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Anna Mebus Martin - Mason County Pioneer
In 1859 Anna married her cousin, Karl Martin, Louis Martin's nephew.
Karl built a store at Hedwig's Hill, the first store west of the Llano
River. But Karl was not healthy. He suffered from rheumatism and was an
invalid by 1864. Anna worked her fingers to the bone taking care of
Karl, running the store, and raising their two sons, Charles and Max.
When Karl died in 1878 the store closed. At age 35, Anna found herself
with no husband, no money and no way to make a living. She borrowed $150
from a friend and reopened the store. Fortunately for Anna, Hedwig's
Hill was on the San Antonio to El Paso stage route; an important road in
this part of Texas. The stage passed through daily, and Anna catered to
its passengers. She established a way station and a boarding house. She
sold whiskey, guns and groceries. Because Anna's store had an iron safe,
and because her honesty was never questioned, she acted as a banker for
cattlemen - keeping their hard-earned money in her safe and cashing
their checks. That's how she got into the banking business.
By the turn of the 20th Century she owned 50,000 acres in Mason, Llano
and Gillespie counties. She strung the first barbed wire in this part of
Texas. Then in 1901, with a capital stock of $3000, Anna Martin
established The Commercial Bank of Mason. She served as its president
for 24 years.
She died in Mason at age 81 in 1925 and is buried in the Martin Family
Cemetery in the shadow of Hedwig's Hill.
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