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DELHI,
TEXASCaldwell
County, Central Texas S
Hyw 304
18 miles E of Lockhart
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Delhi
Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006 |
Delhi, Texas,
(pronounced DELL HIGH), is situated in one of the more thinly populated parts
of Caldwell County. Eighteen miles east of Lockhart, if you can find where FM
713 intersects with Highway 304, head south on 304 and you'll soon pass a cemetery,
church and a simple building identified as the Delhi Community Center.
The
well-tended cemetery is on the left side of the road. Enclosed by a tidy, but
far-from-quaint cyclone fence, the cemetery's identity is confirmed by the overhead
arch saying DEHLI - 1881. Tiny Confederate and American flags, their number disproportionately
large to the number of graves in general, snap in the near-constant breeze.
A granite marker stands just outside the cemetery gate seemingly too elaborate
for a community that no longer appears on state maps. The explanation is in the
number of inscribed names. |
A
closed gas station in Delhi
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006 |
According to the Handbook
of Texas, the population of tiny (never-had-a-railroad) Delhi never exceeded 200
persons. Nevertheless, from the Civil War to Vietnam, the town supplied 32 soldiers
to various wars, "police actions" and conflicts.
The first thing that catches
the visitor's eye is the duplication of surnames.
Like most Delhi men,
Alford J. Fogle served in the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Fogle family
didn't participate in WWI, but they made up for it in WWII when Julius, Marvin,
and Willey Fogle served.
The Cox family had John G. in the Civil War, Jessie
G. in WW I and Joe H. in WW II.
Bartlett S. Reid was in the Civil War and
a descendent also named Bartlett S. served in WW II.
Glenn B. Reid served
in WWII and years later Carroll A. Reid was Delhi's solitary Vietnam casualty.
Although Spanish-American troop trains to Florida passed as nearby as
Luling, Delhi didn't have a participant in the all volunteer Spanish-American
War.
But, by the time the U. S. became involved in WWI - Delhi was again
ready.
Two Neeleys, Penn E. and Clarence J. served in The Great War and
then Lloyd C. Neeley served in WW II. Tyre Pendleton was in WWI while descendent
George M. Pendleton died in the Korean War.
Horace and Vernon were either
brothers or a father and son that served in WW II.
From
Texas War Casualties |
| | Delhi
historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006 |
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| Photo
courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006 |
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