17 - MEDIO CREEK

On U.S. 59 East of Beeville

Named by the Spaniards about 1800 because of its midway position between the San Antonio and Nueces Rivers. Rises in Karnes County; empties into Mission River. Crossed by explorers, padres, soldiers, settlers who traveled on early ox-cart roads that led from Mexico to Mission La Bahia at Goliad. The Cart War of 1857, between Texas and Mexican teamsters on the freight route between San Antonio and Gulf ports, originated along San Patricio Road, southernmost of the three roads. The Mexican cart drivers used Mesquite beans as feed for their teams, starting the Mesquite brush which thrives along the creek. Settlers were attracted here by the tall grass and many veterans of the Texas Revolution were given bounty fl lands in the area. First post office in Bee County was established in 1857 at Medio Hill pioneer community, once a downcreek settlement. In 1909, the town of Candlish was founded within 50 feet of here, with a hotel, general store, school. The store closed; Candlish became a ghost town. In 1938-1939, on Medio and Blanco Creeks, fossil beds yielded 1,000,000-year-old fossils of a new mastodon species (named Buckner’s Mastodon), rhinoceros, elephants, alligators, camels and three-toed horses.
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