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Did You Know?By Connie McFall ClarkO ne of the earliest settlements in Comal County was the Wesson settlement, established in 1893 and existed until 1907. It was situated on the south side of the Guadalupe River and FM 311. Early on Wesson was known as the Henderson Crossing, named for Hensley G. Henderson who owned land there in 1850. The family left the area prior to 1860. It was later known as Esser’s Crossing of the Guadalupe River, for Charles Esser, whose homestead was along the trail. It was one of the few rest stops between New Braunfelsand Blanco.Charles (Carl) Esser, Sr. was a founderof Wesson, moving there in 1854. He went to work for Benjamin F. Smithson, herding cattle. Four years later he bought 207 acresCommunity Insightin Spring Branch. Esser also taught school and was one of the men instrumental in getting the post office established.Sebastian and Christina (Gantner) Beierle were pioneers of Wesson. A post office operated there until it was abolished in 1907. It served Smithson Valley. Charles Beierle was the postmaster from August 2, 1893 until December 14, 1907, managing the post office in his home.Other founders included Karl Friedrich (Fritz) Bartels, who in 1860 purchased 100 acres, and Johann Friedrich Kuebel, who came from New York City in 1852. The Albert Friedich Elbel family moved from the Old Gottlieb Elbel homestead to the Wesson settlement. The son Alex Elbel reported the place had over 1,217 acres of good farmingBeierle Cemetery.and grazing land.The students of Wesson went to schoolthree miles away at the Guadalupe Valley School via horseback. It was located on Rebecca Creek Road about one mile east of the river crossing. In 1944 this school was consolidated with other one-room schools with Sherwood High School District.Once the school and post office closed, Wesson became a ghostcommunity.Connie McFall Clarkspotlights historical and human interest stories from the area. www.conniecanwrite.comPreserving Spring Branch: OA Community TraditionPet Blessings Bringing Community TogetherBy Lou Duggann Nov. 19th, 2015, the area founded in 1852 as Spring Branch was officially incorporated as acity by a majority vote of residents. Since that time James Mayer has served as the community’s first and only Mayor. He is the great, great grandson of Hans Heinrich Dietrich Knibbe, the original founder of Spring Branch.The movement to incorporate Spring Branch was initiated over concerns that the area could be annexed into the growing city of Bulverde. Citing local control and preserving the character of the community, a majority of Spring Branch residents supported incorporation.“We are passionate about Spring Branch,” Mayer says, “and share a sincere desire to preserve our quality of life to the extent possible. Many of our residents and property owners dislike the high-density development taking place in the area. We have limited authority to restrict or prohibit this kind of growth. It is taxing our resources and changing the land. I am also very concerned about the future of water in our area.”“In keeping our promise to those who voted for incorporation, our city government has stayed small and frugal. We have no assets and no employees. We have steadily lowered our tax rate from 12 cents per hundred dollars of valuation to what I think will become 7.8 cents per hundred this year.”“Our goal has always been to try to protect the community from annexation and to keep governance as simple as we can. It’s all about preserving Spring Branch for the next and future generations. A good chunk of the community is staying similar and not changing.”Mayer is now into his 4th term and has always run for re-election unopposed. “I became Mayor because no one else wanted to do it. My biggest joy about being the Mayor is having the opportunity to let folks know what’s going on in their community. My biggest regret is that we didn’t start protecting our town earlier. My biggest challenge has been getting people to participate in their government. We can serve them better when we get their involvement.”Unlike many in elective office, Mayer does not put the focus on himself. He is quick to praise the work and commitment made by the community and its leadership. “I want to thank Commissioners Brad Hockman, David Dobbins, and City Clerk Terrie Barnes for their service,” he often says. “These positions are not paid and are often thankless.” Plus, he is particularly proud of citizen efforts on “Dark Skies” and the way the ordinance works to diminish the effects of light creep from development.For future community updates Mayer has chosen to continue his Highlights column on a bi-monthly basis. Watch for it.By Beth WyndhamE very October, churches all over the world celebrate the Feast of St. Francis. St. Francis was known for his love of animals and his care for creation. Legend has it that St. Francis preached to animals and tamed a wild wolf all for the sake of love. It is, of course, only right to celebrate our animals in honor of St. Francis and give thanks for the unconditional lovethey have for us.This year, I gave special thanks for thecelebration we had together. Only one week after the attacks in Israel, it was a balm to watch people of all ages gather and laugh. I was reminded of gentleness as children used an English Mastiff as a giant canvas. I was reminded of love while strangers laughed and talked together about their pets. I was reminded of joy as Princess Peach the guinea pig was blessed. And I was reminded of hope as an infant sat near a Great Dane and took in all the sights of loving animals and all the sounds of a community of new friends laughingtogether.I was, above all else, reminded that it isgood to give thanks for the blessing of love. Thank goodness for the love of our animals. Thank goodness for the love of our world. Thank goodness for the love of one another.4www.bsbhighlights.comNovember 2023