DUANE
Duane's take
The marker's the authority here, and I'm just the one bringing it to life — so let me tell you what it says about the Huebner-Onion Homestead and Stagecoach Stop out in Bexar County. Now, 1858 is where this story really gets its boots on. That's the year Joseph Huebner — a man who'd made something of himself as a San Antonio businessman — bought up acreage surrounding what is now Huebner Creek and Huebner Road.
He and his family had arrived from Austria five years before that, and by 1858, they were putting down roots in a serious way. And Joseph did not waste time. He erected three limestone buildings on that land.
Limestone, mind you — not a man building for the short term. He began acquiring herds of horses, mules, and cattle. And then, because apparently all that wasn't enough to keep a fellow busy, he opened a stagecoach stop right there at the family homestead ranch, on the San Antonio to Bandera Stage Line Route.
Now here's where it gets interesting for the weary traveler. That stop offered blacksmith services, change of stock, and — if the creek ran high and you weren't fool enough to cross a flooded waterway — overnight accommodations. Huebner Creek had a vote in when you left.
The creek said stay, you stayed. Joseph Huebner died in 1882 and was buried right there on the homestead property. But the story didn't end with him.
His family carried on — operating the ranch, the watering hole, the livery service — well into the early twentieth century. A legacy running on limestone and stubbornness. Then comes 1930, and two new names enter the deed.
Judge John F. Onion and his wife Harriet acquired a section of the Huebner property that included the homestead site itself. John — who died in 1955 — worked as a lawyer and went on to serve as a San Antonio municipal judge, then Bexar County Justice of the Peace, and then Bexar County District Judge.
He started what the marker calls a family legal tradition. Harriet, who died in 1983, was a schoolteacher in Leon Valley. By the time metropolitan growth came rolling in, this homestead was in genuine danger of disappearing — swallowed up like so many places that didn't have anybody fighting for them.
But it did have somebody. The historical society of Leon Valley led a grassroots effort, corporate donations came in, land was purchased, and this place was saved. Today it serves as a natural area and educational site.
Two families, one stagecoach stop, three limestone buildings, and a flooded creek that once decided whether you were going home tonight — all of it still standing, more or less, because enough people decided it ought to.
What the marker says
This site was home to two important area families, as well as a stagecoach stop in the 1800s. Development here began in 1858 when Joseph Huebner and his family, who arrived from Austria five years earlier, bought acreage surrounding what is now Huebner Creek and Huebner Road. A successful San Antonio businessman, he soon erected three limestone buildings here and began to acquire herds of horses, mules and cattle. He also opened a stagecoach stop at the family's homestead ranch on the San Antonio to Bandera Stage Line Route. The stop included blacksmith services, change of stock and overnight accommodations if travelers were unable to pass over the flooded creek. Joseph Huebner died in 1882 and was buried on the homestead property. After Huebner's death, and well into the early 20th century, the family continued to operate the ranch, watering hole and livery service on this land. In 1930, Judge John F. Onion and his wife Harriet acquired a section of the Huebner property that included the homestead site. John (d. 1955) began a family legal tradition, working as a lawyer and later serving as a San Antonio municipal judge, Bexar County Justice of the Peace and Bexar County District Judge. Harriet (d. 1983) was a schoolteacher in Leon Valley. Due to metropolitan growth, the homestead was in danger of disappearing, but grassroots efforts led by the historical society of Leon Valley, along with corporate donations and the purchase of land, helped save this historic property. Today, it serves as a natural area and educational site.