Mayor Joel Villarreal delivered a proclamation annually recognizing February 10th as “Founder’s Day in Rio Grande City” at the regular City Commission Meeting held on February 8, 2023, in honor of Rio Grande City’s founder Henry Clay Davis.
The proclamation reads:
A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COMMISSION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 10TH AS “FOUNDER’S DAY IN RIO GRANDE CITY” IN HONOR OF RIO GRANDE CITY FOUNDER HENRY CLAY DAVIS.
WHEREAS, Rio Grande City’s founder Henry Clay Davis, soldier, merchant, landowner, state senator, Texas Ranger, and founder of Starr County seat Rio Grande City, was born in Georgia on September 29, 1814; and
WHEREAS, the Davis family moved to Kentucky in 1816, when Henry was 2 years old and where he lived until the age of twenty; and
WHEREAS, on November 9, 1836, Davis arrived in San Antonio and enlisted into the First Cavalry Regiment and was active in the military during the years of the Republic of Texas, rose to the rank of captain when he resigned from his post in 1842; and
WHEREAS, on April 21, 1846, Davis married Maria Hilaria de la Garza, daughter of Teodoro de la Garza and granddaughter of Francisco de la Garza Martinez, and heir to Carnestolendas, Porción 80, which had been in the family since the eighteenth century as granted by the King of Spain during colonization; and
WHEREAS, Davis and Maria Hilaria moved to Carnestolendas and named the land Rancho Davis where he established Davis Landing, a docking area for steamboats on the Rio Grande River, just days prior to the start of the Mexican-American War; and
WHEREAS, upon the end of the Mexican-American War and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, the Texas Legislature established Starr County, naming Rio Grande City as county seat on February 10, 1848; and
WHEREAS, Davis patterned the new town after Austin’s layout with the main road from the Rio Grande River leading to the courthouse and later that same year, he leased land to the United States Army to established Ringgold Barracks on October 26, 1848; and
WHEREAS, in 1849, Davis was elected state senator, representing Starr, Cameron and Webb counties in the Third Texas Legislature and served on several committees, including Military Affairs, Indian Affairs, Finance, and County Boundaries;
WHEREAS, the City Commission recognizes and designates February 10th as Founder’s Day in Rio Grande City, to salute the man whose vision, determination and dedication gave life to the City of Rio Grande City, which will turn 175 in 2023;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Joel Villarreal, Mayor, on behalf of the City Commission, do proclaim every February 10th as “Founder’s Day in Rio Grande City” in honor of Rio Grande City founder Henry Clay Davis.
Witness my hand and seal of the City of Rio Grande City this the 8th day of February 2023.
For more information about the City of Rio Grande City, Texas, please visit www.cityofrgc.com or call (956) 487-0672.
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