By Holzheauser H.R. No. 553 74R9662 KMP-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On April 8, 1995, the Goliad County Historical 1-2 Commission will join with the residents of Goliad County in 1-3 celebrating the dedication of an official Texas historical marker, 1-4 which will be placed at the site of the former community of 1-5 Dobskyville, a small South Texas town that flourished during the 1-6 first part of this century; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Located 20 miles north of the city of Goliad, this 1-8 enchanting area was first settled by the family of Fredrick and 1-9 Auguste Wilhelmine Dobsky, a couple who left their native Prussia 1-10 in 1846 to pursue a more promising future in the Lone Star State; 1-11 the family purchased an 800-acre tract of land in Goliad County one 1-12 year after their arrival in Texas, and it was on this land that 1-13 they began to build a successful life for themselves and for others 1-14 like them who pursued the dreams of independence and prosperity; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, Following the deaths of Auguste Dobsky in 1869 and 1-17 Fredrick Dobsky in 1873, the property passed to their son and 1-18 daughter-in-law, Adolph and Rosalia Dobsky, who built a profitable 1-19 ranching and farming operation on the land that was later inherited 1-20 by their six children, Emilie, Louisa, Emil, Matilda, Henry, and 1-21 Karoline; and 1-22 WHEREAS, In 1905, the youngest son of the family, Henry, 1-23 opened a general store on his share of the land, a move that marked 1-24 the beginning of a boom period in the area; his wife Wilhelmina and 2-1 daughter Rosa both worked in the store, which also served as the 2-2 post office for a small but steadily growing community of farmers 2-3 and ranchers that surrounded their new business; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In addition to serving as the community's social 2-5 center and post office, the Dobsky general store also served as a 2-6 headquarters for communication, and until 1917 was the site of the 2-7 only telephone in the entire area; a number of other businesses 2-8 soon sprang up around the marketplace, including a corn mill, a 2-9 blacksmith shop, a saloon, a dance pavilion, and a gravity-based 2-10 gasoline pump that served the newfangled automobiles appearing on 2-11 roads throughout Goliad County; and 2-12 WHEREAS, This charming little community grew rapidly, adding 2-13 a one-room schoolhouse in 1906 that was later expanded to two rooms 2-14 to serve the increasing number of children in the area; many of the 2-15 educators who taught there resided with the Dobsky family, who were 2-16 greatly admired for the role they played in shaping the destiny of 2-17 a town that won widespread recognition as an ideal place in which 2-18 to live, work, and raise a family; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Henry Dobsky served as the mayor, marshal, city 2-20 attorney, and general merchant of the town, and under his able 2-21 guidance this fine community continued to flourish, offering 2-22 resident families the social and economic support they needed to 2-23 find success in their agricultural, commercial, and personal 2-24 endeavors; Dobskyville was a place in which families extended both 2-25 assistance and friendship to their neighbors, and all residents 2-26 cooperated in harvesting, canning, and barn-raising; and 2-27 WHEREAS, This spirit of generosity and cooperation continued 3-1 for many decades, and it was only with the Great Depression and a 3-2 devastating storm in 1942 that this captivating rural community 3-3 began to lose its children to the fast-paced, technology-driven big 3-4 cities; despite this decline in population, the community's 3-5 founder, Henry Dobsky, continued to lead the townspeople with honor 3-6 and distinction until his death in 1957; and 3-7 WHEREAS, Although Dobskyville has today faded into Texas 3-8 history, with only the original road and schoolhouse remaining, its 3-9 memory still lives on in the hearts and minds of many residents of 3-10 Goliad County, and its legacy lives on for the many citizens 3-11 throughout the State of Texas who can count their parents, 3-12 grandparents, and great-grandparents among those who helped to 3-13 create this uniquely vibrant community; and 3-14 WHEREAS, The Texas Historical Commission has chosen to mark 3-15 the site of Dobskyville with an official historical marker, and it 3-16 is indeed fitting at this time that the Texas House of 3-17 Representatives pay tribute to the rich heritage of this truly 3-18 remarkable place; now, therefore, be it 3-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-20 Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the official Texas 3-21 historical marker in Dobskyville and extend warmest best wishes to 3-22 the citizens of Goliad County as they celebrate this important 3-23 event; and, be it further 3-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-25 prepared for prominent display at the Goliad County Historical 3-26 Commission as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House of 3-27 Representatives.