- The Family of Jose Policapro Rodriguez (357 KB)
Policarpo Rodriguez was one of the early settlers of Bandera County. He located on Privilege Creek in 1858, when he purchased 360 acres of land from John James at fifty cents per acre. Rodriguez was born in Zaragoza, Mexico, near Eagle Pass, Texas, January 26, 1829, and came to Texas with his father, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, in 1841, locating at San Antonio. Policarpo Rodriguez became famous as a scout for the United States Army, an Indian fighter, guide, and hunter. He married a beautiful girl in 1852, while he was still employed as a scout and guide by the army, and after his retirement from the service they settle on Privilege Creek, and reared their family. Here Policarpo (more familiarly known as Polly) was converted and joined the Methodist church. He had been reared a Catholic. He felt the urge to preach and was later licensed as a Methodist preacher, doing effective missionary work throughout the region. He built his home near Polly's Peak, a noted landmark. Near it he erected with his own hands, a house of worship where he and other preachers held religious services for many years. The stone building became known as "Polly’s chapel," and is still in use as a church building by the Privilege community.
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