cometa Community is the history of the Picosa drainage. Just west of Crystal City on privately owned property lies Comanche Lake which is probably the largest natural body of water in the State of Texas. The archaic Spanish word “Comanche” is an adjective quite literally translated dark and foreboding. When the southern Shoshone Indians were first encountered by the Spanish, they were called Comanche’s because of their extreme dark countenances and scowling and ferocious faces.
Sometime between 1750 and 1800 the Comanche’s drove the Lipian Apaches from this area of South Texas and both Comanche Creek and Comanche Lake had the Southern Shoshone for frequent visitors. These Indians traded at San Juan Bautista and traveled the same Spanish Trace from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande as the traders on the way to San Antonio from Monclova. Comanche Creek runs westerly from Comanche Lake and then turns to rise from the southwest. It parallels the Spanish Trace until it reaches the divide between the creek and the Rio Grande.
The springs on Comanche Creek were at a much higher elevation than those on some of the other creeks and as a result it flowed intermittently. All of the creeks in the Picosa drainage near Cometa wind about many large horse­shoe lakes. Saint Dennis called these creeks and horseshoe lakes, “bayoucas”, which is the Spanish equivalent of the French word bayou. At that time aquatic wildlife included beaver, and alligators, as well as all of the frogs, turtles and fish which are now found in these streams. Indian camp­grounds along these bayoucas for the last ten thousand years were made on high points on land just above and overlooking a horseshoe lake or bayouca which contained water. These points were always selected on the southeast side, probably to avoid the mosquitos and to receive the breezes of the open plains. Spanish camps were generally made at known campsites on the northwest side of the creeks for a one or two-day period of time while the creeks were scouted for suitable crossings. Most crossings were well mapped and known to the transporta­tion agents of those days. Loma de Cometa was such a campsite. La Pendencia Creek was fed by springs from the Carrizo Sand and flowed with clear water from the beginning of recorded history until about 1926. The lowered level of water in the Carrizo Sand caused the flow from these spr­ings to become first intermittent and then cease. At the present time the water level lies approximately 250 feet below the bed of the Pendencia Creek.

The creeks of the Picosa drainage have their confluence in a large bayouca known as Crooked Lake which is on the north side of Kingfishers Road and spills across FM 933 into Comanche Lake. Clockwise from Crooked Lake they are the Fendencia, the Katana the Comanche, the Picosa, the Spurler, the Chacon, the Palo Blanco and the Chaparrosa, the Turkey and the Beef Hollow Before 1836 the land around Cometa was in the state of Coahuila and the land re­cords prior to 1836 are in the archives in Montclova or Saltillo. Between 1836 and 1845 this land was disputed as to ownership being claimed both by Texas and by Mex­ico. The Mexican war established the boun­dary of the Rio Grande River and Cometa became a part of Texas. After the civil war Europeans began to buy land in Texas and in and around Cometa was as eagerly sought after as the land around New Braun­fels and Fredricksburg. One grant of land in the very middle of the Cometa community was purchased for the establishment of a communist party commune and two other tracks of land for the establishment of a colony of altruists.
Modern history For the Cometa community begins in 1867 when, Grey "Doc"’ White established a thriving community along the banks of the Pendencia Creek in what is now Dimmitt County and southwes­tern Zavala County. This community was one of the most culturally and genetically influential communities in the entire area. One of the larger and more extended families living along Pendencia Creek was that of the Vivians. A young peace officer had married one of the Vivian girls and established a home on the Pendencia Creek approximately one and a half mites north of the Cometa Store. His house was on one of two roads that ran to Eagle Pass and on his road he had a sign "This is Kingfisher’s Road, Take the other Road’’. Remnants of this road can he identified today first a alone the north side of 393 on the top of the hill 2 miles east of Crooked Lake and again on both sides of County Road 006 at the southeast corner of Manual Flores Grant. This road crossed Pendencia Creek about 400 yards north of Kingfisher’s house where a dam was later built to impound the Pendencia waters for irrigation. As late as 1930 this was called Kingfisher’s Road. Kingfisher’s eldest daughter is buried in the Old Vivian Cemetery which lies south and east of highway 393 on the banks of the Pendencia

