Quantcast
Channel: The Historical Marker Database - New Entries
Viewing all 109011 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Runnels County

March 13, 2014, 5:46 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Runnels County, Ballinger


Formed from Bexar and Travis
Counties
Created February 1, 1858
Organized February 16, 1880
Named in honor of
Hiram G. Runnels
1796 - 1857
Lawyer and Governor of Mississippi
Member of the Texas Legislature
County Seat, Runnels City, 1880
Ballinger, since 1888

(Politics • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
Search

Pickettville

March 13, 2014, 6:26 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Runnels County, Ballinger


County's first permanent settlement. Founded 1862 by Wm. Guest and Richard Coffey families, and R. K. and Henry Wylie. They built Picket houses and resided here 4 years. They also erected Picket corrals, later used by trail drivers John and Joseph Henderson, John Hittson and others.

(Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
↧

Walter U. Early

March 13, 2014, 6:53 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Brown County, Early


A native of Kentucky, Walter Urie Early (1868-1939) moved to Brownwood in 1893. He became a respected local attorney and in 1895 was elected city attorney. He was county attorney from 1900 to 1906, and served as district attorney from 1906 to 1930. A leader in numerous civic groups, he donated land east of Brownwood to the Jones Chapel Rural School District in 1929. The school built there was named Early in 1930, as was the community when the citizens voted to incorporate in 1951. Walter Early died in 1939 and was buried in Brownwood's Greenleaf Cemetery.

(Charity & Public Work • Politics • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Veterans Memorial

March 13, 2014, 7:08 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Dedicated in memory
of all veterans
who served honorably
in the Armed Forces of the
United States of America

Dedicated May 28, 1989

(Patriots & Patriotism • War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World II) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Confederate Veterans

March 13, 2014, 7:56 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


[Side A]
Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity but in simple obedience to duty as they understood it. For four weary years these brave men suffered all, sacrificed all, dared all, and facing death carried the Banners of the Confederacy. These soldiers offered their lives on the altar of their country's liberty.

[Side B]
In Honor of the the
Confederate Veterans
Who settled Comanche County

Dear to our hearts must it be evermore,
The jacket of gray our loved soldiers wore,
Can we ever forget when they joined the brave band
that rose in defense of our dear homeland.
Their memories e'er shall remain for us
and their names, bright names,
without stain for us;
The glory they won shall not wane for us,
In legend and lay our heroes in gray
shall forever live over again for us.

(Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
↧

Water on South Side of Square

March 13, 2014, 8:13 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


1859 first courthouse built near Fleming Oak at SW cor Sq was of slim log poles set on end (as a picket fence) with dirt floor & plank roof. The hand dug well was to furnish water to courthouse & public. As buildings burned on N side Sq in 1868 men made 2 lines from well on S side of Sq & passed water buckets to blaze. In July 1871 court ordered J. D. Wright to clean well, wall with stone from bottom to 2-1/2' above top of ground, cover with trap door, place pulley, two buckets & rope. Court ordered 12-14-1912 that well on S side of Sq be level with ground & covered. At removal of rock debris Oscar Callaway, a young lawyer suggested top be saved. 1912 S. L. Mull paid $25 for top for farm well. In 1996 his family Ms. Dois Mull & Bob Mull donated top to Comanche County to be replaced on well. Well rebuilt by Preston Cox.

(Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Robert Thomas Hill

March 13, 2014, 8:53 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Robert Thomas Hill began life on August 11, 1858, in the aristocratic comforts of his parents' Nashville, Tennessee, home. His family, however, suffered tragic losses during the Civil War and by 1864 young Robert was an orphan living in his grandmother's Nashville home. He left Nashville in 1874 for Comanche County, Texas, to join his brother, Joe, as an employee of a local newspaper known as the "Comanche Chief."

Hill developed a passion for geology while studying a nearby formation known as Round Mountain. He entered Cornell University in 1882 and in 1887 graduated with honors in geology. In 1888 the University of Texas established a Geology Chair to honor Hill for his landmark discovery of Cretaceous deposits on Round Mountain. . He participated in the State Geological Survey and dentified and named the Balcones Escarpment. In 1891 Hill became president of the Cosmos Club, a society of the nation's most distinguished scientists. In the 1890s and early 1900s Hill explored aquifer formations in the Southwest U.S., West Indies, Mexico, and Central America.

Hill's publications represent one of the most distinguished geological studies produced by one individual. Following his death on July 28, 1941, Hill's body was cremated and his ashes scattered over Round Mountain.

