TONQUA, TEXAS

Texas Ghost Town
DeWitt County, Central Texas South

SW of Hallettsville
near Lavaca county line
8 Miles SE of Yoakum
on Tonqua Creek
N of Cuero the county seat
Population: 0

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Tonqua Class of 1904-1905.
Photo courtesy Deborah Smith
Click on image for large photo

History on a Pinhead

The area was settled as early as 1846 when a man named Charles Bradley moved his family here. Growth was generally slow in this area for communities not fortunate enough to have a railroad, and it wasn’t until 1878 that a school was constructed. The school took the name of Tonqua for the friendly Tonkawa Indians. The school also served as the Baptist Church and community center. Proximity to Yoakum prevented growth and by 1944 the school was closed. By the early 1960s only the cemetery was left.

Tonqua Class of 1904-1905

Class of 1904-1905.
Photo courtesy Deborah Smith
Click on image for large photo
See Texas Schoolhouses | Texas Towns

Tonqua Students - Class of 1904-1905

1. Charlie Hollis, 2. Forest Wade, 3. Grover Harrell, 4. Everett Wade, 5. Grover Garrett, 6. Leonard Wade 7. Hugh Garrett, 8. ____ Singer, 9. Ollie Singer, 10. _____ Jurema, 11. _____ Simek, 12. Amy Singer, 13. blank 14. blank, 15. Doak Carroll, probably the teacher, 16. Dora Dickerson, 17. Winnie Garrett, 18. ____ Clark 19. blank, 20. Mary Hollis, 21. blank, 22. Mary Hollis, but name is lined out, as if it's a mistake 23. Viola Garrett, 24. blank, 25. blank, 26. Joe Simek, 27. blank, 28. Oscar Manning, 29. Joe Harrell 30. Aubrey Wade, 31. ______ Jurema, 32. ______ Jurema, 33. ______ Simek, 34. Rutler Wade Unidentified Dogs

"Four of my mother's uncles are included in the picture. I personally own the picture. I found it among my great grandmother's things. I contributed a copy of the photo to the Lavaca County genweb site, but the town was later determined to be in DeWitt County. In a google search, Tonqua Creek appears to be very near Terryville.

PS Please keep up the good work on Texas Escapes. It's one of my favorites." - Deborah Smith (Who also suggested Tonqua for inclusion), San Antonio, Texas

Dear TE,
I ran across a newspaper article recently:
"Weimar Mercury
October 10, 1903
County Line Cullings
H. L. Wade, who has disposed of his place here, has commenced moving to his new home near Terryville, DeWitt County."

This is my great grandfather and the article would seem to prove that the Tonqua School was near the Tonqua Creek, and very near Terryville, as we thought. - Deborah Smith, June 24, 2011

Tonqua, Texas Area Hotels:
Victoria Hotels | Gonzales Hotels

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Cuero and DeWitt County ›

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Tonqua, Texas Nearby Towns:
Cuero the county seat
Yoakum
Hallettsville
Gonzales
See DeWitt County | Central Texas South

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