Bosque County Historical Markers and Designations
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Official Texas Historical Markers
Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
State Antiquities Landmarks
Texas Historic Cemeteries
National Register of Historic Places
Official State Historical Markers (Subject Markers)
The most visible program of the Texas Historical Commission seen along the roads of Texas, historical markers commemorate diverse topics — from the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations and events that changed the course of local and state history, to individuals who have made lasting contributions to our state, community organizations and businesses, military sites, and many more. Subject markers are solely educational and reveal aspects of local history that are important to a community or region. A subject marker is placed at a site that has a historical association with the topic, but no restriction is placed on the use of the property or site. No legal designation is required for a subject marker.
Marker Number | Marker Title | Marker Year | Marker Type | Marker Text | Marker Location | UTM Coord. | Photo | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2716 | Barry, James Buckner "Buck", C.S.A. | 1964 | (1821-1906) Came to Texas from North Carolina in 1845. Fought in Mexican War and Indian campaigns.
In the Civil War, commanded Confederate cavalry regiment in Texas outposts from Red River to Fort McKavett. Camps
were a day's horseback ride apart. Patrols protected outer settlements and prevented Indian attacks and threatened
Federal invasion from Indian territory. Elected to Texas Legislature 1883. Died on ranch near here. Left personal
records of his years in frontier defenses. |
Walnut Springs Park, south side of town on SH 144, Walnut Springs | 14N 617909 3547178 | |||
5292 | Bertelsen House | 1979 | RTHL | The stone portion of this house was erected in the 1880s for Norwegian settler Andres Johnson. The
builder was probably Andrew Mickelson, who erected other structures in the community. Bertel and Christena Bertelsen
bought the property in 1894 and enlarged the stone portion. They built a frame addition about 1910 for their large
family of 18 children. Ownership of the home remained with the Bertelsen family until 1977. Recorded Texas Historic
Landmark - 1979 |
2.5 miles northeast of Cranfills Gap via SH 22 north to Old Meridian Creek Road (1 mile before Rock Church) (Private residence) | |||
463 | Bosque County | 1936 | Named for the Bosque (Spanish for "Woods") River. The territory now part of this county
was traversed in 1841 by the Texan-Santa Fe Expedition. Maj. George B. Erath, noted surveyor and soldier, explored
the region prior to its settlement. The first colonists established homes in 1850-51. Among the national groups
who immigrated here were the English (at Kent), Norwegians (at Norse and elsewhere), and the Germans (in eastern
part of county). Formally created and organized in 1854, Bosque county has traditionally had farming-ranching economy.
The Chisholm cattle trail crossed the area in the 1870s. Erected by the State of Texas - 1973 |
rear intersection of SH 22 and SH 6, Meridian | photo | |||
464 | Bosque County Courthouse, 1886 | 1965 | RTHL | Limestone quarried from nearby hills. Gothic styling. Clock tower modified, 1935, to strengthen
roof. Unique iron stairs and railing remain. County's fourth courthouse. First, in 1854, was one-room log cabin.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965. |
at courthouse square on SH 22, Meridian | photo | ||
775 | Cedron Cemetery and School | 1990 | Settlement of northeastern Bosque County began in the 1850s, as people traveling west through the
area were attracted to the fertile lands along Cedron Creek. Among the first community projects of the new neighbors
was the construction of a school building. A one-room cedar structure, it was also used for church and social gatherings.
The original schoolhouse was replaced in the 1930s by a newer frame structure. Like its predecessor, it also served
as a church and community center. The school was consolidated with other area schools in 1938, and the building
later was dismantled. A community cemetery (about one-half miles west) was established on land adjacent to the
school building. Although there may have been earlier, undocumented burials, the oldest marked grave is that of
school teacher J. T. Hungerford (1844-1880), the apparent victim of tuberculosis. A few days after Hungerford's
death, another community resident, Susan J. Arnold (1845-1880) was also buried in the graveyard. Since that time
many area citizens have been interred there. Few residents remain in the Cedron vicinity. The cemetery and school
building foundation are the last visible reminders of a once-thriving rural community. |
from Morgan take FM 927 about 7.2 miles east to Lakeside Village; take FM 56 about 5.2 miles south to marker | ||||
836 | Chisholm Trail - Kimball Crossing | 1963 | Kimball, one of the first towns in Bosque County, was established at this site in the early 1850s.
