His Story - Brownsville's Last Pony Express Rider

Editor's note:  First and foremost we thank Leo Rodriguez of San Benito and all things RGV for transcribing this archived Brownsville Herald newspaper article from July 1975 that shares a descriptive journey of Calixto Rodriguez who delivered mail on horseback from downtown to the ranches along Military Highway.  Leo publishes his findings on his Facebook page and I feel privileged to be able to share this with you.

I guiltily inserted a few sepia images along with Leo's black & white source material.  While the material requires no visual aids (the writing is sufficient) it is hoped the reader will appreciate these unidentified glimpses of our regional past which, while now unknown and forgotten, have found a place to be seen.  

BROWNSVILLE'S LAST PONY EXPRESS RIDER, MR. CALIXTO RODRIGUEZ, FROM LA ENCANTADA, early 1900’s.

Many who were raised in the Military Highway area (La Encantada, west of San Benito) will recognize some of the small ranches that are mentioned in this article. As you read the story, one can't help but envision riding along with Calixto, as he goes through his daily routine of delivering mail on his horse along Military Highway. Article is transcribed for your reading ease, and pleasure.

Sadly, after this interview, Mr. Rodriguez passed away, exactly one year later. I've attached his obituary to this article.

"Chanticleer, the rooster, was announcing the approach of day-break perched on a fence that surrounded the home of Calixto Rodriquez.

Calixto woke with a start, jumped out of bed and looked at the eastern sky to determine how much time he had before old Sol would show itself above the horizon. Just a tinge of gold and orange was discernible in the sky. His rooster had not failed to rouse him out of bed, as was the usual custom.

Dressing quickly he stepped out into the yard to check his horse and the weather. Small patches of fog hugged the low ground and a dead calm presaged a hot, humid and uncomfortable day for Calixto, who delivered the mail along the Military Road, from Brownsville to Santa Maria on horseback.

In the meantime his wife prepared coffee and something to eat and called him to breakfast. He finished his breakfast and hurriedly he checked his equipment, six-shooter, slicker, cinches, lariat, spurs, etc., and bade his wife adieu.

It was his custom to be at the Post Office not later than 5:45 for at 6:00 sharp he had to start on his route of mail delivery. On his way he passed El Hongo, a place where dances were held nightly in an open area on hard-packed soil. The dancing area was bordered by benches, backed by a few stands finished in Jara and sacahuiste.

There delicacies were bought by the male dancer and presented to his charming dancing partner. As thoughts of the dances flitted through his mind the Fort Brown bugler sounded reveille. A few blocks later he heard the bells of the Immaculate Conception Church calling to worship the good people of the community. Arriving at the Post Office ahead of time and finding his pouched mail ready, he started on his journey a few minutes ahead of schedule.

Vicente Villarreal was the person holding the contract for the mail delivery on the Brownsville-Santa Maria Route and therefore Calixto Rodriguez worked for him. The Brownsville Post Office was housed in a beautiful three story red brick building, located at the comer of 10th and Elizabeth Streets, and the Postmaster was Mr J. P. Sharpe. The Federal Offices were also housed in the building.

Calixto delivered the mail during the year 1907, which was uneventful as far as hold-ups and bandits were concerned. Most of his trouble on the road was due to high water from Resacas or Lagoons which overflowed. This condition was caused by heavy rains and periodic high river. Because of the water most of Calixto's deliveries were made on horseback rather than in a buggy, as had been originally planned

As Calixto trotted out of Brownsville he carried a locked and sealed mail pouch strapped to the cantle of his saddle. This was to be delivered to Mr Sebastian Champion at his place of business in Santa Maria. Another pouch, unlocked, was hung from the pommel of his saddle and contained the mail that was to be delivered at possibly twenty ranches.

The first ranch where Calixto delivered mail was Las Prietas, followed by El Carmen and El Lineno. At El Lineno there was a very old windmill which attracted the attention of every passerby, for it was entirely built of lumber. This windmill, several generations old, continued to whirlaway, lifting a small amount of water at each stroke, into a system of small canals. The tower was about 25 feet high and the gears, transferring the wind power into strokes of the pump, were tooled out of ebony. The lengthy stroke carried the power to the pump movement by a slender wooden shaft. The pump itself was the long shaft, with a canvas pouch at the bottom end which would fold on the down stroke and open on the rising stroke, thus pushing the water up until it would fill the casing and spill into the system of canals. The power was taken from the wind by six canvas sails attached to spokes that were moored to the shaft,

The next stop was Santa Rita. Many years before Calixto was born, this ranch was a large community originally known as Villa Nueva de Santa Rita. For some unknown reason it was divided into two distinct ranches, Santa Rita and Villanueva Santa Rita, when Cameron County was created in 1848, became the first County Seat.

