BLOCK 2, 1846 - 1850
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas X 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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Dr. Marshall Breazeale Bennett Drug Store Stand (Block 2 Lot 1)
In May 1846, Dr. Marshall B. Bennett, volunteered in Ben McCullough’s Company and served as an assistant surgeon. Upon his return from the Mexican War, he located in Hallettsville on the NW corner of Block 2, where he set up his office and dispensed medicines. Collatinus did not give Bennett a deed to the property until 1851.
Dr. Marshall Breazeale Bennett
Tax Assessor Collector 1848 – 1852
1850 Census Doctor
For more information about Dr. Marshall Breazeale Bennett please read “From Our Pioneer Memories” Lavaca County Tribune Herald Nov. 19, 1974, below.
References:
*Free State of Lavaca p. 161-162
*Memorial and Genealogical Records of Southwest Texas p. 155 – 156
Block 2, 1846 - 1850, continued
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas X 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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A.W. Hicks Hotel & Tavern (Block 2 Lot 2)
Aretus William Hicks and his wife, Fredonia, arrived in town in 1846 after a short stay in Houston. Collatinus Ballard staked Hicks to a location for a hotel and tavern on the west side of the town square, diagonally across from Ballard’s log store and adjacent to M. B. Bennett’s office. It was not until five years later, after the hotel was constructed and had established itself, that Ballard gave Hicks a deed to the property.
A.W. Hicks
1846 Tax Roll
1848 Lavaca County Coroner
1850 Census Innkeeper
For more information about A.W. and Fredonia Hicks please read
“Hallettsville’s Name Linked in Romance in Tennessee” San Antonio Express Oct. 13, 1938. See file above.
Reference:
*Free State of Lavaca p. 162
BLOCK 2, 1851 - JUNE 1852
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas X 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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Dr. Marshall Breazeale Bennett Drug Store Stand (Block 2 Lot 1)
In May 1846, Dr. Marshall B. Bennett, volunteered in Ben McCullough’s Company and served as an assistant surgeon. Upon his return from the Mexican War, he located in Hallettsville on the NW corner of Block 2, where he set up his office and dispensed medicines.
While Bennett was already in business before 1850, Collantinus Ballard did not sell the lot to Bennett until December 9, 1851.
Dr. Bennett moved his practice of general medicine from his drug store stand on Lot 1 Block 2 to the first floor of the Masonic Hall located on Block 1 Lot 8.
References:
*Free State of Lavaca p. 161 - 163
*Lavaca County Deed B/45
*Headwaters of the Lavaca and Navidad p. 147
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A.W. Hicks Hotel & Tavern (Block 2 Lot 2-8)
On May 7, 1852, Collatinus Ballard deeded to A.W. Hicks Block 2 between Second and Third Streets and Front and Main Streets containing 8 town lots measuring 20 X 40 varas each except Lot 1 of said block which had previously been sold to Dr. M.B. Bennett. The deed stated that the block was the one on which Hicks lived and occupied with a house and garden.
References:
*On the Headwaters of the Lavaca and the Navidad p.17
*Lavaca County Deed B/443
BLOCK 2, JUNE 21 - DECEMBER, 1852
TO JUNE 21, 1852 - DECEMBER, 1852 MAP
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas X 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
Dr. Marshall B. Bennett (Block 2 Lot 1)
A.W. Hicks (Block 2 Lot 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8)
References:
*The Texian Advocate Sept. 4, 1852
*The Texian Advocate Sept. 18, 1852
BLOCK 2, 1853
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas X 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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Dr. M.B. Bennett (Block 2 Lot 1)
1853 September 1: Dr. M.B. Bennett sold Lot 1 in Block 2 together with all the appurtenances to Wilson Brooks
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed B/394
1853 October 25: That I Wilson Brooks have purchased of M.B. Bennett the house and lot of his and for which I have taken the Bond of the said Bennett for title, said house and lot in …known as the old drug store stand of Bennett & Sanford. Now for value received of the said Bennett, I have this day and do by these presents, release for myself, my heirs and all other persons the said house and lot and appurtenances belonging to the said Bennett his heirs and assigns forever and release all the right unto said Bond which is of Record in the Clerk’s office of Lavaca County.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed B/442
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A.W. Hicks (Block 2 Lot 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
BLOCK 2, 1854
TO 1854 MAP
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas X 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out._____________________________________________________
Thomas H. Hawks (Block 2 Lot 1)
Please see the Hawks Story, below
A.W. Hicks (Block 2 Lot 2 – 7)
C.C. & W.C. Dibrell (Block 2 Lot 8)
1854 May 18: A.W. Hicks to C.C. & W.C. Dibrell Lot 8 in Block 2 it being the lot on the SW corner of said block on which block said Hicks Tavern and other improvements are situated and lot fronting 20 varas on the public square and running back westward 40 varas.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed C/113
1854 October 4: Collatinus & Mary Jane Ballard to C.C. & W.C. Dibrell Lot 8 in Block 2 in the town of Hallettsville being the block on which A.W. Hicks tavern is located and being the same lot conveyed by A.W. Hicks and wife Fredonia A. to Dibrells fronting 20 varas on the public square and running back westward 40 varas.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed C/253
Crocket and William C. Dibrell, brothers formerly of Tennessee, located in the town of Hallettsville in 1854 on the SW corner of Block 2 fronting 20 varas on the square and established a mercantile firm of considerable size and reputation. The firm was one of the few to survive after the Civil War. In December 1865, Joshua E. Martin joined the firm. In March 1867, the Dibrell’s sold their interest in the store and livery stable, located on the S side of Block 7.
