Kerr County Stories by Lanza Teague

  Ingram isn’t quite as old as some historians would have you believe How one mistake can shape a legacy Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on February 9, 2025 Ingram Street Scene, taken sometime between 1885-1900 One of the things that drives historians and genealogists crazy is when a mistake is made in a document, and the error becomes gospel or part of the official narrative. My great uncle Ed is listed in several genealogical publications and websites as having the middle name of “Tishomingo.” Unfortunately, the author of a book, considered to be the ultimate source of information on that family line, mixed up Ed’s name with the place where he was living at the time — Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The book was published in 1941, and for the past 83 years, that mistake has been repeated as fact in subsequent publications and online resources. I roll my eyes every time I come across that error. Such is the case with John Charles Wesley (J.C.W.) Ingram, the founder of Ingram, Texas. ...

  How much havoc would a woodchuck wreak if a woodchuck were set loose? Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on January 31, 2025 An aerial photo of Kerrville shows the location where the groundhog was trapped. During the summer of 1935, a strange creature was vandalizing property and causing destruction in downtown Kerrville.  In late June of that year, Kerrville residents, mostly in the 800 block of Jefferson Street, started to complain about a mysterious animal that was uprooting gardens, destroying lawns and digging large holes under the foundations of buildings. The creature, covered in thick fur and sporting a bushy tail, was about the size of a raccoon but looked nothing like any of the native wildlife in Kerr County. Sightings of this exotic, elusive animal took place mostly during the early morning and evening hours.  Not only was it a prolific digger and stealing produce from gardens, it was also observed to have the ability to climb shrubs and trees. On Aug. 8...

Tennessee transplants find new home,  love in Kerrville Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on January 24, 2025 Gregory House Hotel stood at the corner of Water and Sidney Baker Street.  It is now known as the Pampell's Building. This week, I am going to tell you a love story. It’s the tale of two Tennessee transplants who came to Kerrville in the late 1800s. Many recognizable names in our local history came to Kerr County from Tennessee, among them were Florence Butt, Starr Bryden, the Starkey Family and the Doyle family. However, today’s column involves two people you may have never heard of before, but they are responsible for the existence of one of our iconic downtown buildings.  The story of William Vandyke Gregory and Julia Kernodle is a story I stumbled on while working on a genealogical mystery several years ago. I am not related to either William or Julia, but we do share relatives in common. Some genealogists or history nerds will tell you that the...

  A shooting at the saloon Published in the Kerrville Daily Times January 17, 2025 An Early Image of the Weston Saloon Photo Courtesy of Joe Herring, Jr. A wealthy ranchman and a saloon owner walk into a bar… only one of them comes out alive. Last week I promised you a story about men behaving badly and the truth behind a local legend. You may think that a story about a murder in downtown Kerrville is an odd destination for my first trip into Kerrville’s past, but I have my reasons for taking you here. Kerrville was a rough-and-tumble frontier town in the late 1800s, and this story paints a vivid picture of what Kerrville, and a lot of the Texas Hill Country, was like over 130 years ago. This is also a story I’ve told many times during my walking tours downtown and have researched the event in depth. In prepping for writing this column, I uncovered new information relating to this story, when I thought I knew everything there was to know. The setting for this story takes place in B...

Shared history:  New columnist will offer look into area’s past Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on January 10, 2025 The Council and Steagall Families, circa 1895. My Kerrville Ancestors I love a good story and could listen to a gifted storyteller for hours. I also love to tell a good story, especially if it inspires laughter or the desire to know more. Recently, I was asked to tell the history of Kerrville and the surrounding area in this paper, and I am excited to have this opportunity. Another historian has been occupying this space for many years, and I am neither taking his job nor treading on his turf. Joe Herring Jr. is a good friend of mine, and I am writing this column with his full blessing and encouragement. I am honored that both he and Wanda Garner Cash, who recommended me for the job, think I am the right person to continue the local history column for the readers of The Kerrville Daily Times. Before I tell you my first tale, I’d like to use today’s column to te...