One of the westward wagon routes forded the river at this crossing until a ferry was built in 1865. The famous
Chisholm Trail made its major crossing of the Brazos here. During the 1870s tens of thousands of Texas longhorn
cattle forded the river and were driven to northern markets. Building of barbed wire fences and railroads in the
1880s caused abandonment of the Chisholm Trail. Kimball, with no railroad and loss of the cattle trail, became
a ghost town by the middle 1900s. |
from Morgan take SH 174 about 10 miles east to marker, located in Kimball Bend Park | ||||
919 | Clifton College Adminstration Building | 1982 | RTHL | Constructed in 1923 as the administration building for the Lutheran College of Clifton, this structure served students and faculty until 1954, when the school merged with Texas Lutheran College in Seguin. The building was sold in 1954 and housed the Gearench Manufacturing Company for 27 years. Featuring elements of Beaux Arts classicism, the structure is a fine example of early twentieth century institutional architecture. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982 |
west 9th Street and South Avenue Q | |||
4756 | Clifton Lutheran College | 1975 | Organized May 6, 1896. Located on land donated by N. J. Nelson and T. T. Hogevold. The first building,
erected with voluntary donations and labor, opened as high school October 28, 1897; after 1923 housed artifacts
collection of Jacob Olson, early Norwegian settler. Under the direction of Dr. Carl Tyssen, president, college
courses were offered in 1922; accredited as a two-year college in 1924. High school was discontinued in 1938. College
merged with Texas Lutheran College, Seguin, in 1954. Two buildings formerly used by the college remain on the site. |
at Bosque Memorial Museum, South Avenue Q and West 9th Street, Clifton | photo | |||
12984 | Clifton Mill, Site of | 2002 |
|
N on SH 6, then E 0.6 mi. on Riverside | ||||
920 | Clifton Whipple Truss Bridge | 1996 | RTHL | Built in 1884 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, at a cost of $6,465, this bridge
spans 150 feet across the North Bosque River. This type of bridge, called a Whipple truss, was named for its designer.
One of the few remaining Whipple truss bridges in the state, it opened up travel routes from the south and west
to the north and east. Withstanding many floods, the bridge provided an important transportation connection for
Bosque County residents from 1884 to 1941 when traffic was routed west of the Bosque River to the newly constructed
Highway 6. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1996 |
CR 3265 and FM 1991, northeast part of Clifton | |||
2825 | Colwick, John and Mary, House | 1989 | RTHL | John Colwick and his parents came to Texas with Norwegian colonizer Cleng Peerson in 1859. Colwick
married Mary Jenson in 1879, and they lived in a small home on this site. Using some materials from that dwelling,
this house was constructed for them in 1889 by J. H. Nordahl. The vernacular farmhouse exhibits unusual proportions
derived from traditional Norwegian forms. Its simple, elegant detailing includes Eastlake brackets on the porch.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1989 |
from Clifton take FM 219 eight miles west; take CR 4230 south 1 mile; take CR 4235 1.1 miles west to house (first on the right) | |||
4332 | Crain, Roden Taylor | 1997 | (April 29, 1819-July 20, 1891) Tennessee native Roden Taylor Crain, a member of Capt. William Kimbro's
Company of San Augustine County volunteers, was a soldier in the struggle for Texas Independence from Mexico. He
fought at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, and later received a land grant and pension for his service.
He settled on his land in present Bosque County, where he lived the rest of his life. He drowned in the Bosque
River and was buried here in 1891. Recorded - 1987 |
Valley Mills Cemetery, Valley Mills | ||||
717 | Cureton, Captain J. J., C.S.A. | 1964 | (1826-1881) Indian fighter,
lawman and rancher. Settled on the Palo Pinto County frontier, 1854.
