DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, some men leave a mark on a place. Charles Schreiner left a mark on about six hundred thousand acres of it.
Born in France in 1838, he made his way to the United States in 1852 with his parents, and Texas, it seems, had plans for him the moment he arrived. By 1854 he was riding with the Texas Rangers, and he served with distinction until 1857. Then came the Civil War, and Schreiner fought on the Confederate side.
When it was over, a lesser man might have sat down for a while. Schreiner opened a general store in Kerrville in 1869. That right there is your first clue about the kind of fellow we're talking about.
He didn't stop at groceries and dry goods, no sir. Banking came next. Then ranching.
Then the marketing of wool and mohair, and he started one of the first wool and mohair warehouses in the entire state of Texas. By 1900, the man owned six hundred thousand acres of land. Six hundred thousand.
Let that settle in while the campfire crackles. And that general store he opened back in 1869, by 1945 it had grown into one of the most progressive country stores in the whole Southwest. Along the way, Schreiner found time to give something back.
Among his many philanthropic activities was the founding of Schreiner Institute, which would become Schreiner College. Charles Schreiner was born in 1838 and lived until 1927. He came from France, built an empire on Texas soil, and left behind a school, a legacy, and enough land to get genuinely lost on.
Not bad for a man who started with a general store.
What the marker says
(1838 - 1927) Enterprising businessman. Born in France. Moved (1852) to U.S. with parents. Served with distinction in Texas Rangers, 1854-1857. Fought with Confederacy in Civil War. In 1869 began general store in Kerrville. Activities expanded to include banking, ranching, and marketing wool and mohair. He also started one of first wool and mohair warehouses in Texas. By 1900 he owned 600,000 acres of land, and by 1945 his country store was one of most progressive in the southwest. Among his many philanthropic activities was the founding of Schreiner Institute (College). (1970)