Chap. 2 - Peninsula - Epis. 2 - Early Land Grants

Our Westlake

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) is the Original Developer of Westlake Hills.
When Emmett got his law license, the Depression was on. On credit, he bought 120 acres of property way out on the Bee Cave Road on a hill that is now the home of the County Line Restaurant. He began working to clear the land and build a clubhouse. One day, his stone mason Earl Short told Emmett all the land on the Peninsula was 'State Land'. There were no roads except Bee Cave Rd. but Emmett knew it wasn't 'State Land'. He turned his law skills into researching and abstracting the land. Most had been abandoned when the Dam was built in the 1890s and made the area inaccessible. Many had stopped paying taxes. Emmett saw the opportunity and got to work.
Emmett explains the early land grants in the Westlake area, many date back to the 1840s. When Texas declared Independence, it had more land than money. Soldiers and other officials were paid with Bounty Certificates. Others received land as what was called a Headright: Married couple received 320 cares, a man with a family would get 640 acres and a single man would get 160 acres.
Emmett shares the detailed history of the Brown Land Grant and the colorful history of once Governor TJ Chambers and his massive land grants. These surveys cover much of Westlake Hills.
Emmett also shares a story about the Cedar Wars - when cedar was harvested in Westlake for railroad ties and crossed the river at Taylor's Slough.
When you are in the Peninsula and come across an old dead stump that was cut with an ax - you can always question - is that a relic of the Cedar War?
For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake
Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.