Henri Castro

Henri Castro was a very successful empresario in the Texas Republic. He was born in France of Portuguese Jewish ancestry in 1786. He arrived in the United States in 1827. He returned to France in 1838 and became a partner in the banking house of Lafitte and Company. There, he attempted to negotiate a $5,000,000 loan for the Republic of Texas.

While in Texas in 1842, Henri Castro entered into a contract with the Texan government to settle a colony of 600 French families on two grants: the first west of San Antonio, and the second grant bordering the Rio Grande. Although he was opposed by French diplomats in Texas and by the French government, he was successful in his colonization scheme. By 1847, he had settled 485 families and 457 single men on his grant along the Medina River. There, he established Castroville, for which he was famous, in 1844, as well as the villages of Quihi in 1845, Vandenburg in 1846, and D'Hanis in 1847. While he was establishing towns, he spent his considerable fortune and impoverished his family. On his way home to France, he died of yellow fever at Monterrey, Mexico.
 

Castro County

Formed from Young and Bexar Territories, created August 21, 1876, organized December 8, 1891. Named in honor of Henri Castro 1786-1861. A distinguished pioneer and colonizer of Texas. Founder of the towns of Castroville, Quihi, Vandenburg and D'Hans in Medina County. Dimmitt, The County Seat. 1964

Shoot-out on Jones Street

At an 1891 meeting to discuss the selection of a Castro County seat, words were exchanged between Ira Aten, a retired Texas Ranger speaking on behalf of Castro City, and Andrew McClelland, a spokesman for Dimmitt. The inflammatory remarks led to a gunfight between the two men on December 23, five days after Dimmitt was chosen county seat. In an exchange of shots in the middle of Jones Street, Aten wounded Andrew McClelland and his brother Hugh. Aten was acquitted of the assault charges and a short time later was appointed Castro County sheriff. (1983)

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