Led neighbors in defending homes during Indian raids. In 1860 helped
rescue Cynthia Ann Parker, who had been taken 24 years before by
Comanches. Captain in frontier troops during Civil War, defending
northwest Texas from Indians and northern invasion. Camp Cureton,
Archer County C.S.A. outpost, was named for him. Sheriff of Bosque
County, 1876-80. Grave is on Flat Top Ranch, near here. (1964) |
Walnut Springs Park, south side of town on SH 144, Walnut Springs | ||||
1446 | Election Oak | 1970 | One of three polling places in first election held after Bosque County was organized in 1854. Of
21 votes cast on that occasion (August 7, 1854) in county, 17 were polled under this tree. J. K. Helton was election
judge. Officials elected were: L. H. Scrutchfield, judge; P. Bryant, sheriff; Jasper N. Mabray, clerk; Isaac Gary,
assessor-collector; Archibald Kell, treasurer. In later years, Bosque County Old Settlers Association used this
site for reunions, by the courtesy of Tom M. Pool, owner of the land. Site was known locally as Pool Park. |
from Clifton take SH 6 4 miles south to marker | ||||
18356 | Fairview Baptist Church and Cemetery | 2016 | no text |
From the intersection of FM56 and State Hwy 22 drive approximately 6.2 miles and turn left on CR 3510. Turn left on CR 3530 and go 0.8 miles. At the junction of CR 3530 and CR 3510 turn left and go 0.5 miles. | 14N 651201 3518416 | |||
15893 | First Baptist Church of Meridian | 2009 | John Clabaugh and W.A. Mason, missionaries for the Texas Baptist Convention, established First Baptist Church of Meridian on March 13, 1859 with ten area residents. Circuit-riding preachers conducted the first worship services, and the congregation met in the county courthouse and in the community school until members constructed a church building in the 1870s. The church moved to new sites in 1888 and again in 1947. Missions hae been a primary focus of the congregation; members have also worked with area youth and with the elderly. Today, First Baptist Church continues to serve as a spirtual leader for the residents of Meridian. |
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1774 | First Methodist Church of Valley Mills | 1991 | RTHL | Methodists in this area trace their history to the 1840s, when circuit-riding preachers began holding
camp meetings on a nearby farm. In 1889, after the railroad caused Valley Mills to relocate south of the Bosque
River, the Methodists built their first church, located in a residential area. In 1915 the congregation voted to
move downtown. This brick structure, which features two inset temple-front entries with Ionic columns, was completed
by 1916. Art glass windows, corbelled brickwork, and a pressed metal roof which simulates tile are also prominent.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1991 |
SH 6 at 5th Street, Valley Mills | |||
1892 | First United Methodist Church of Morgan | 1983 | RTHL | Organized in 1889, the
Morgan Methodist Church first held worship services in the Baptist
church building. At an 1891 revival, the fellowship initiated plans to
construct this sanctuary. Originally a one-room structure, the
building was enlarged in later years as additional rooms were needed.
The Carpenter Gothic building exhibits some Greek Revival detailing
and features lancet windows and a 1901-02 belfry. Recorded Texas
Historic Landmark - 1983 |
Louise and Charles Streets, Morgan | |||
17652 | Fulton Cemetery | 2013 | HTC | This cemetery was originally known as the Morgan Cemetery due to its location on land owned by Daniel Morgan (1818-1892), a native of Kentucky. Morgan came to Texas from Illinois with his family in 1834. Morgan served in the Civil War in Company F, 1st Regimental Infantry, 3rd Brigade, Texas State Troops. In 1842, Morgan married Sara Caroline Childress (1826-1892) and, by 1878, Morgan relocated to Bosque County and purchased land along the eastern fork of the Bosque River. The date of the first burial is unknown as many early graves were marked with common field stones. The first marked burial is that of Martha A. Duke from 1880. Only three known Morgans are buried here: Daniel and Caroline passed in 1892 and their grandson, John Henry Morgan, passed in 1964. Other prevalent names include Jackson, Damron, Rhodes, Ownbey, Philips and Fulton. Oral tradition states that railroad workers and relatives were buried in the Morgan Cemetery due to its close proximity to the rail line. Most of the graves are of simple pioneers who worked as farmers or ranchers along with numerous veterans and persons associated with fraternal organizations. In 1891, the children of Daniel Morgan deeded land to J.W. Fulton and others as trustees. By 1906, the Morgan family had sold all of their Bosque county holdings and moved from the area. The name of the cemetery was changed to Fulton Cemetery sometime after 1892. Covered in native grasses and flowers and surrounded by trees, this historic cemetery contains the remains of many pioneers who settled this rural area. |
Walnut Springs, FM 2690/2650 | |||
12404 | Gary Cemetery | 1996 | South Carolina natives
William and Rutha Gary migrated west with their family, and by 1852
settled in this area, then part of McLennan County. In 1854, when
Bosque County was formed, William Gary was chosen as one of five
county commissioners. Five Gary family members were among the voters
in the first county election. William Gary died in 1855, followed by
Rutha in 1868. Their graves formed the nucleus of this cemetery that
grew slowly over the next sixty years. About 35 graves are marked; 25
more stones are not inscribed. The last burial occurred in 1932.