Education was always high priority by the residents of the CometaCommunity and in most families there were more people with college degrees than without, three of the Vivian women were wives and mothers to the Cometa community. Mrs. Kingfisher. Mrs. M. E. Ware, and Mrs. Dobe Van Cleve (Dobe was the nickname and his Correct name was C. L. Van Cleve.) About 1880 Mr. A. Van Cleve had begun to lease land on the upper reaches of the Palo Blanco, Chacon and Picosa Creeks. Most of the land that he leased was owned by either the Keuchler family or the Von Rosenberg family. About this time T. A. Coleman established a ranch headquartered on the Cometa hill. He took as his brand a comet consisting of a circle with two bars trailing towards the animal’s tail. Kingfisher had sold his holding on the Pendencia and mov­ed to Uvalde to be Deputy Sheriff of Uvalde County. At the turn of the century, prominent Cometa families included the Van Cleve families, the M. R. Ware family, the J. F. Harris family, the Williams’ family, Mr. Brown, who was the other partner in the Brown and Williams Ranch, the Jo Gunter Jones family. Mr. Davidson hat moved his family into the Cometa community and in 1890 was actively drilling artesian wells on contract until such time a he sold his business and equipment to In Cribbs, He had abandoned his steam engine and boiler when it blew the seams in the eastern par; of what is now the King Wan Ranch and the last time 1 was over there the old boiler still sat by the old well which is now plugged. The well was not completed in the Carrizo Sand, but was completed in a salt sand at a higher elevation. Between 1900 and 1920 a healthy farming communi­ty developed in the Cometa area, the Erskine, the Ciden’s, the Greene’s, the Dunkles, the Swains the Flanagan’s, the Delenianes, the Lairds, and the Rossing­tons. This was also a center for registered Livestock and in 1922 there were three herds of Durham Cattle in the Cometacommunity, one herd of the new Brahma breed, two herds of registered Herefords and one herd of registered Jerseys. There were also two farms that kept purebred Duroc Jersey hogs and one farm that kept purebred Hampshire’s. One farm had a purebred flock of Brown Leghorn chickens and three farms had purebred game fowl carrying pedigrees 50 and 60 years old. There were in addition three studs standing in that area, one a Thoroughbred and two Quarter Horses. One rancher kept a mamouth jack with which he raised mules from Spanish mares for sale into Mexico.
During the depression of the late 20’s and early 30’s the farming families in the Cometa area who raised vegetables and corn gave fresh food to the poor people who were moving to Crystal City from the north. They also gave it freely to all their neighbors and anyone in town who was hungry. Thomas Edison and later the Edison Institute had contracts with farmers-in (hat area for raising various experimental crops for use in making rubbers and plastics among which were Gauyule and Soybeans. Other crops that were very successful in the area were Flax and Rape as well as Russian Sunflower. The Russian Sunflower oil market collapsed after the Frito Company put in the sunflower farm at Big Wells. A recent survey in the Cometa area indicates that there are less than 500 acres of vegetables and exotic crops now growing in that part of Zavala County. The high cost of pumping water for irrigation and the inability of the upland soils to retain rainfall has made the raising of any crop by irriga­tion not feasible on this soil. Looking to the future inexpensive energy developments can reverse this situation and the highly productive upland soils can once more be subject to irrigation so that they will reach their agricultural potential.

