Joshua Wells Littig
Joshua Wells
Born in
Baltimore
Maryland
June 22, 1815
Died in
Corpus Christi, Tex.
June 8, 1870
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
Obituary
Note: The following article was found in the library of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History as a part of the Lege collection. Dates had been cut off though the clipping clearly shows the Corpus Christi Caller Times, page 8-B. The original paper, the Nueces Valley for June 11, 1870 has not been found to date.
Littig Prominent figure in Early History of Area Was Agent for Aubrey and Kinney in first Days of Development
A brief and intimate glimpse into the Corpus Christi of the early days immediately following the founding of Kinney’s Trading Post by Col. H. L. Kinney is given in a lengthy announcement of the death of J. W. Littig, one-time agent for Aubrey a & Kinney, which appeared in the issue the Nueces Valley, semi-weekly newspaper, for Saturday, June11, 1870. A reproduction of the paper is on file at the Corpus Christi La Retama Public Libraries. The death notice bears the signature of B. F. Neal, editor and publisher of the Nueces Valley, who was intimately acquainted with Littig.
The announcement, in part, reads as follows:
Died on Wednesday evening, June 8th, at his residence in this city, J. W. Littig, Esq., an old and respectable citizen of Western Texas. Mr. Littiig was one among the oldest residents of Corpus Christi, having settled here as early as the winter of 1839-40, then being engaged in business as clerk or agent for Messrs, Aubrey and Kinney, the proprietors of what was then known as Kinney’s Ranche.
Our first visit to Corpus Christ was the latter part of the spring of 1840, and we accompanied Mr. Littig from Refugio to this place. He and a Mr. Poltaire Brewster were on their return from Egypt on the Colorado River, and had in charge a mule train loaded with corn for the settlers of the Kinney Ranche.
Upon our arrival at Corpus Christi, we found the only house, a small Mexican jacal, erected in the hackberry motts opposite the residence of Mr. Lovenskiold, surrounded by a few tents and brush bowers. There was a lively trade going on with Mexican, and Aubrey & Kinney the principals. In ’41 and ’42 the country, being disturbed by Mexican
depredations on our frontier, Mr. Littig removed to Jackson County, where he resided for some years, but after a few years returned to this section of the state, where he has resided ever since, except a few years at Laredo, doing business for General Bee.
During the last fifteen or twenty years, he has made Corpus Christi and vicinity his permanent home. During this long residence in this part of Texas he as always retained the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, particularly those with whom he has associated and transacted business.
--- B. F, Neal
Research and Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission