San Benito

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll give it to you straight with a little flavor on top. The town of San Benito, down in Cameron County, started the way a lot of Texas towns did: a railroad pushed through, and somebody with a vision was standing right behind it. That somebody was Colonel Sam Robertson, an engineer, and when the Gulf Coast Railroad reached this corner of the Rio Grande Valley in 1904, Robertson was ready.

The land itself wasn't new to human ambition. Mexico had colonized this area back around 1770, long before any railroad ever dreamed of coming this far south. But 1904 was a new chapter, and Robertson was writing it.

Now here's where the story gets a little colorful. The town didn't just walk out of the brush with the name San Benito. No sir.

First it was called Bessie, named for the child of a railroad official by the name of B.F. Yoakum. Then somebody decided Bessie wasn't grand enough, or maybe just wanted to tip a hat southward, and the name became Diaz, in honor of the Mexican president.

That's two names before the one that stuck. The present name honors a landowner named Benjamin Hicks. Three names to find the right one.

Not every town earns its title on the first try. By 1906 things were moving fast. A land and water company opened here.

A sugar company opened here. Robertson, the very man who'd helped plant this town in the first place, became its first Postmaster in 1907. That same year, a school opened its doors, with a Miss Kate Purvis standing at the front of the room as teacher.

From railroad line to schoolhouse in three years. That's a town with some hustle in its boots. Then came the moment that made it official.

On June 27, 1911, San Benito was incorporated as a city. J.M. Breen was named Mayor.

J. Scott Brown and J.H. Haines came in as Commissioners.

Colonel Robertson had laid the foundation, and now San Benito had a government to match its ambitions. Three names, one engineer, and a railroad that showed up in 1904. That's how a city gets itself born down in the Valley.

What the marker says

Founded by an engineer, Col. Sam Robertson, on Gulf Coast Railroad that in 1904 reached this area colonized by Mexico about 1770. First called "Bessie", for child of railroad official B.F. Yoakum, then "Diaz", to honor Mexican president; present name honors landowner Benjamin Hicks. Land and water company and sugar company opened here, 1906. Robertson was first Postmaster, 1907. School also opened in 1907, with Miss Kate Purvis, teacher. City was incorporated June 27, 1911: J.M. Breen, Mayor; J. Scott Brown, J.H. Haines, Commissioners.