(1996) |
4 miles south of Clifton on FM 2602 right-of-way | ||||
13078 | Graves-Payne House | 2004 | RTHL | This home dates to the
ownership of the Aaron S. Graves family, who lived in Kentucky and
Missouri before settling here in the Union Hill community of Bosque
County by the 1870s. A carved limestone brick in the fireplace
indicates the house was built in 1876. From 1940 to 1973, it was home
to the family of Shelton Payne, a Georgia native who farmed the land.
The vernacular stone structure, typical of pioneer homes of the area,
features gabled dormers, a hipped roof, a double-pen floor plan, low
windows with segmented arches above and a chimney. The farmstead
includes a windmill, a cistern and storeroom, and a well. Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark - 2004 |
5.3 mi. NE on SH 174, then right on CR 1140 | |||
13086 | Iredell First United Methodist Church | 2004 | In 1869, Methodists in the
Iredell area began worshipping at Hester Schoolhouse, a building used
by both Baptists and Methodists for services. The Rev. Peter W. Gravis
served as pastor. Two years later, the Methodist congregation moved
toe Wills Chapel, a half mile east of present Iredell, on land donated
by Dr. J.S. Wills for a church and campground. In the late 1870s,
members moved the Wills chapel to a site in town. The growing
Methodist Church increased in membership and in facilities throughout
the next 100 years. Members also established programs and groups to
support the congregation and the local community. (2004) |
301 Eastland St in Iredell | ||||
5363 | Jenson, Jens, Homestead | 1976 | Jens Jenson (1835-1912) came to this county with his Norwegian parents and their family in 1854.
Later he was a sailor berthed in Galveston for some years; he also served in the Confederate Army in the Civil
War (1861-65). After he bought part of his parents' land in 1867, he built one stone room of this house and married
Sarah Swenson in 1868. As his family grew to 11 children, he added rooms, three of stone, two of wood. After his
death, a son, Palmer, bought the place. In 1958 grandson Arden Jenson purchased the land. He lives in the house,
farming the ancestral acres. |
13 miles west of Clifton, via 219 west to 182 north to Gary Creek Rd, (CO 4175) marker is in front of small ranch house 500 feet from CO 4175 | ||||
2548 | Knudson, Knud S., Homestead of | 1988 | Norwegian immigrant Knud S. Knudson (1830-1910) and his family moved to Bosque County in 1868. He
received a state land grant and established a farm at this site. A small log home was erected in the 1860s and
was later enlarged with a limestone addition. Knudson and his wife Gunhild (d. 1917) were the parents of eight
children. This farmstead, consisting of the family home, two barns, and out buildings, remained in the Knudson
family until 1945. It is a fine example of a rural Norwegian vernacular farm complex. (1988) |
from Cranfills Gap take CR 445 about 6.5 miles east to marker, on south side of highway | ||||
3034 | Lanes Chapel and Cemetery | 1981 | Pioneer area settler Joshua McCuistion donated land at this site for a Methodist chapel to serve
the community of Hollis Prairie. Completed about 1880 adjacent to a schoolhouse, it was built by John R. Lane and
his sons, for whom the settlement was later named. The oldest marked grave in the church cemetery is that of Plonzo
"Pompey" Cox (1840-1880). Regular worship services here were discontinued in 1960 and the Lanes Chapel
Memorial Association was established to restore and maintain the building and grounds. A homecoming is held at
this site each June. (1981) |
from Clifton, take SH 6 south about 3.9 miles take FM 2602 south about 9.6 miles to cemetery | ||||
481 | Lomax, John A., Boyhood Home of | 1970 | Only a log kitchen now marks the homesite of John Lomax, one of the foremost collectors of American
folksongs. Here, on part of the Chisholm Trail, young Lomax heard cowboys crooning and yodeling to restless herds;
Negro servants taught him jig tunes, chants, work songs, and calls; and on winter nights his family sang songs
and swapped stories around a blazing fire. Lomax began to write down this music while still a boy; and when he
left Bosque County at age 20, he carried with him a roll of cowboy ballads -- the nucleus of his lifelong work.
