The Southwell Company

Duane's take

Now, what I'm about to tell you comes straight off the official marker — this is Duane's telling of the record as the Texas Historical Commission set it down. Let me ask you something. You see those bronze historical markers out there along the highway — the ones that stop you in your tracks and make you pull over on a county road in the middle of nowhere?

Did you ever wonder who actually made those things? Well, pull up a little closer to the fire, because the answer has been hiding in plain sight in San Antonio for longer than most of us have been alive. It starts, as a lot of good Texas stories do, on a ranch.

Victoria County, to be specific. That's where George T. Southwell came into the world in 1870 — eldest son of Sarah Elizabeth Phelps Southwell and her husband John T.

Southwell, a man who'd made his way over from England to put down roots in Texas soil. George grew up and found his footing in commerce, running a wholesale feed business and livery over in Victoria and Yoakum. In 1896, he married Maggie Wilson, and the two of them set off to build something.

They moved to Matagorda County, where George worked as a rancher and a rice farmer. Then he opened a furniture and undertaking business in Bay City. The man had range, I'll give him that.

But 1912 brought another move — the family landed in San Antonio. And two years later, in 1914, George Southwell made the purchase that would change everything for generations to come. He bought the San Antonio Rubber Stamp Company.

Now here's where the story gets deep. That company hadn't started in 1914. It hadn't started when George bought it.

That business had been running on Commerce Street since 1866. Think about what was happening in 1866. And there it was — a little operation first producing stencils for wool and cotton shipments, then expanding into rubber stamps.

George Southwell stepped into something with roots, and he managed that company right up until his death in 1924. But the story doesn't end there. Not even close.

George's son, Wilson P. Southwell, Sr., took hold of that business and grew it from three employees to more than fifty. Under Wilson, the company established a foundry to cast metal signs and plaques, reaching clients across several states.

And in 1953, the name changed — officially, formally — to The Southwell Company. Now. Here is where I need you to really let this land.

The Southwell Company made bronze pieces for markers and monuments placed for the Texas Centennial in 1936. And since 1962, they have produced thousands of official markers issued by the Texas Historical Commission. Thousands.

Plus thousands more historical markers and dedication plaques for cities, counties, and more than two dozen states. Their products — stamps, plaques, signs, building seals, U.S. armed forces name tags — are found throughout the world. Four generations.

One family. A company founded a hundred and fifty years ago that has quietly, piece by piece, cast the memory of this state into bronze and planted it along every road you've ever traveled. So the next time you pull over to read one of those markers — and I hope you do — just know: there's a good chance the Southwells made it.

A family that started on a Victoria County ranch ended up telling Texas its own story, one plaque at a time.

What the marker says

George T. Southwell (1870-1924), born on a Victoria County ranch, was the eldest son of Sarah Elizabeth (Phelps) and English native John T. Southwell. George ran a wholesale feed business and livery in Victoria and Yoakum and married Maggie Wilson in 1896. The couple moved to Matagorda County, where George was a rancher and rice farmer. He later opened a furniture and undertaking business in Bay City. In 1912, the family moved to San Antonio. In 1914, George Southwell bought the San Antonio Rubber Stamp Company, which began on Commerce Street in 1866. The company first produced stencils for wool and cotton shipments and then expanded to rubber stamps. George managed the company until his death in 1924. His son, Wilson P. Southwell, Sr. helped the business grow from three employees to more than fifty, establishing a foundry to cast metal signs and plaques for clients in several states. In 1953, the name of the business changed to The Southwell Company. The Southwell Company’s products are found throughout the world and include stamps, plaques, signs, building seals and U.S. armed forces name tags. Among the companies most iconic works are their historical markers. They made bronze pieces for markers and monuments placed for the Texas Centennial in 1936, and since 1962 have produced thousands of official markers issued by the Texas Historical Commission. Additionally, The Southwell Company has produced thousands more historical markers and dedication plaques for cities, counties, and more than two dozen states. Founded 150 years ago and four generations in the same family, The Southwell Company continues its unique contribution to public history and the Texas landscape. (2016)