Elgin, Texas

from 2023 Bastrop County Visitors Guide

Smithville, Texas

1872-2023

The City of Elgin was created by the Houston and Texas Central Railroad on August 18, 1872 and named for Robert Morris Elgin, the railroad’s land commissioner, following the practice of naming new railroad towns after officers of the company. The original plat placed the train depot in the center of a one square mile area.

The City of Elgin owes its existence to a major flood of the Colorado River in 1869. Originally, the railroad was to have run from McDade, ten miles east of Elgin, southwest to the Colorado River at a point somewhere between Bastrop and Webberville, then to Austin following the river.

Many of the original residents of the new town of Elgin came from Perryville, or Hogeye as it was nicknamed, located 2 miles to the south. The community was known by three different names. The post office was officially named Young’s Settlement, and the churches and Masonic Lodge carried the name Perryville. The name Hogeye was given to the stage stop at the Litton home where the community dances were held and according to legend, the fiddler knew only one tune. “Hogeye”, which he played over and over as the crowd danced on the puncheon floor.

In 1885, a group of citizens met in Elgin to organize a new north-south railroad which would run from Taylor, the rail head for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (“Katy”) Railroad 16 miles to the north, through Elgin to Bastrop, the county seat, 16 miles to the south. The Taylor, Elgin and

Bastrop Railroad were formed in 1886 and began building the line. That same year the “Katy” acquired the line and continued the construction on to Houston. Thus, Elgin became the beneficiary of two major rail lines with eight passenger trains daily.

By 1890, the population of Elgin had reached 831, and Elgin was growing during the next few years many new businesses were started. The construction business, brick making, farming, and nearby coalmines brought many Latin American and Black citizens to the area.

The year 1900 produced a bumper crop of cotton and Elgin prospered. The population had increased to 1,258. The city incorporated in 1901, electing Charles Gillespie, building contractor, Mayor; J.D. Hemphill, Marshal; W.E. McCullough, J. Wed Davis, Ed Lawhon, Max Hirach, and F.S. Wade, Aldermen. Local law enforcement was established to enforce newly established civil and criminal codes.

By 1910, Elgin was enjoying a period of great prosperity as families from out on the prairie and surrounding communities moved to Elgin and built nice homes.

Elgin rapidly became the most important agricultural center in Bastrop County. Five cotton gins and a cotton oil mill were in operation at the same time. Three manufacturing brick companies in the area gave Elgin the title, “The Brick Capital of the Southwest”.

‘Sausage Capital of Texas’

Meyer’s Elgin Smokehouse

On September 8, 1943 R.G. and Hermina Meyer purchased the Rock Front Store located on the corner of 101 Harris Street (Main and Loop 109) At this site R.G. constructed their home, and a garage apartment which still stands today. R.G. began making his family recipe for smoked sausage that was taught to him in 1915 by his father, Henry Meyer who immigrated from Germany to the United States in the late 1800’s. R.G smoked the sausage in a little smokehouse located in their back yard, and with a growing customer base for the delicious sausage, he then constructed a second smokehouse on the rooftop of the store. Over the next 10 years the small Rock Front Store was expanded on six different occasions, a modern smokehouse was added, and in 1949 Meyer’s Sausage Company was born.

R.G.’s son Buddy Meyer worked with his dad from 1955 until R.G.’s passing in 1959. Buddy’s wife Betty joined the business in 1959. Buddy stuck firmly to his family’s commitment to quality, and through modernization and two additional expansions, the company continued its growth. In 1964, the new processing plant was built and is the current operating manufacturing plant today, located at 600 S. Main just steps from the Rock Front Store which underwent demolition in 2016.

After Buddy’s passing in 1989 his sons Gregg and Gary Meyer became the fourth generation of sausage makers to carry on the family tradition. Gregg and Gary continued building the family business through eight additional expansions, continued modernization and new product development. In 1998 Gregg, Gary along with their wives Denise and Becky Meyer purchased Bigger’s BBQ restaurant and opened Meyer’s Elgin Smokehouse. At the restaurant you can savor Buddy Meyer’s beans, Hermina’s flavorful barbecue sauce, along with savory slow-smoked meats featuring Meyer’s mouth-watering spices. Over the last 25 years the restaurant was expanded on 10 different occasions. Meyer’s Elgin Smokehouse is located at 188 Hwy 290 in Elgin. Meyer’s Sausage can be found in HEB and most grocery stores across the State of Texas.