(1970) |
from Meridian, take SH 144 north about one mile to marker in picnic area | ||||
3147 | Lumpkin-Woodruff House | 1982 | South Carolina native James J. Lumpking (b. 1852) settled in Meridian in 1878. He established a
medical practice and pharmacy, and was a prominent landowner. He married Ida Etoile (Fuller) (d. 1954), daughter
of Moses W. Fuller (1830-1868), a successful Meridian businessman, and they became civic leaders and benefactors
of the town. The Lumpkin's home, built in 1898, was a center of social life and activities. After their deaths,
Frank Woodruff, Mrs. Lumpkin's cousin, owned the residence. The octagonal corner tower reflects the original Eastlake
style of the structure. (1982) |
512 North Main Street in Meridian | ||||
2122 | Nelson, General Alison | 1964 | (1822-1862) Soldier, statesman and Indian fighter. In his native Georgia, a legislator and mayor
of city of Atlanta. General in Cuban liberation forces, 1850. On reaching Texas 1856, joined state troops fighting
Indians. Elected 1859 to State Legislature; served as delegate to 1861 Texas Secession Convention. In the Civil
War raised, trained and led 10th Regiment Texas Infantry. Sent into defense of Arkansas, repulsed Federal assault
on Devall's Bluff, June 1862. Died of illness in camp near Austin, Ark., October 7, 1862. (1964) |
at courthouse square on SH 22, Meridian | ||||
13376 | Norse | 2002 | no text |
7 mi. W on FM 219, then right 1.5 mi. on FM 182 | ||||
17834 | Norse Seventh Day Adventist Church | 2014 | Norwegian immigrants moved to Bosque County when it was organized by the Texas legislature in 1854. Most came to Norwegian settlement, which was later named Norse. Two Evangelical Lutheran Churches, our Savior’s Lutheran and St. Olaf’s Kirke, served the people’s spiritual needs. Ole T. Nystel and his family moved to the area in 1866. In 1867, he was captured by Comanche Indians near his home at age 14, and lived with them for three months. After being ransomed and returned, he was confirmed into the Lutheran Church. After A. W. Jensen, a Danish Seventh Day Adventist Evangelist, visited the area in 1880, Nystel was baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He and other converts organized the Norse S. D. A. Church on Feb. 23, 1880. The first meeting was held Jan. 10, 1881. Members built a small frame church on an acre of land out of the Thomas A. Graves survey, which J. O. Olsen deeded on Sep. 13, 1886, to the church’s general conference at Battle Creek, Michigan. On Apr. 23, 1904, A. E. Anderson deeded one-fifth of an acre to the general conference as a burial ground for church members. Among those interred are ole T. Nystel, his wife, Annie (Anderson), their son, Oscar, who died as a missionary in New Mexico in 1918, and their grandson, Walter Thomas Nystel, a marine killed in World War iiII. The current structure replaced the first sanctuary and was dedicated on Mar. 8, 1913 by Elder Field and Elder Miller. Today it is the oldest standing Seventh Day Adventist Church in Texas. The congregation included a Sabbath School and made yearly offerings to missions as far away as Japan and korea. The last regular services held were Dec. 31, 1927. The congregation has held an annual homecoming since 1983. |
Take FM 2136 off Hwy 6 South, go appr 4 miles, then take CR 4155 for 1.6 miles, church is on left | ||||
3616 | Norwegian Settlements in Bosque County | 1969 | Though never as numerous as some national groups emigrating from Europe, Norwegians left an imprint
of rural life in Texas. Hundreds sailed to the United States beginning in the 1830's. For those who settled in
Texas, Bosque County had great appeal, because with its woods, hills, and steep, sloping streams, it resembled
parts of Norway. In 1854 Ole Canuteson started here what became Texas' largest Norse settlement. Until past the
turn of the century, the Gary Creek valley settlers spoke mainly Norwegian and retained many customs of their homeland.