(Environment • Science & Medicine) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

General Ashbel Smith, C.S.A.

March 13, 2014, 9:14 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Born in Connecticut. Graduated at 19 from Yale. Studied medicine in France, where friends were Revolutionary War hero Lafayette and inventor Samuel F. B. Morse. As a North Carolina doctor he later took interest in politics and government.

Came to Texas 1837. Was made Surgeon-General of Army. As headright (settler's land bounty) and pay for army service, obtained in 1839 Comanche County tract on South Leon River, near this site.

Was sent to England and France, 1842, as Texas charge d'affaires. In Cabinet of President Anson Jones, was last Secretary of State of Republic of Texas.

Served in U.S. Army in Mexican War. As member of Texas Legislature, 1855-1857, worked in behalf of schools and railroads.

Won Civil War citations for bravery. Commanded 2nd Texas Infantry. Built defenses and helped to save Texas Coast from Federal invasion. In 1865, at the end of the war, served as one of commissioners empowered to negotiate peace terms for Texas.

Was elected to Legislature in 1865 and in 1877. Serving as first chairman of Board of Regents of University of Texas, set ideals of scholarship.

(Politics • Science & Medicine • War, Mexican-American • War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
Search

Fleming Oak

March 13, 2014, 9:26 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Camped here in 1854 with his father, young Martin V. Fleming hid behind this tree and saved himself when hostile Indians rode through the grove. Years later paving contractors started to cut the oak, but were stopped by "Uncle Mart" with his gun.

(Environment • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
↧

Indian Raid in Comanche

March 13, 2014, 9:43 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


One of boldest depredations in Texas history, made in May 1861, during the "Bright Moon." A braying mule wakened town after nearly all horses were stolen. Citizens spent rest of night molding bullets. Pursuit began at dawn, under command of Capt. James Cunningham, assisted by 17 boys and men, using hounds.

Posse finally caught Indians on Brown's Creek (about 36 mi. SW), killing 19 in close fighting. White men's only casualty was a slight wound given to Capt. Cunningham. Relentless pursuit of Indian raiders was key to a town's survival on the frontier.

(Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Fowler Sawmill

March 14, 2014, 7:07 am
$
0
0
New York, Niagara County, Ransomville
George P. Moore operated a sawmill on this site. It was converted to the G. Elgin Hubble Basket Factory in 1896, and burned in 1941.

(Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Bicentennial Park

March 14, 2014, 5:44 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


A City-County Beautification Project sponsored by the Comanche County Bicentennial Committee featuring state historical markers and stone columns from 1890 county courthouse which were donated by the descendants of E.E. Anthony.

Park dedicated July 4, 1976

(Charity & Public Work) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Old Cora Courthouse

March 14, 2014, 6:12 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Soon after the creation of Comanche County in 1856, the town of Cora (10 mi. SE) was platted to serve as the county seat. The courthouse in Cora, typical of many early Texas courthouses, was a 12' 7" x 12" 10", one-room, squared log structure. It served the county until the seat of government was moved to Comanche in 1859. The "Old Cora" Courthouse was incorporated into a house built about 1880 and has been moved several times over the years. It stands as a reminder of the now-extinct town of Cora and of early Texas courthouse architecture.

Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986

Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
↧

Durham Building

March 14, 2014, 6:39 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


In 1874 there were 2 buildings located at this site, a grocery store owned by J. B. Green and a saloon owned by M. T. Overstreet. In 1889 W. M. Reese established the William Reese Drug Company, described as the largest drugstore between Fort Worth and San Angelo. In 1920 N. N. Durham and George M. Simmons purchased the business with N. N. Durham purchasing Mr. Simmons interest a few years later. The name was changed to Durhams Prescription Pharmacy. L. C. (Jake) Durham (brother to N. N. Durham) purchased his first interest in the firm in 1927. In 1942 Ted Durham bought most of his fathers [sic] (N. N. Durham) interest in the business. When the business burned to the ground in 1950 it had a 90 foot frontage and also contained Durhams Drug Products, manufacturers of several drug items with statewide distribution. In 1976 Ted Durham was murdered in the store after returning from an out of town trip by 2 men who had broken into the store from the back alley. In 1982 the building and pharmacy were purchased by the Huett family and combined with the Service Drug Store located up the street.

