Letters to Alice: Birth of the Kleberg-King Ranch Dynasty

My Darling Little Wife

124 The Love Letters My Darling Little Wife  [Addressed to] Mrs. Robert J. Kleberg, Collins, Nueces Co. [Written on Menger Hotel stationery.] Menger Hotel San Antonio, Texas Nov. 16th 1886 My Dear Little Pet I reached San Antonio this evening at 5:40 and after taking my supper called on Rudolph whom I found at his post in his office.With him were several old mutual acquaintances. Among them Mr. [illegible], collector of customs at Eagle Pass, my old room mate at Cuero of whom I have spoken so often, Mr. [Gressen ?] little Lina’s father. Do you remember the little girl we met at my parents? He looked well and was only [illegible] I did not mention business matters to him, however, & hence did not learn how he was getting on. While it was quite pleasant to meet old friends it deprived me of the pleasure of talking about home with Rudolph as I would have done otherwise. He is well and hard at work and seemed a little disappointed when I told him that his little sister did not accompany me. Rudolph was Robert’s oldest brother. Lulu was the little sister who did not come. Old Judge Turner also stepped into Rudolph’s room and took occasion to congratulate me and to tell me that he knew I had a very sweet little wife. I told him I knew it too but was glad to get the judgment of the U.S. Court on the subject. I saw Mrs. Spohn, Mrs. Starck & one of her daughters at the supper table. It seems “the lion and lamb,” etc. 125 1884–1887 “Mrs. Starck” was probably María Vicenta Vidal Starck (sometimes known as Nene), the daughter of Petra Vela Kenedy and Luis Vidal. The daughter mentioned would have been Lillian, who lived with her grandfather, Captain Kenedy, after Petra died, before her marriage to Frank Rabb. The “lion and lamb” was probably Robert’s subtle way of referring to the difficulties in dividing Petra’s estate between her children with Luis Vidal and her children with Mifflin Kenedy. Sarah Spohn was the daughter of Mifflin Kenedy, while MaríaVicenta Starck was the daughter of Luis Vidal.97 I did not call on them or Miss Lott but asked Mr. L to remember me to his wife. “Mr. L” was Uriah Lott. With the help of Mifflin Kenedy and Richard King, he had built the Corpus Christi, San Diego, and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge Railroad from Corpus Christi to Laredo. The project required seven years to complete and was jeered as “Lott’s Folly.”98 Also saw Mr. Driscoll & daughter at supper. Did I not see lots of people in a little while? Robert Driscoll Jr. was one of the incorporators of the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway and president of the Corpus Christi National Bank. A close personal friend and business associate of the King family, he was appointed one of two temporary administrators of Henrietta King’s will to disburse and receive funds while the will was being probated. The daughter was probably Clara Driscoll (born in 1881), who later achieved renown as the “savior of the Alamo.”99 The weather was fine today & I wished you and Mother were with me on this little trip but tonight a cold norther is blowing & I begin to think that you are better off at home. I found the trip quite pleasant not fatiguing at all. I only saw Mr. Lott a few 126 The Love Letters moments in the morning. I am to wake at 5 o’clock to take the train for Austin at 6 in the morning. Horrible to contemplate is it not? But if I have good luck I may get back tomorrow evening from Austin & thus save one day in getting home Friday instead of Saturday. I bought my new hat tonight according to orders, am feeling well but sleepy as it is late, my watch not keeping correct time as usual. Now, Little Darling wify, good night. How I wish I could be with you in our little room—singing, laughing and talking before going to sleep—but that can’t be, so good night, Pet. God protect and keep you [and] Mother safely [sic] until my return is the prayer of your loving husband, Robert  When Captain King died and Robert inherited responsibility for the rancho’s operation, he also gained the services of three...