Witting was settled by German immagrants about 1870. Later, Czech settlers joined the young settlement. Witting was named in honor of George Witting, a commission merchant in Columbus Texas. In 1881, Witting gave 2 acres to establish a school and a church.
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The first store was established by Detrich Garbade; the school in 1880, the post office in 1880. A physician, Dr. M. L. Eidson also established his practice here. A lodge hall was built by the German Schustzen Veroin in 1896; a Lutheran church in 1928; and a Catholic church was constructed in 1944.
The Garbade Saloon was run by Otto Muecke. The Beachman Saloon and the Roeber Store were built by the Schultz brothers, each brother building one.
Detrich Garbade established his store in 1871. He had a saloon and general store. The old road went right by his store. He had a very fine large house with a pump house, garden, bath house and goldfish pond. He was a very prominent person in the community.
In approximately 1912, Mr. Garbade started selling his land and retired to nearby Shiner Texas. At this time, he made provisions with the county to straighten the road, bypassing his store and house.
The house and store were sold to E. H. Gillar, a teacher in the area.
Video of Jerome Gillar giving an oral history walking tour of the land as it is today describing how it was and where it was in the 1800s.
Witting Texas History
The early settlers started to come to the area around 1820. Witting was tat the edge of Stephen F. Austin and Dewitt colonists' land. Land was bought from Mexico for 12 1/2 p per acre. If you were a farmer, you were able to get 177 acres. If you were a rancher, you would get 4428 acres. Nothing was needed to put down to buy the land. Purchase price was payable in produce at the end of the fourth, fifth and sixth year.
Public lands in the United States were $1.25 an acre in lots of not less than 80 acres, however, the cash was required up front.
A large plot of land just west of Witting (4427 acres) was bought in the 1820s for 36 pesos and sold in the 1870s for $22,000 U.S..
Land in 1912 was selling for approximately $65 - $75 per acre. Interest rates were approximately 10%.
Cattle were the largest crop with cotton being second largest.
Land Sales in Early Texas
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