Aug 2002

(Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Ritz Theater Building

March 14, 2014, 7:05 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


William Martin and D. C. Byrne constructed this building in March of 1881. It was sold in September of 1881 to Hill, Moore and Co. for $2000.00. W. R. Slider sold the property to Harry Brin in 1914 for $5000.00 in cash. Mr. Brin established the Majestic Theater circa 1916. Harry Brin left the property to his granddaughter Bertha Browne and her husband Norman C. Browne in 1936. The building and theater were leased by J. V. Carter in 1939 for 3 years and then purchased by Mr. Carter in 1942 who changed the name to the Ritz Theater. In 1947 part of the downstairs area was leased to Ernest Tupin for a jewelry store. In 1951 Mr. Carter sold his interest in the Ritz Theater and the Majestic Theater located up the street to Jack Arthur and Harrold Flemins. In 1955 the owners leased the building to the United Uranium Dirt Setting Co. of Waco. The company added dirt troughs between the aisles so that people could put their feet in the uranium ore while watching the latest movies. It was believed to be a cure for arthritis and other ailments. The old stage and pressed tin ceiling are still intact. Other business at this location included Swindle Jewelry, Barricks Jewelry and Hasleys Beauty Shop located upstairs.

(Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
Search

The Chilton-Harelik Building

March 14, 2014, 7:39 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


The original building on this site was erected in May 1873. A deed of trust from Martha and G L Wright was given to a Mr. Crow from Stephenville, TX. In February 1874 James Buchanan paid G L Wright $850.00 in gold coins for the property. The building contained the first businesses located here, a drugstore and mercantile. The building was destroyed by fire in 1889 along with 4 other buildings which was believed to have been caused by an explosion of gunpowder and dynamite in one of the destroyed firms. The structure was rebuilt in 1890 and increased in size. The J B Chilton family acquired the property in 1897 and retained ownership for nearly 100 years until it was deeded to Texas Christian University. The Ephraim (Charles) Hoffman family operated a dry goods store in the building from 1923 to 1939. In the winter of 1946, Louis and Betty Harelik purchased a dry goods store in operation on the location called Novit's Dept. Store from Harry Melowsky (Mellow), son-in-law of W H Novit, Mr. Harelik's uncle, and long-time family friend, and operated as such until 1982. Other businesses since have been a clothing store, antique store and nightclub. The nightclub opened January 1, 2002.

(Disasters • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Huett Building and Carrera [sic Carrara] Glass

March 14, 2014, 8:14 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


The original title to this property was given to John Carnes by Comanche County in Feb. 1860. The first structure appearing around 1873 deeded to George L. Wright then to W.J. McLean. From McLean to John Elliott and B.F. Wright in Dec. 1876. The infamous Jack Wright Saloon being at this location at about that time. In 1881 the building was deeded to J.W. Green and Co. and remained in the Green family until 1967 when it was purchased by C.L. Huett. On 15th of Sept. 1932, C.L. and Isla Isham Huett opened the Service Drug Store with $267.00 dollars of stock and some second hand fixtures. By 1946 Mr. Huett had also become the largest appliance dealer in the area selling and servicing such brands as Maytag, Frigidaire, Bendix, Emerson, and Zenith. In 1950 Service Drug became a Walgreen agency selling various Walgreen drug products. In 1957, his son-in-law, Gyale Pirkle joined the firm and in 1969 his son John became a partner. In 1975 John Huett bought out his brother-in-law and in 1977 moved the pharmacy across the street to a larger building. Other businesses located here were several saloons, J.W. Green Mercantile Co. and the Comanche Chief newspaper.

Sept. 2002
———————
Carrera [sic - Carrara] Glass
On the upper façade of this building under the plaster is an unusual type of glass called Carrera Glass or Vitrolite. Manufactured extensively in the 1920s and 1930s this glass was used on building facades throughout the country and can still be seen on some buildings in larger cities. It came in several different colors including black, white and jade. The glass fell out of favor in the 1950s and production was ceased. This particular building façade was covered in this glass by the Walgreen Drug Co. in 1950 for the Service Drug Store. You can still see an example of this unique glass on the columns on either side of this building.

(Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
↧

The Comanche Chief

March 14, 2014, 8:33 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Army engineers laid out a military road in this area in 1850. By 1855 thirty to forty families had settled in the vicinity. Comanche County was created in 1856, and Comanche became the second county seat in 1859. Its citizens, who entertained dreams of greatness for their town, envisioned a newspaper. Geraldo Alonzo Beeman, an experienced newspaperman, obtained an idle printing press and became the first editor of The Comanche Chief. Its first issue published on August 21, 1873, the Chief's main goals were to draw more settlers to the area and to lobby for the protection and improvement of the lives of Comanche residents. The paper was instrumental in securing a Texas Ranger force for the area and in promoting legislation for placing public school lands on the market.

