Celebrating another historic milestone brought to fruition through the hard work of Dream Team Wilson County Historians spearheaded by Mrs. Maurine Liles. APRIL 2021 we met to discuss how the research review of Maurine's study of Mission Rancho Pataguilla had been completed by National Parks. 4 years later: April 5, 2025, the Texas State Historical Marker for Mission Rancho Pataguilla will be officially dedicated in a ceremony hosted by the Wilson County Historical Society. Congratulations to all those who worked diligently to bring this history to light and recognition. Pataguilla was located on the land of the Chayopines Indians along the prehistoric trail the Spanish Crown later dubbed El Camino Real. Canary Island descendants, Simon and Jose de Arocha acquired much of Rancho Pataguilla when the Missions were secularized, as Simon was Commander of the Alamo at that time. Jose's goddaughter, Maria Rafaela Perez, married Nemecio De La Zerda, a carretero freight hauler and grandson of presidio soldiers. In 1848, the couple moved their family to land they acquired from her godfather Jose de Arocha in 1839, located on Rancho Pataguilla along the San Antonio River in what became the village of Lodi, now part of City of Floresville . That is how the De La Zerdas got to be among the founders of Floresville, Texas.  Written by Nancy De La Zerda

The Franciscan Missionaries came to this area to bring Christianity to native American tribes living here.

 

The Franciscans, the Order of Little Brothers,  built thirty-six missions in Texas. They establish Mission Concepcion in 1731 in this vicinity covering approximately 15 square leagues. 

 

Mission Concepcion has its own ranch and grazing land for its livestock.  This Ranch, Rancho del Paistle, was situated on the west bank of Cibolo Creek near the present-day Sutherland Springs Texas. Ranch del Paistle rephrased means Moss Ranch.