On 6 August 2025, I posted a blog entitled "The Enterprising Folks of Wilson County." That blog told the story about how an enterprising group of Black people from Wilson County had petitioned the State Legislature to establish a Branch of the Texas University for Colored People in Wilson County in 1893. A few years later in 1899, a group of politicians and businessmen from Wilson County had again petitioned the State Legislature to set apart funds to build a Colored High School in Sutherland Springs. I could not find any evidence that the State Legislature granted either request. However, in the spring of 1899 a two-story Black school was erected in Sutherland Springs. The construction of the school, under the leadership of Jesse S. Wilson, was documented in two articles in the San Antonio Daily Express, 19 March 1899 and 16 April 1899, where it is referred to as "the handsomest building in Sutherland Springs." Jesse Lane Tiner also details the construction of the school in his Journal of 1889-1900, congratulating the enterprising folks of Wilson County.
Sadly, Tiner records on 30 March 1900, that "the Negro College of S. S. was consumed by fire last night. Set on fire by some one for pure meanness. It cost about 8 or 9 hundred Dollars all finished." On 23 April 1900, Tiner reports, "I heard today the Jesse Wilson. was arrested and jailed for burning the Negro College at Sutherland Springs, for the insurance, $800."
Tiner had been acquainted with Jesse Wilson for a long time. The Wilson family lived in LaVernia in 1870, near where the Tiners lived. Jesse and his father Jack Wilson are mentioned in Tiner's 1886 and 1889-1900 Journal. They worked for him, earning his trust and respect. Jesse bought property from Tiner, and arranged for a group of freedom colony inhabitants from Seguin to move to Sutherland Springs and purchase property from Tiner.
On 12 June 1900, Tiner reported that "Jesse Wilson had been indicted for making false report to County Judge of children taken under the Scholastic census and having the same transferred to Sutherland Springs School of which he expects to be Principal." These were probably the children that were moving from the Zion Hill Freedom Colony in Seguin. On 18 June 1900, Tiner updated his information stating that "Jess Wilson forgery case thrown out of court and bound over in the house burning case. He is charged with burning his school house in S. Springs last Feby. His bond is $1000.00 which I am told will be given tomorrow in Floresville before Judge Kennon."
I found these reports in the District Court's archives in Floresville.
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| False report indictment against Jesse S. Wilson is dropped. |
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| Arson indictment against Jesse S. Wilson is continued. |
On June 23 1900, Tiner, obviously worried about the case against Jesse Wilson, writes:
"J. S. Wilson colored have bond $500 in the case accused of Arson and was released from jail last Tuesday 19 June. One year ago he was sailing bright and one year later he had lost everything and landed in jail charged with Arson. If He (J.S.W.) had of conducted himself right and not been so eager to make money he could of made his name in the world among his race of People. Now property - reputation and all is gone."
According to the 1900 Census, taken on 11 June 1900, J. S. Wilson, a Black school teacher from Mississippi, was boarding in Floresville in the home of Luis Travieso.
I searched the District Court Records in Floresville and found documents related to the arrest of Jesse S. Wilson. The case no. is 1090.
This entry shows that the case was dismissed by the District Attorney for reason filed on December 11, 1900, eight months after his arrest. The District Court officers could not find any other records relating to the case.
But what is the rest of the story?
By 1903 the enrollment for the Colored School in Sutherland Springs was 110, actually a larger enrollment than the White school. The high attendance continued for another decade and then began to decline. The photo at the beginning of the blog was made around 1946. Schools were being consolidated. After consolidation, all Black students went to the Dunbar Colored School in Floresville. I cannot find any records about the rebuilding of the Black school in Sutherland Springs. Although it must have been a large structure to accommodate 110 students. The building that Mrs. McIntyre and her students are standing in front of in the photo above seems to be a lovely building. So far, I cannot find anyone who can tell me any more about the Black School in Sutherland Springs.
A daughter, Lillian, was born to Jesse S. and Coral L. Wilson in Del Rio in 1902. Deed records in Wilson County confirm that by at least by 1903, C. L. (Coral Lott) Wilson is married to Jesse S. Wilson. They had sold off all their land in Sutherland Springs by 1906. According to the 1910 Census, Jesse Wilson and his wife Coral, their daughter Lillian, and his mother, Susan, were living on Indiana Street in San Antonio. Jesse and Coral are both listed as public school teachers. In 1920, they were living on Paso Hondo Street in San Antonio and still listed as public school teachers. In 1930, they have the same residence and the same occupation. Jesse died on 13 August 1935 and is buried in Eastview Cemetery in San Antonio. In 1940, Coral and her daughter Lillian are living in San Antonio. Coral is a public school teacher and Lillian is a stenographer for an insurance company. Coral served as a teacher and principal of the Sojourner Truth School in the Kenwood Community in San Antonio for forty years, from 1911-1951. Sometime between 1940 and 1950, she married Dan W. Jackson. After a long career in education, she died on 26 July 1951 and is buried in the Eastview Cemetery. I could find no record that Coral and Jesse's daughter, Lillian Lottie Wilson ever married. I wonder if there are archives from the Sojourner's School in Kenwood that would tell us any more about Jesse and Cora.
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