(1969) |
intersection of FM 182 and FM 219, seven miles west of Clifton | ||||
3672 | Odle Log Cabin | 1978 | RTHL | A native of Tennessee, pioneer John Odle (1824-1913) moved to Texas in 1843, one year after his
marriage to Lucinda Reeder (d. 1890). They came to this area in 1856 and built this cabin of oak logs about 1860.
They occupied this structure until Odle could erect a more substantial rock house for their family of 13 children.
During the Civil War (1861-1865), Odle served in a frontier ranger company and fought in the Battle of Dove Creek,
January 8, 1865, against Kickapoo Indians. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1978 |
five miles west of Valley Mills via FM 217 to CR 3155 west to Odle Ln (200 yards north of intersection of Odle Ln and CR 401) | |||
2863 | Olson, Joseph, Family Log Cabin | 1986 | After the Joseph Olson family immigrated to the United States from Norway in 1858, they lived first
in the homes of Norwegian immigrants in the Norse community. In 1866, Olson (1811-1894) built a log cabin for his
family on part of his original seven-acre farm. The cabin served as the family's primary residence until 1872,
when a larger stone house was constructed. The log cabin remained on the Olson farm and in the possession of the
Olson family until the 1970s. It was moved to this site and reconstructed in 1985 as a reminder of the Norwegian
heritage in the area. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 |
at Bosque Memorial Museum, South Avenue Q and West 9th Street, Clifton | photo | |||
3859 | Omenson House (Reeder-Omenson House) | 1962 | no text |
from Clifton take FM 219 west about 7 miles; take FM 182 south about 3 miles; house is located on southeast side of the highway as road turns to the west, through gate reading "Norway Mill" | ||||
11968 | Oswald Cemetery | 2000 | This cemetery, located on five acres out of the l. M. Armstrong survey, was already in use as a
burial ground when the earliest original marked graves, those of three children of W. B. and E. H. Moore, were
dug in the early 1860s. The original owner of the land was Captain Allen S. Anderson, a frontier scout who was
interred here in 1864 when the site was known as Clifton Graveyard. His daughter, Flora Kemp, deeded it for use
as a graveyard in 1877. M. J. Oswald purchased the land in 1885 and it became known as Oswald Cemetery. Burial
in the cemetery has been free to people of all races. Among the pioneers interred here are early settlers of old
town Clifton and several Civil War veterans. The Oswald family continues to own the land surrounding the cemetery
at the dawn of the 21st century. (2000) |
1.8 miles north of Clifton on FM 1991, then 0.5 mile east on FM 3221 | ||||
3889 | Our Savior's Lutheran Church | 1965 | RTHL | Mother church, former Evangelical Lutheran Church in Texas. Organized June 14, 1869, by Norwegian
settlers of Bosque County. Building erected 1875-1885. Cleng Peerson, pioneer of Norwegian emigration to U.S. (landed
1821) is buried here. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965. Supplemental
plate: Centennial 1869-1969. Church built by Norwegian pioneers, 1875; contractor Gunerius
Shefstad. Dedicated in 1885; enlarged,
veneered with brick in 1907; veneer work redone, 1956; memorial windows given in 1958. This church has been served
by eight pastors. (1970) |
from Clifton take FM 219 west about 6.8 miles; take FM 182 2.8 miles north to church | photo | ||
917 | Peerson, Cleng | 1975 | (May 17, 1782-Dec. 16, 1865) Called the "Father of Norwegian Immigration to America",
Cleng Peerson migrated to the United States from his native Norway in 1821. He traveled extensively and encouraged
his countrymen to settle on land he selected in the east and midwest. Coming to Texas in 1849, Peerson discovered
Norwegian families living near Dallas and located sites where others might move. In 1853 he led a group to Bosque
County, beginning the large Norwegian settlement in this area. Peerson lived on the O. Colwick farm (.5 miles south)
until his death. He is buried in the church cemetery at Norse. (1975) |
from Clifton, take SH 219 west about 8.5 miles to marker, on south side of highway | ||||
3846 | Pierson, Ole, Homestead | 1986 | Born in Norway, Ole Pierson (1804-1882) brought his family to the United States in 1853. He joined
a group of Norwegians who journeyed to this area of Texas and found the land very similar to that of their native
country. In 1854, eight families, including Ole Pierson's, began building their homes in what is now Bosque Country.
