urn:taro:houpub.00115 Abner J. Strobel Collection: An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
500 McKinney St. Julia Ideson Building, 2nd Floor Houston, Tx 77002 832-393-1665
Encoded in EAD Version 2002 and edited according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions by Tammy Jordan inJanuary 2007 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Strobel, Abner J., b. 1858 Abner J. Strobel Collection 1892-1931 1909-1921Materials are in English. MSS 28 12 lin. ft.: 10 document boxes Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library Biographical Note

Abner J. Strobel was a celebrated author and historian in Brazoria County, Texas. His family first migrated from England to the United States in 1660; first settling in Albermarle County, Virginia. Mr. Strobel was born September 6, 1858 in Brazoria County on the Drayton Plantation. In his early years he lived throughout the South. He returned to Texas in 1875 and Brazoria County in 1882. At this time he assisted in the management of a sugar and cotton plantation, managed six plantations for Francis, Smith & Co., and served as a tax collector for four years for the County. In his later years he wrote the book entitled The Old Plantations and Their Owners in Brazoria County.

Mr. Strobel’s immediate family suffered greatly as a result of the Civil War. The family left their affluent Lake Jackson Plantation which was sold in 1870 when Mr. Strobel’s mother was nearly destitute.

Mr. Strobel is documented as being Brazoria County’s premiere historian; particularly concerning the county’s early agricultural and industrial growth. He died in his 70s at his home in Chenango, Texas.

References: Strobel, A. J., (1926). The Old Plantations and Their Owners in Brazoria County, Texas. Introduction by R. M. Farrar. Houston : The Union National Bank.

Scope and Contents

The papers of Abner J. Strobel, lay historian, local politician, plantation manager, expectant oilman and longtime resident of Brazoria County are especially useful for documenting the impact of oil discoveries on the agricultural economy of Brazoria County. Particularly interesting in this regard are a collection of documents relating to the activities of the Union Cooperative Oil and Refining Association in which Strobel was active. Slightly less extensive, but rather significant are several items pertaining to Brazoria County politics at the turn of the century.

Arrangement

The arrangement of the collection is chronological and then further subdivided by subject.

Series DescriptionSeries 1: CorrespondenceSeries 2: JournalsSeries 3: Property RecordsSeries 4: Business, Operations RecordsSeries 5: Miscellaneous MaterialsSeries 6: Half-Tone Engravings Access Restrictions

None.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Abner J. Strobel Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder. Due to their fragility, the half-tone engravings may be viewed, but not used for any other purpose.

 Preferred Citation

Abner J. Strobel Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

 Acquisition Information

Donated by Mrs. Senath Strobel Gibson, September 9, 1976.

 Processing Information

Processed by COC, July 25, 1978. Revisions in processing of correspondence were made by Charles Stephenson and Tammy Jordan, January 6, 2007.

 Index TermsSubjectsPetroleum industry and trade—Texas—Brazoria CountyPolitics—Texas—Brazoria County—20th centuryUnion Cooperative Oil and Refining AssociationSubjects (Persons)Strobel, Abner J., 1858-1931PlacesBrazoria County (Tex.)Detailed DescriptionCorrespondence

The correspondence series is organized chronologically and then listed by subjects contained in each folder.

189211Personal 12Business13Political14Taxes15Promotions189316Personal17Business18Political19Taxes110Promotions1894111Personal1985 to 189821Personal22Business23Political24Promotions1899 to 190025Personal26Business27Promotions28Political29Business210Personal211Promotions1900 to 190331Personal32Business33Political190434Personal35Business36Political37Promotions190538Personal39Business310Promotions311Political1906312Personal313Business314Promotions315Political1907316Personal317Business318Promotions319Political1908320Personal321Business322Promotions323Political324Petroleum190941 Personal42Business43Political44Promotions45Petroleum191046 Personal47Business48Promotions49Petroleum1911410 Personal411Petroleum412Business1912 to 1917413 Personal414Business415Petroleum416Political1918417 Personal418Business419Petroleum420Political191951 Personal52Business53Petroleum1920 to 192154 Personal55Business56Petroleum57Political192258 Personal59Business510Petroleum192361 Personal62Business63Petroleum192464 Personal65Business66Petroleum192567 Personal68Business69Petroleum1926610 Personal611Business612Petroleum1927613 Personal614Business615Petroleum1928 to 192971 Personal72Petroleum193073 Personal74Business75Petroleum193176 Personal77Business78PetroleumCorrespondence, No Dates79 Personal710Business711PetroleumJournals712Daybook, 1892 to 1893713Accounting and Daybooks, 1893 to 1899714Diaries, 1899 to 1931Property Records 715Leases and Mortgages, 1894 to 1916716Leases and Mortgages, 1917717Manuscripts by Abner J. Strobel, no date 81Leases, Deeds and Mortgages, 1918 to 193382Leases, Deeds and Mortgages, 1923 to 192883Leases, Deeds and Mortgages, no datesBusiness, Operations Records84Business transactions, 189085Business transactions, 188286Business transactions, 189187Business transactions, 189288Business transactions, 189389Business transactions, 1894 to 1897810Business transactions, 1898 to 1913811Business transactions, 1914 to 1915812Business transactions, 1916813Business transactions, 191791Invoices, 1919 to 192092Invoices, 1921 to 193193Invoices, no datesMiscellaneous Materials94Miscellaneous Brazoria County election materials, 1890 to 191595 Documents and Maps. Union Cooperative Oil & Refinery Association96 Pamphlets, Catalogs97 Assorted materials regarding Brazoria County, Texas98 Homestead deed and map, 1867Half-Tone Engravings from The Old Plantations and Their Owners of Brazoria County, Texas101Willam H. Wharton of Brazoria County. Prominent in the Affairs of the Republic of Texas102 Plantation home of Major Abner Jackson of Brazoria County as it appeared in 1890. Constructed in 1851. 103Ellersly Place, ca. 1890. The plantation home of John Greenville McNeel near Brazoria, Texas. It was destroyed by fire in 1896.104The first capitol of Texas, West Columbia, Brazoria County. Erected in 1836, destroyed in 1900.105Abner J. Strobel106Masonic Charter Oak at Brazoria where the first Masonic Lodge met under jurisdiction of G. L. of Louisianna