W.W. Kyle visit September 2003

Wesley described with pride his work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and he was a life member of the Texas State Historical Association.  His love of nature came naturally – years before, a beautiful swimming hole in northwestern Jasper county was originally named "Kyle's Quarry" for his grandfather, William Wesley Kyle.  It is now known as Blue Hole and is located in the Angelina National Forest.  Wesley was involved in numerous conservation activities and served as chairman of the Exotic Wildlife Association’s Education Committee.[2]  He and his wife were founding members of The Ranchers and Landowners Association located in Bandera County

Sadly, our cousin Wesley died 2008 at home on his ranch near Pipe Creek, Texas.  His beloved wife Jackie died the next year.  My mother, Gloria Cloud, died 2020.

Videos From a Tour of the Kyle Ranch:

These are short clips of a tour of the ranch given by Wesley Kyle — my cell phone back then anly allowed 30-second videos..

Audio Recordings of Visit and Interview with Wesley and Jackie Kyle and Tom and Gloria Cloud.:

Wesley Wiess Kyle's ancestors:

Dr. Obadiah Micheaux Kyle was the eldest of eight children, the progeny of Wesley Harrison Kyle and Epponina Micheaux.  He married Sarah Helen Herring, a daughter of the prominent Herring-McFaddin family and they had two children.  Their son, William Wesley "W.W." Kyle, was the only one that lived to adulthood.  He married Clyde "Clydie" Wiess, the daughter of Massena Wiess and Elivira Elizabeth Janes..

These two families brought together some of the greatest wealth Texas had seen to that point.  Massena's older brothers, William, Mark and Valentine, had become very wealthy, William and Mark having, at one time, the largest lumber mill in the world, The Reliance Lumber Company,[3] and Valentine being involved in numerous business and banking interests.

During the 1870s, in conjunction with William and W. P. H. McFaddin, and William and Valentine Wiess, Obadiah organized the Beaumont Pasture Company, a 60,000-acre ranch stocking 10,000 cattle in Jefferson County.  Obadiah died a few years later and didn't get to witness what was undeniably a momentous event in the United States and perhaps the world – The discovery of oil on the McFaddin-Wiess-Kyle Beaumont Pasture Company brought the use of oil into everyday life and altered the course of history with the Spindletop oil field.[4]

On January 10, 1901 on Spindletop Hill outside of Beaumont, Texas, the Lucas Gusher roared to life. This spectacle ushered in the petroleum age, changing the course of United States history.

Photos of Visit With Wesley and Jackie Kyle:

Photos of Simon Wiess' Ale Bottles:

Wesley said he found the bottles stuck in the ground at Wiess' Bluff along paths near the old Wiess home.  He said Simon Wiess ordered the ale from England and stuck the empties alongside the path and told people to leave them there.

Photos of Wesley's Family and Relatives:

These are people Wesley told me about during our visit.