First Producing Oil Well

A sewer line was connected between the public school and the county sewer line at the southwest corner of Courthouse Square. On March 26th-27th, Gonzales County held an interscholastic meet for sports and academics. On April 1st, Stahl Brothers shipped out about 2,000 cases of eggs, breaking a record. That same day, Gonzales’ first producing oil well was discovered two miles west of Slayden. The Daylight savings time bill was also repealed on April 1 by Congress, going into effect that year.  On April 22, Boothe shipped two car loads of hogs bought from Skinner Brothers over the Southern Pacific Railroad to Galveston for export. Dave and Jake Stahl went into the produce business, and the Ladies Park Association formed to give Gonzales a small park. Jim Andrews, also known as Jim Barber, was hanged for murdering his wife on the jail gallows on October 7. The city granted a fifty-year franchise to Citizens Electric Light and Power Company, and several houses were completed or built, including the J.D. Houston House at 619 St. Lawrence Street, the J.C. Bright House at 808 St. Vincent Street, the J.P. Randle House at 624 St. Louis Street, and the W.H. Boothe House at 722 St. Francis Street. The Spanish-American War began on April 21, and many young Gonzales men served. In June of that year, three students graduated from Gonzales High School.