Reference:
*Free State of Lavaca p. 163-4
Block 2, 1855
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas by 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
Thomas H. Hawks (Block 2 Lot 1) For more on Thomas H. Hawks, please see PDF "Thomas H. Hawks", below.
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A.W. Hicks (Block 2 Lot 2) For more on A.W. Hicks, please see PDF "Who Really Owns the Hotel", below.
A.W. Hicks (Block 2 Lot 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7) For more on A.W. Hicks, please see PDF "Who Really Owns the Hotel", below.
C.C. & W.C. Dibrell West ½ & Dr. William A. East East ½ Block 2 Lot 8
1855: Part of Dibrell lot sold to Dr. William A. East who constructed a small building for an office and drug store. Dr. East was another of Ballard’s protégés; in 1855, at the time East purchased the Dibrell lot, Ballard deeded him conditionally a tract on the N line of the Hallett League in consideration of improvements to be placed thereon; a fence and a substantial log cabin. East was to have the land rent-free for five years and then buy it at five dollars per acre. Dr. East later formed a trade agreement with Joseph J. Ballard, a druggist, and the two operated a drug store on the west side of the square. On Ballard’s death, the firm was reorganized with Thomas E. Mason as a druggist.
Reference:
*Free State of Lavaca p. 164
1855 December 5: C.C. & W.C. Dibrell to William A. East east ½ of lot adjacent to storehouse now occupied by us and fronting on public square 12/5/55.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed D/10
Block 2, 1856
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas by 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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Thomas H. Hawks (Block 2 Lot 1)
Daniel C. & Mary Bellows (Block 2 Lot 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7)
Please see "Who Really Owns the Hotel", below
C.C. & W.C. Dibrell W ½ & Dr. William A. East E ½ Block 2 Lot 8
Block 2, 1857
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas by 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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Collatinus Ballard & John W. Kelly (Block 2 Lot 1 – 7)
1857 June 18: John W. Kelly, trustee of D.C. Bellows and wife along with A.W. Hicks, appointed by the parties on September 12, 1856, sold at auction Lot 2 – 7 Block 2 on which stood the tavern house and appurtenances formerly known as the Hicks Hotel and now the Mansion House along with Lot 1 – 8 Block 13 on which Hicks built the stables belonging to said hotel for cash to A.W. Hicks thru his agent, Collatinus Ballard. The property was purchased for $50.00 by Hicks plus a credit of $1,036.00 which was Bellows indebtedness to Hicks.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed E/239
1857 July: A.W. Hicks to Collatinus Ballard and John W. Kelly Lot 2 – 7 Block 2 and Lot 1 – 8 Block 13, tavern stand of Hicks fronting on Main, Second & Third Streets and Block 13 known as the stable stand belonging to said tavern except small fraction of lots on W side of the drain nearby sold to Rogers & Walker.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed E/235
1857 November 3: Sheriff sale Lot 1 Block 2 by Sheriff Ed. Davis to Collatinus Ballard and John W. Kelly to satisfy judgement rendered September 1857 against Thomas H. Hawks in favor of John Oldham & W.C. Hollard, executors of Robert Kelly decd. Lavaca County Civil case #525
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed E/353-4
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Charles C. & William C. Dibrell (Block 2 Lot 8)
1857 July 28: William A. East to Charles C. & William C. Dibrell part of Lot 8 Block 2 adjoining the storehouse now occupied by Dibrells and fronting the public square.
Reference:
*Lavaca County Deed E/264
Block 2, 1858
Block 2 is located west of the Courthouse square and is bordered by Second St. on the north, Third St. on the south, Main St. on the east and Front St. on the west. The block is comprised of eight lots each lot being 80 varas by 80 varas. What is a Vara? Click here to find out.
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Collatinus Ballard & John W. Kelly (Block 2 Lot 1 – 7)
Charles C. & William C. Dibrell (Block 2 Lot 8)