His next stop was at San Pedro where after delivering the mail, he visited with a few of his acquaintances, including the teacher at the school house.

Constructed of mud and jara jacal, the school house was a type of shelter prevalent at that time The school was started by Don Tomas Tijerina during the year 1882, when he presented a petition to the Commissioners' Court who acted favorably The County Judge ordered that School Community Number 20 be established with Manuel Garza. Guillermo Reyes and Sabas Cavazos as Trustees. Mr Tijerina was appointed teacher with 42 pupils under his care. The school house was built under a huge tree, and that tree still stands today.

At a smart trot he snacked during the distance to the next ranchos, Rosita, then followed San Vicente, El Puente and La Encantada. At La Encantada came a much needed rest and a visit with his parents, who lived in the community. This stop also included a change in mounts as the horse he had ridden from Brownsville was somewhat jaded and needed a rest.

The change of horse having been made, the mail pouches were strapped behind the cantle and hung from the pommel of the saddle. He moved out into the road and headed for El Calaboz. Following a brief stop he continued to La Union Ranch, there he made the usual delivery of the mail, and a delivery of some fifty readers and other school supplies to the teacher of the school. La Union School was created in 1881 as School Community Number Eleven with 49 students and Mr John R Crothers as teacher.

The next stop was El Barranco, the ranch where Calixto was born in 1883. He knew most of the inhabitants and many came to visit and ask questions concerning what he had seen on the road or what was going on in the big city of Brownsville. Verbal messages to family or friends such as “Dile a mi compadre que lo espero el Domingo.” were often delivered by Calixto. He couldn't refuse, for most of them were people he had known since childhood.

He took to the road again and headed for El Cipres and then Las Flores, a beautiful ranch with a beautiful name. Adorned with colorful flower gardens, the small ranch was a friendly place. The perfume of reseda, jasmine and woodlouse lilies pervaded the gentle breeze. The wild verbena, black-eyed susan and queen Ann’s lace plus the periwinkle and many other flowers, presented a riot of color. Here he would again change his mount and with the fresh horse under him he travelled a little faster. Calixto delivered the bound package of letters at the small general store and immediately was on the road again. His next destination was El Rancho Escondido followed by Panola and then Las Rusias. At Las Rusias he gave his horse a breathing spell for he had been pushing his mount a little too hard. In the meantime, he had coffee with four or five of his old cronies while they discussed the weather and the future of the crops.

In ten minutes he was on his way again, with his next stop Galveston Ranch, about 2 miles distant, and then La Florida one more mile further on. Calixto was now somewhat weary and anxious to reach Santa Maria for it was close to noontime. He trotted through La Florida and then reached La Gloria, where he delivered a few letters and immediately departed for San Pedro de Arriba. At this point there was only about a mile and a half left on the Brownsville-Santa Mara leg of his journey. He then passed the La Feria Camp and a few minutes later arrived at the Sebastian Champion General Store, the last station on his mail delivery route.

The first thing that Calixto did after delivering the mail to Mr Champion was to tend his horse. After removing the saddle and gear he turned the horse loose in a big corral to cool and rest before he would rub and feed him. Here he took an hour to rest, spending most of his time around the Champion store talking with old acquaintances. After a hearty meal he mounted a fresh horse to begin the return trip to Brownsville. He strapped the sealed pouch that Mr Champion was sending to Brownsville to the cantle of his saddle and the unlocked pouch hung over the pommel ready to receive the mail and packages picked up at the different ranches.

1904 Mrs Frank Champion

The return trip was uneventful and he delivered the two mail pouches at the Post Office in Brownsville at six o'clock pm.

Today at the age of 92. Calixto Rodriguez lives at Las Prietas on the Military Road with his daughter Angelita. Early in his life his family moved from Barranco Ranch to La Encantada, where the family lived for many years. On May 7, 1904 he married Miss Angelita Garcia, with Father E L Guyder O M I officiating. From this union came four children, Calixto, Angelita, Roberto and Rosa. Today he has 12 grandchildren and also a few great grandchildren. Mrs Rodriguez passed away a few years ago.

Although his legs tend to be weak, therefore not allowing him to move about too frequently, Calixto enjoys telling about his life on the Rio Grande during the early part of the century. And as the last pony express rider on the Brownsville to Santa Maria run, his is a portion of the past living in the present".

citation: Bro Herald, July 27, 1975.