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WARRENTON,
TEXAS
Fayette County,
Central Texas S
FM 1291 and FM 237
9 miles N of La Grange
29 mile NW of Columbus
20 miles SE of Giddings
26 miles SW of Brenham
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The
Wilhelm Neese House in Warrenton
TE Photo |
History
in a Pecan Shell
William Neese was a German who came to Galveston in 1847.
He moved into the area and bought the property in 1854. He
ran stores, built a cotton gin and became the first postmaster. The
town was nearly called Neeseville. Warren Ligon was Neese's
neighbor and when the time came to officially name the town, each
wanted it named after the other. Thankfully they decided in Ligon's
favor and then defied convention by using his first name, otherwise
we'd be writing about Ligonburg.
The Neese Home, (131 years after it was built) remains Warrenton's
finest. As beautiful as it is, it has a tragic story. Neese built
it for his family who watched the construction from their rather primitive
cabin. Just a few years after its completion, William Neese was killed
by a burgler in his store. Neese is buried in the Drawe Cemetery
near Warrenton.
Just ten years before Neese's arrival, the land's original owner
John Robison had been killed by Indians about one mile from where
the house sits today. John Robison's son Joel, captured General/
President Santa Anna at San Jacinto and later became good
friends with Neese.
By the power vested in him…. ( Although
it has little to do with Warrenton, we include the story of Santa
Anna's Vest here since it became a well-used artifact throughout
the region. ) Some time after the battle and several miles away from
San Jacinto, Santa Anna was caught. He first denied
being an officer, but when he was brought into camp, the other Mexican
soldiers saluted him as Senor Presidente, which sort of blew his cover.
It may not have happened - but it's a great story.
Joel allowed Santa Anna (who was captured on foot), to ride
behind him for the several miles it took to bring him to Sam Houston
(where everyone posed for that famous painting). In return for this
kindness, Santa Anna gave Joel his red and gold Generalisimo's
Vest.
For years, up until it disappeared, the vest was worn by many local
bridegrooms and dignitaries for weddings and special occasions. It
must've made for an interesting "show and tell" at the Warrenton school.
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A
ruin in front of the Wilhelm Neese House
TE Photo |
Warrenton
Antiquing
Warrenton has
become a Mecca for antique hunters in the Spring and Fall (last
weekends in March and September, and first weekends in April and October).
While other "Antique Capital" towns around Texas have become something
of eyesores, Warrenton has managed to stay neat and has even improved,
despite the amount of traffic it receives. |
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Brenham
Hotels
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Hotels
Warrenton,
Texas Forum
Anyone
wishing to share history or photos of Warrenton, please contact
us.
© John
Troesser
Sources: Fayette County: Past and Pesent, 1976, Majorie L. Williams,
Editor; & Hill Country by Richard Zelade,Gulf Publishing, 1999.
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