By 1873, after the last of the Comanche tribe in the area was relegated to a reservation in Oklahoma, the town began to grow. The Comanche Chief was influential in social and political life, from chronicling the daily events of the neighborhood to lobbying for proper representation in the state legislature. It found its way to other regions of the country, advertising the advantages of the Comanche area and attracting new settlers. Sixteen-year-old Robert Thomas Hill (1858-1941), later called the Father of Texas Geology, began working at the Chief with his brother Joe in 1874. The Hills became co-editors of the paper and operated it together until Robert went to Cornell University in 1882.

Other newspapers were organized and discontinued over the decades, but The Comanche Chief thrived; it was sold to the Wilkerson family in 1925. One hundred and forty-two years old at the dawn of the 21st century, "The Comanche Chief" is recognized as the oldest business in Comanche County.

(Communications • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Royal King

March 14, 2014, 9:11 pm
$
0
0
Texas, Comanche County, Comanche


Royal King was 17 months old in 1944 when Earl Albin and Jack Whiteside of Comanche, Texas, bought the colt for $250 from breeder Felton Smathers of Llano, Texas. Royal King was by King P-234 and out of Rocket (later registered as Rocket Laning). Rocket traced to Yellow Jacket on both sides of her pedigree.

Albin and Whiteside took 2-year-old Royal King to a show in San Angelo on April 8, 1945, where he was approved for AQHA registry by Helen Michaelis. Someone at the show offered $15,000 for the King colt. Whiteside believed you could never go broke making money, and cajoled Albin to accept the offer. Instead, Albin wrote him a check for $7500 and kept Royal King.

Royal King learned to cut in a herd of goats, training under Bob Burton and later James Boucher. He had enough "cow" in him to excel in the sport with anyone in the saddle, and he was ridden by numerous cutters throughout his career. "Royal King was a horse that you could put anybody on and win," said Albin's wife, Charlie Mae, in 1986. The stallion placed among the National Cutting Horse Association's top-10 annual earners four times in his career, and earned $24,003.

Even while he was competing, Royal King was continuing his sire's legacy by becoming a preeminent sire. In his first crop, 12 of 13 foals earned AQHA performance Registers of Merit. Ten of Royal King's foals competed at the first Quarter Horse show at the Texas State Fair in 1947.

His influence on cutting was most apparent in his cow-smart daughters, which included NCHA Hall of Famer and earner of more than $35,000 Miss Nancy Bailey, and Royal Smart, who produced multiple AQHA cutting world champion Royal Santana and Smart Peppy. Smart Peppy was dam of NCHA Triple Crown winner Smart Little Lena. All in all, Royal King sired a total of 590 registered foals.

Royal King died in 1971. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1997.

The American Quarter Horse Association, the world's largest equine breed registry, has its international headquarters in Amarillo, Texas. American Quarter Horses compete in horse shows around the world, and are in demand for racing, ranch work, rodeo, recreational riding, therapeutic riding and many other activities.

(Animals • Entertainment) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧

Nancy Hanks Lincoln Grave

March 14, 2014, 9:22 pm
$
0
0
Indiana, Spencer County, Lincoln City
On October 5, 1818, Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of milk sickness. This mysterious and dreaded illness was feared by pioneers because its cause was unknown. Mrs. Lincoln had nursed and comforted some of her neighbors with the disease until she became ill and eventually died.

This “Pioneer Cemetery” contains Mrs. Lincoln's gravesite as well as other marked and unmarked graves of area residents from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

(captions)
The white snakeroot, a shade-loving plant found throughout the Ohio River Valley, contains a poison that causes milk sickness in humans. Cows that have eaten snakeroot can transfer the poison to humans through their milk. Not until the early 20th century was the poison discovered to be from snakeroot. Today milk sickness is not a threat due to advancements in modern dairy practices.

For many years after the Lincolns left Indiana, Nancy Hanks Lincoln’s grave was unmarked. In 1879, this permanent marker was erected to honor the mother of our 16th president.

John Rowbotham's sketch (right) of the gravesite of Nancy Hanks Lincoln in 1865, before the permanent gravestone was set in place

(Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
↧
Viewing all 109011 articles
Browse latest View live
Search
<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>