Submitted by Camillo Flanagan

MORE ON COMETA



The Settlement of Cometa (1) is Located in the Southwest portion of Zavala County and the name was derived from T.A. Coleman’s ranch, This ranch was known as Brand Comet (2) Possibly the first seeds of the community were Sown upon the arrival of the Grey Whites and three families of Vivian’s in 1867 from Goliad, Goliad County, Texas. They unhitched their wagons and built their jacals near the banks of the Pendencia Creek (3). Marauding Indians, acid cattle rustlers From South of the Rio Grande made life Uncertain and prosperity imposs­ible, these settlers realized that if they were to survive more help was needed. Faced with this dilemma Grey White thought of young King Fisher, who had said three years before, "If you run into anything over there you can't handle just send for me." In 1871 word was sent back to Goliad that young King would have a job if he chose to come. Perhaps the young man’s idea of justice was questionable but the set­tlers were in no mood to fuss over details.
This arrangement suited the young independent King just fine. Shortly after his arrival word soon spread that if you had any inten­tions of rustling livestock it would be better for your health to avoid the Pendencia area. Fisher's brand of justice was later condemned by the Texas Rangers but the rangers were not around when those early settlers needed help. King Fisher at various times was indicted on six counts of murder and 15 lesser counts, but was never con­victed for any violation of the law.
(4)Fisher married his childhood sweetheart, Sara Elizabeth Vivian in 1876 Grey White performed the ceremony and gave the young couple his warmest blessings. King moved his bride to his established head­quarters on the Pendencia Creek in Zavala County.
Shortly after 1880 King removed his wife and two daughters to Uvalde, Texas. They left behind one little daughter in the Pen­dencia Cemetery The stone marking her grave reads 1 P. L. Fisher Nov. 21 1881-Jan. 2, 1882
In 1883 Fi5her was made deputy sheriff of Uvalde County, arid another daughter was born. On March 11, 1884, King Fisher was am-bushed as he stood with his friend Ben Thompson, in the Harris Vaudeville Theater in Sari Antonio, Texas. It is believed that King Fisher was an accidental victim of a plot to murder Ben Thompson.
John King Fisher, 28 at the time of his death was buried in the Uvalde Cemetery. In 1959 his body was removed to the new Pioneer Cemetery established in Uvalde, Texas. (5)The 1870 census lists (aside from the White’s and Vivians) the Ramon Sanchez and Galvan families. Plus two families of Terry’s from New York State and Simon Love, Negro and listed as a servant. (6) (7) In the early 1890’s T. A. Coleman estab­lished the Brand Comet Ranch, built a large and lovely frame home on the north side of Eagle Pass Road (8) and to the south of the road was constructed a building to house the general mercantile and post office, close by stood the one room schoolhouse. The original school burned but another was quickly rebuilt. Mr. Charles Lindenborn was; the foreman for the Brand Comet Ranch and the house built for this family was located on the site later to be occupied by the Ernest Sorrell family. B. H, Erskine arrived from Batesville bringing his wife arid three children. Two of these were married. Andrew and Ethyl settled on the Comanche Creek and Bluche and Jo near the Pendencia. Fred never married but lived with his parents in a two story house close by the school. There were several families of Oden’s, a Moffett family, Swaims, Durans, Riley Ware, and a Dr. West. His daughter Mary, married Charles Cart. The VanCleves ranched farther to the north in what is now known as the VanCleve Community. The 1900 census shows 16% of the population of Zavala County to be in this area, equaled by Batesville but exceeded by Lorna Vista.

The discovery of artesian water in the early 1900’s brought even more families to the community. B. H. Erskine was the first postmaster, John N. Ryan the assistant postmaster and manager of the general mercantile, Lease Oden was the first mail carrier. Lease carried the outgoing mail to Crystal City and returned with the Cometa mail, later Eagle Pass was added to the route. Between 1900 and 1915 saw the addi­tion of the J. F. Harris’s, Dunkles, W, W. Taylor, McVays, Rossingtons and Ernest Sorrell. The Comet burned its brightest dur­ing this period. Shortly after 1920 it began to dim and the post office and genera! Mercantile closed.
Those that came believing in the land promoters’ promises soon learned that an abundance of land and water does not necessarily create a Garden of Eden. Few were prepared financially or psychologi­cally for the scaring heat of the summers, to winters that would see temperatures tumb­ling upon the arrival of a “Blue Whistling Norther”, too much rain or not enough (mostly the latter), and an occasional hail Storms Not to mention a weak market or no market at all for their produce. Soon, most left seeking Livelihoods elsewhere.

The heart of any community is it’s church, school, and community building. The little school served all three needs. -School five days a week. Some of the teachers and pupils were: Tom Mack Wil­kins, who was the first, followed by Silver Whitset, Minnie Freeman, Anise Greene Lutilla Harris, Blanche Brown, Zora Lane. Edna Butler, Lucille Crenshaw, Annie Beth Dunn, and Pauline Taylor. Some of the children were: May and Inez Swaim, Alpha VanCleve, Frank and Bill Dunkle Anise and Mary Jane Erskine, Frank arid Lutilla Harris, the Oden, Tumlinson and Rossington children. Those earlier pupils follow­ed by Alvin and Marvin Morris, Jack VanCleve, Jesse and Rosabel Harris, William and Gus Orr, Delbert, John and Shirley Sorrell, Frank and Joyce Dunkle, Emma Guinther, Eugene and Anise Louise Greene, and Florence Gilladeau. The school closed in the spring of 1942. Miss Pauline Taylor was teaching and her three pupils were: Shirley Sorrel and Frank and Joyce Dunkle.

