DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells this story, and I'm passing it along to you the best way I know how. Now, if you want to talk about somebody who kept busy — and I mean kept busy in a way that makes the rest of us feel like we've been napping our whole lives — let me tell you about Captain A.C. Jones.
He came into this world in Nacogdoches County, son of very early settlers, people who were out here before most folks had even heard the word Texas in polite conversation. And from that beginning, he built himself into something the marker calls one of the builders of the Southwest. That's not a small thing to be called.
He started as a cattleman — which, in that era and in that country, meant you were already living a story worth telling. Then he stepped up to serve as sheriff of Goliad County, 1858 to 1860. The kind of work that required a steady hand and a steady nerve in equal measure.
Then came the Civil War. Jones rode into it with the cavalry of Colonel John S. Ford — known to history and to legend alike as Rip Ford.
Four years he served. Four years. And here's the part that stops you cold: he fought at Palmito Hill.
That was the last battle of the entire Civil War. And it was fought thirty-four days after General Robert E. Lee had already surrendered.
Thirty-four days after. Think about that the next time you think news travels fast. But Captain Jones wasn't done building.
Not even close. Come 1886, he raised seventy-five thousand dollars — you heard that right — to build the SA and AP Railroad from San Antonio down to Beeville. Then he turned around and helped get the GH and SA line extended from Victoria all the way here in 1890.
He wasn't just moving cattle anymore. He was moving the whole region forward. And when he wasn't laying track, he was serving as county treasurer, working as a banker, and running the Beeville Oil Mill as its president and general manager.
One life. One man. Nacogdoches to Palmito Hill to Beeville.
The last battle of a war, and the first railroad into this county. Some people leave a mark on a place. Captain A.C.
Jones left several.
What the marker says
One of builders of Southwest. Born in Nacogdoches County, son of very early settlers. Became a cattleman; served as sheriff of Goliad County in 1858-1860. In Civil War cavalry of Col. John S. "Rip" Ford for 4 years. Fought at Palmito Hill, war's last battle, 34 days after the surrender of Gen. Robt E. Lee. In 1886, raised $75,000 to build SA and AP railroad from San Antonio to Beeville. Aided in getting GH and SA to extend line form Victoria here in 1890. Was county treasurer, banker and the president and general manager of Beeville Oil Mill. (1965)