History of Colton Gin in Austin, Texas explored.

Colton Gin is one of the many forgotten cotton gins of Austin and Travis County. This news article will explain and explore some history behind Colton Gin.

Colton Gin was established circa 1888 somewhere in the Colton settlement. The exact date is unknown though. Fred Sassman ran the office for Colton Gin. Colton Gin produced between 10 to 20 cotton bales per day. 200 tones of cotton were produced each week.

Colton Gin Company had a lawsuit filed against Pilot Knob Gin Company over a garnishment dispute in a lawsuit entitled Colton Gin Company vs. Pilot Knob Gin Company in late December 1926. Pilot Knob Gin Company was the garnishee. The case was on trial before a jury. Judge Ceorga Matthews presided over the case. The lawsuit continued on through court all the way through 1927. The lawsuit was settled by 1928. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/357612409/)

“COUNTY COURT. Judge Ceorga Matthews. Colton Gin company vs. Pilot Knob Gin company, for garnishment, on trial before a jury.”

Broomcorn had began being bailed at the Colton Gin in 1955. Almost 300 acres of broomcorn were being grown by 10 farmers in the Colton settlement of Travis County. Colton Gin not only grew cotton but produced corn as well. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386371768/)

“Almost three hundred acres of broomcorn being grown by ten farmers in the Colton area of Travis County will average about one third ton of straw per acre, according to estimates. This entire acreage is planted to No. It seed, a variety recognized for its-fine straw, according to Lawrence Alexander, one of the growers. The market for the baled straw is reported at around $400 per ton. Doyle Harris of Kennedy will be threshing and baling broomcorn at the Colton Gin early next week. Some growers in the Lockhart area are leaving their broomcorn for seed, which means they will not market straw. The seed this year cost the farmers $19.50 per bushel of 48 pounds. The planting rate is 214 pounds per acre, making the seed cost one dollar per acre for planting. Growers in the Colton-Bluff Springs-Elroy area are Ernest Dittmar, Alvin Erlich, John Olson, Walter Monroe, Lawrence Alexander, Lawson Boothe, Paul Reinhardt, Herman Reinhardt, Willie Feuhrbacher and Carl Ulich.”

Any mention of Colton Gin stopped appearing in newspapers by 1958. Hardly any mentions of Colton Gin had appeared in newspapers or newsletters by 1960. So Colton Gin had possibly merged their operations into Pilot Knob Gin Company.