Tax Records

Tax Records on Theodore Heermann property

Dawson  Survey – 738 acres

1856-1918

 

From 1856 through 1859 Bexar County tax records listed A. L. and T. Heermann owning the following rural properties:

 

Rufino Rodriguez Survey #49 Abstract # 857 – 876 acres

  1. Snyder Survey # 266 Abstract # 928 – 738 acres
  2. M. Dawson Survey # 54 (50?) Abstract 205 – 738 acres

 

In 1860 they added 339 acres from the L. G. Arriola grant abstract number 2. The county elected to assess the tax on the total number of properties.

 

From 1856 through 1867 the value of the Dawson property remained at $2000. From 1860 through 1866 the only animals listed for the four properties were two horses valued at $75.00. The 1867 tax record listed the addition of a number of town lots.

 

In 1868 the value was reduced to $1476. For the four holdings there were 200 horses with a value of $3,000.00. In 1869 and 1870 the value remained the same while the value of the horses was reduced to $2,000.00.

 

In 1871 the Dawson acreage had a value of $1607, and on all four holdings there was a total of 250 horses valued at $2,500.00. In 1872 the property value increased to $1,700 with 200 horses @ $2,000. In 1873 the value was lowered to $1,400 with a listing of 150 horses on all ranches valued @ $1,800.00.

 

In 1874 value was $1,406 with four ranches reporting 150 horses @ $1,200. In 1875 and 1876 the value was $1,400 with no horses reported. In 1877 the value increased to $1,440. (I neglected to photocopy the page listing horses). The 1878 value stayed the same with the addition of a carriage @ $25.00 (I neglected to photocopy one of the pages).

 

In 1879 Theodore Heermann was no longer the owner of the Arriola property but listed 339 acres from the Fernando Ruiz Abstract 619 Survey 121. This year the Dawson Survey had a value of $1,107 with 100 horses @ $500.00 on all four ranches.

 

In 1880 through 1882 the value remained unchanged. However, there was some fluctuation in the number and value of horses on the four properties during this time period. (1880-100 horses @ $500; 1881 – 80 horses @ $400; 1882 – 50 horses @ $250).

 

In 1883 and 1884 the value of the Dawson property increased to $2,700 with 50 horses @ $750.00 on the four ranches. In 1885 the value increased to $3,000. The horse numbers and their value remained unchanged.

 

In 1886 the value decreased to $2,314.00. The horse count remained at 50 with a reduced value of $500.00. In 1887 the value increased to $3,690 and stayed at that same amount through 1902. The number of horses (50) and the value ($500) remained the same until 1896. Theodore Heermann died in 1896 and the two sons continued to own the Dawson property until the 1898 partition awarded it to the son, Felix. Tax records for 1897 and 1898 showed no horses. 

 

The 1899 and 1900 tax records showed that Felix was now the owner with the value steady at $3,690. No horses were reported. In 1900 the sons were listed as owners of the 3 1/2 acres from the F. Rolen survey where the cotton gin was located. In 1900 Felix paid the following taxes:

 

State: ad valorem, $7.82; school $8.44; poll, $1.00.

County: ad valorem $30.64; poll $0.25

Total state and county taxes: $48.65

 

The 1901 record showed that Felix reported 3 horses @ $50, 4 head of cattle @ $35 and one carriage @$15. He paid the following taxes:

 

State: ad valorem $7.65; School $8.26; poll $1.50.

County: ad valorem $29.99; poll $0.25

Total state and county taxes: $47.65

 

In 1902 there were 3 horses @ $50 and 4 cows @ $35 with miscellaneous property valued @ $8.15. Felix paid the following taxes:

 

State: ad valorem $7.65; school $8.26; poll $1.50.

County: ad valorem $29.99; poll $0.25

Total state and county taxes: $47.65

 

In 1903 the value increased to $3,720 and showed 2 horses @$20 and 4 cows @ $30. (I neglected to photocopy the tax page for 1903).

 

In 1904 Felix also showed ownership of 14 acres in the A. Snyder Survey #266. (Some tax years listed it as A. McSnyder). The Dawson property had a value of $3,650. No animals were listed. The taxes were combined with the A. Snyder property for this year through 1910.

 

In 1905 and 1906 the value remained at $3,650. In 1905 two  horses @ $40 and 8 cows @ $50 were reported.  In 1906 Felix reported 4 horses @ $150; 15 cows @ $120; 2 hogs @ $5.00; one carriage @$10.00; and implements @ $25.00.

 

I was unable to locate Felix’s name in the 1907 tax record.

 

In 1908 the Dawson property increased in value to $9.640. Felix listed 5 horses @ $320, one carriage @10.00, and implements @ $100.00.

 

In 1909 the value was combined with the Snyder property and listed at $11,400. There were 5 horses @ $320 and miscellaneous property @ $200.00. For 1910 the value of the horses decreased to $300 but everything else stayed the same as 1909.

 

In 1910 John Easterly purchased 168 acres of the Dawson property where the store was located. In 1911 that acreage had a value of $3,725. Although no animals were reported, there was miscellaneous property @ $200.00. The taxes were combined with four other properties Mr. Easterly owned. (See the 1911 tax record printout for a listing of these properties). The value did not change for the years 1912 and 1913. In 1912 no animals were reported. In 1913 one carriage @ $2.50 and miscellaneous property of $200.00 were listed.

 

The tax forms for 1914 and subsequent years do not have columns for the listing of animals. In 1914 and 1915 the value remained at $3,725. However in 1916 it was raised to $4,900 with personal property valued at $330.00.

 

In 1917 the value was $4,635 with personal property @ $425.00. In 1918 the value increased to $4,795 with personal property at $425.00.

 

 

Tax Record Research and Summary by Pat Castanon,

San Antonio Conservation Society, Farm & Ranch Committee