1770–1829), also known as José Nicolás Ballí, was a rancher, a priest, and an original grantee of Padre Island, which was named after him.
[2] His mother Rosa María Hinojosa de Ballí had made a joint application with Padre for eleven leagues of the island, but when reapplication was required in 1800, she withdrew her name in favor of him.
[2] About 26 miles (42 km) north of the island's southern tip, he founded the town of El Rancho Santa Cruz de Buena Vista (later known as Lost City, rediscovered in 1931), where he also kept cattle, horses, and mules.
In addition, one found a great number of willows, oleanders, short oaks, plenty of herbs known as anise, and many freshwater lakes or pools covered with reeds.
[5] Gilbert Kerlin a law graduate from Harvard University had bought titles to the Island from Ballí heirs in 1938.
The titles included 61,000 acres and the water segment separating Padre Island from the mainland.
The family accused that they did not receive their share of the oil and gas revenue generated on the island based on the Original agreement.