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An Early History of Cistern
Cistern is located on part of the J.T. Whiteside League on one of the highest hills in western Fayette County. Cistern is at a distance of twelve miles northwest of Flatonia, at the same distance northwest of Waelder, Gonzales County, ten miles west of Muldoon, nine miles east of Rosanky, Bastrop County and fourteen miles south of Smithville, Bastrop County. Therefore, it has several market places situated on diverse railroads to bring products to.
Being situated on a fertile mesquite prairie atop a hill, a wide sweep of the surrounding county can be seen. As late as 1888, Mr. James Marburger boasts of sitting on his front porch and watching his cattle graze over all 2300 acres of his land.
The city was surveyed out in blocks around a public square. Legend has it that the courthouse was one day to be built here. The first settlers called it “Whiteside Prairie”.
The first permanent settlement on record was made by Starks S. Cockrill who came to Cistern from Missouri in 1852. The first store building, a log structure was built by Cockrill on the east side of Highway 95. After this, the settlement was known as “Cockrill’s Hill”. Many old settlers continued saying “The Hill” for many years, even though officially the name had been changed. The last settler to continue referring to Cistern as “the Hill” was Abe (Fatty) Clark, a black man who lived to be 100 years old, passing away June 6, 1951.
A. A. (Pod) Cockrill came to Cistern in 1852. A 19 year old boy full of adventure, he left Missouri on horseback leading several pack horses to join his brother on “Cockrill Hill”.
George J. Michaelis, a veteran of the Seminole Indian war in Florida who had later moved to Georgia, came to Cistern in 1852. After arrival, he saw the need for a cotton gin. Soon thereafter, he left for New Orleans, Louisiana by ox team to purchase the machinery for the gin gristmill, and sawmill. For this long journey, Mr. Michaelis used six to eight oxen to a wagon. With lots of hard work and determination, the mill was set up. Mr. Michaelis began grinding wheat for flour. The wheat was raised in Fayette County and sold for $1.75 a bushel. Post Oak lumber and shingles were sawed, becoming very hard with age and was known as “Michaelis Pine”. With hard work and long hours the cotton gin was able to put out five to seven bales of cotton per day. The cotton was carried to the gin stands in baskets, then carried out to the press in baskets. A horse was hitched to a pole screw, gradually pressing out a large bulky bale of cotton. In September of 1868, Mr. Michaelis built a large two-story building for B. Cockrill to be used for general merchandise, drug store, and saloon. This building, old and dilapidated, still stands with a large rock rainwater cistern enclosed in the rear of the building.
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In 1895, Christy Gosch came to Cistern from Mexico bringing 40 to 50 Mexicans and built a large adobe brick dwelling nearby. Becoming dissatisfied, he turned the business over to his brother, Jacob Gosch, and returned to Mexico where he was interested in coal mining.
During the peak of growth, the inhabitants were accommodated with two large general merchandise businesses, with anything from mere grocery staples to the finest of dress wear for men and women. Shoes were shipped in large boxes by the dozens, not boxed in pairs, but tied together and sold in the manner. Vinegar and two kinds of molasses came in 50 gallon barrels along with whiskey, which sold for $.70 a gallon. Hardware, harness, farming tools, and the like were all found in these large stores. Two drugstores, three medical doctors, two saloons, two blacksmiths, and wheelwright shops where wagons and buggies were made to order, a barber shop, molasses press, and three gins were included in the Cistern industrial area.
In 1857, the townspeople applied for a Post Office permit under the name of “Milton”. Milton was the son of Starks S. Cockrill, had become prominent in the community and the same seemed fitting. The permit was applied for and rejected by the Post Office Department as a postal permit had been grated to a place in Texas called “Milton”. Then, as a number of citizens sat around discussing another name to send in, someone suggested “Cistern” as everyone had to go to Cickrill and Gosch store to get water from the large rock underground rainwater cistern for water. If anyone was asked where they were going, the most likely answer would be “to the cistern.” Therefore, “Cistern” seemed most appropriate. Cistern was sent in and was accepted.
On March 31, 1858, the Cistern Post Office was established and Addison D. Kendall was the first Postmaster. The mail was brought into Cistern Post Office horseback from LaGrange by way of West Point and continued on to Jeddo and Waelder. There were seventeen appointed Postmasters that served in the span of nighty-six years the post office was in service. Several rural carriers served the area. On December 31, 1953, the Cistern Post Office was discontinued. Felix A. Zurovec having served the last five years as Postmaster.
In 1875, James Marburger of Haw Creek and Herman Meyer bought the Gosch buildings and business, operating a mercantile business under the name of James Marburger and Company. In 1877, Marburger bought out Meyer and November 8,. 1878, moved his family from Haw Creek to Cistern. The long trip taking a full two days. In 1888, Marburger took down the two old adobe building and built a large corrugated iron mercantile building and a 12-room frame residence 2 stories high. The large residence was torn down and moved by James Marburger’s two grandsons, the Arnim brothers, on August 2, 1945. The corrugated iron building still stands and is used as V & V Sausage Company’s plant.
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The first school was built west of the square- a hall type building where lodge meetings were held (Sons of Hermann and Woodmen of the World). Lutheran and Methodist Church services were also held on interval Sundays. The local bands furnished music for dances that were conducted for entertainment. The population at this time was mostly German and American.
Around 1886, the Bohemians began moving in and settled about two miles northwest of Cistern. They built a hall (known as Psencik Hall) where the children attended school. Dances and all social affairs were also held there. The first Catholic mass was celebrated there. The priest traveled from other parishes to offer mass, most of the time being sent from Praha. At times, months passed without a priest being able to come out. The bad roads and weather hampered traveling conditions. In 1868, the present Catholic Church building was erected off the square in Cistern. It was built by Bohlmann of Schulenberg, and was completed in December of 1888. Victoria Kremel was the first baby baptized in the new church on December 9, 1888. Soon after the church as built, the large two story Shade Saloon building was bought and moved on the church grounds to be used for a parochial school. The nuns lived upstairs and classes were conducted on the lower floor.
Water from rainwater cisterns were used throughout the country as well water was no good tasting and contained mineral and sulphur. Therefore, it was not fit for use. The water from “Slack’s “ well was especially noted for its health producing and curing properties and was used by a great many patients. In 1911, a group of men in the community decided to try for water on the public square, using horses to turn the drill bit, and which took weeks of drilling. During the process, a huge rock was hit. It took lots of hard work and determination to drill through this rock, but no one gave up. The drilling continued and at 460 feet good drinking water was found. For the first time since settle, Cistern had plenty of good water.
After World War II and the rage for better jobs and city life, the population began to decline. Farms were turned into grazing land, businesses closed, and so Cistern, like many other places without industrial businesses was left to dream of the past and ponder over hardships and accomplishments of yesteryear. The dream of someday becoming a metropolis has kept hopes and visions alive and progress is again being made. The population is on the increase again. More business places are popping up and people are united together for city benefits.
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