An occasional Saturday night was reserv­ed for social functions. These were happy affairs, covered dishes were prepared at home and evening saw the families arriving, along with friends from Crystal City. At dark a fiddle was tuned and the children, tired from their playing, would come inside to watch the dancing. The desks were pushed aside to create a dance floor and when the little ones became sleepy they were placed upon pallets behind the desks and next to the wall in order not to be stepped on by couples dancing a lively two-step. Any beverage Stronger than tea, coffee or water was carefully kept outside and not to be drunk in the presence of the women and children. When the last strains of ‘ ‘Over The Waves Waltz’ faded, the families gathered their dishes and children. Every-thing had to be in Order for the next day.
Sunday morning found the little school becoming a place of worship. The Metho­dist, Baptist and Church of Christ took turns in sending ministers. Most families attended every Sunday regardless of their religious denomination. Election years found the citizens gathering at the school to cast their ballots. Possibly these strong community services arc the reason the little schoolhouse stood for 42 years to faithfully serve the community long after the other buildings were gone.

Very little now remains of those early times. The early settlers arc mostly hurled far from Cometa, a few remain in the Erskine and Pendencia Creek Cemeteries. If you know where to look you might find a weathered board, some rusty nails or a put-pie bottle, material reminders of the long ago, yesteryears, when the comet was at its zenith.

Submitted by Beatrice W. Franks

1. Spanish-English Dictionary Cometa Comet
2. is the figure of the Comet brand
3. Spanish-English Dictionary - Pendencia, altercation or skirmish
4.Dimmit County Mesquite Roots Laura K Tidwell
5. King Fisher - His Life and Times, O. C. Fisher
6. Galvan appearing in the 1870 Maverick County Census, Salvador Galvans grandfather.
7. Dinsmit County Mesquite Roots - Laura K, Tidwell, page 25
8. The Brand Comet consisted of.?? acres, The ranch house burned in or around l939 or 1940.

THE COMETA SCHOOL 1926-1927

The Cometa School building was located on the Crystal City/Eagle Pass road. It was truly a house by the side of the road, there was little traffic in 1926-1927. 1 thought of it as being 18 miles to Carrizo Springs, 14 miles to Crystal City, and 30 miles to Eagle Pass. The building was freshly painted white. It was a large rectangular shaped one-room building, well lighted by many large windows, The teacher in 1926-1927 was Blanche Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Brown of Batesville and Uvalde, Texas.The Cometa School was called a Common School District. I do not recall the number of trustees. The school Operated under the guidance of the County Judge. Zavala County did not have a county superinten­dent. Judge Hunt was serving in that capa­city at the time. The teacher’s salary was set at $75 per month for a seven month school year .
I recall that the teacher’s desk, which was wooden, was mounted on a raised plat­form. Judging from the many student desks found in the room, the school enrollment in earlier years must have been much greater. That year I think something like fourteen pupils were expected to attend school. Possibly the greatest number in attendance any one day, that year, would not have averaged live I recall children whose sir-name was English, My most faithful pupil was Mary Jane Erskine. That was her first year in school.
Mrs. Frank Harris Sr. was one of the school trustees that year. I boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Harris. Their daughter Lutilla was boarding in Carrizo Springs that year in order to attend high school. As I recall, it seems that the Harris farm was based at least two miles from the school house. Mary Jane, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Erskine lived along my route to school. It was my custom to stop by for Mary Jane who would walk the rest of the way with me. Along the way we generally greeted Mary Jane’s Grand-mother Erskine, who lived in a two story frame house on top of the hill not very far from the schoolhouse.
Once a month my father would come, on a Friday after 4 p.m. and take me to Uvalde to visit my family over the weekend I recall the unpaved, zig-zagged road that skirted the many sections of land along the way. There were many gates and too many wire gaps one had to stop and open. On one oc­casion, after a big rain, the trip back to Cometa from Uvalde took 7 hours (we were in a Model T Ford pickup).
One of the events that I recall that school year was the marriage of the Harris’s son, Frank to Miss Rosita Delamain. I accom­panied the Harris family to the wedding which took place in the Episcopal Church in Eagle Pass. The Cometa School building also served the community as a meeting house. I recall attending several dances that school year. The dances Were attended by entire family groups and were well-chaperoned.
At the end of school I returned to the University of Texas at Austin to finish my final year of work for my B.A. degree. One of my college friends, after hearing me talk about Cometa School, applied for the position and the popular Miss Rose Burdovsky became the next teacher of the Cometa School.

Submitted by Blanche Brown Wright
Note: This School was located in the area now used for the Rodeo Arena.