Pierson received a grant of land from the State of Texas and later purchased surrounding tracts. Here he farmed
and played a leading role in establishing the Norwegian community. The homestead remained in the Pierson family
until 1939. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 |
11 miles west of Clifton via FM 219 to FM 182 North; then west on Gary Creek Rd. (CR 4175); marker on house 1000 ft. from road on caliche road (Private residence) | ||||
5402 | Pool-Tibbs House | 1978 | S. A. Pool built this residence, a store, and a cotton gin on the river bank in 1870, when the town
of Valley Mills stood on the north side of the Bosque. The building stone came from nearby Fitzhugh Hill. Robert
A. Tibbs, a Mississippi Civil War veteran, bought the house in 1891. After acquiring it in 1926, Anselm Tibbs (1886-1967)
removed the original Greek revival portico and made other changes. The town of Valley Mills moved south of the
river when the Santa Fe Railroad was built. As a consequence, this is the oldest house in the present, or "new"
town. (1978) |
108 Tibbs Drive, Valley Mills | ||||
4091 | Poston-Odle Cemetery | 1989 | One of the earliest settlements in this area was established in the 1850s along Hog Creek. A rock
building used for a school and church was erected, and the area became known as Rock Church on Hog Creek. The family
of John Odle settled here following the Civil War. Land for this cemetery was set aside by Odle following the death
of his sister, Mary Odle Poston, in 1875. Those buried here include members of the Odle, Poston, Cutbirth, Pool,
Cureton, Adams, Hord, Callan, Hoffman, and Le Fever families. The cemetery gates were built from the stones of
the Old Rock Church. (1989) |
from Valley Mills, take FM 217 west about 1.2 miles to CR 3155; take CR 3155 1.8 miles southwest; turn south on CR 3160 and continue about 0.3 miles to cemetery | ||||
12403 | Randal, Martha Mabray | 1969 | (1852-1935) Child of J. N.
Mabray, one of organizers and first clerk of Bosque County. Married
Thos. J. Randal; had 11 children. Recorded - 1969 |
Meridian Cemetery | ||||
4280 | Riverside Cemetery | 1992 | According to local oral tradition, land for this cemetery and the adjacent church was donated by
the family of Ward Keeler, a New York native who came to Bosque County about 1870 and founded the town of Iredell.
The oldest documented grave here is that of James W. P. Ware, who died in November 1870. The primary burial ground
for Iredell citizens for generations, Riverside Cemetery contains more than one thousand interments, both marked
and unmarked. Its varied styles of gravestones stand as a reminder of the community's pioneer heritage. (1992) |
intersection of South Somervelle and West McClaim (FM 1238), Iredell | ||||
4322 | Rock Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church | 1975 | The Rev. James B. Sadler (1828-1911), a self-educated former slave, started this black congregation
in 1870 and helped establish a separate black Presbytery in 1876. Worship services were held in a nearby brush
arbor or in homes until the present structure was erected in 1890. This building also housed a community school
for a time. The Rev. Sadler and his wife, Susan, owned the property until 1909. It was then deeded to church officers,
who maintain the church and adjacent cemetery today. The congregation's annual homecoming is held in November.
(1975) |
from Valley Mills take FM 56 north head east on FM 1637 about 4.5 miles to marker | ||||
11758 | Scrutchfield Cemetery | 1999 | Located on two acres of the M. Boren survey of 1846, this cemetery was deeded to Bosque County for
public burials by Lowry Hampton Scrutchfield in 1883. Family records indicate that Minnie, the infant daughter
of Daniel and Carolyn Mabray Henderson, was the first to be buried on this site. The earliest legible tombstone
is that of six-month-old Alpheus C. Potts, who was born and died in 1885. Lowry H. Scrutchfield (1824-1900), his
wife Nancy Proffit Scrutchfield (1835-1903) and his mother Nancy Pool Scrutchfield Roberts (1800-1839) are all
interred here. The graves of Nancy Scrutchfield Roberts and A. J. Lewis, another early settler, were re-interred
here in the late 20th century. More than 50 identifiable graves, marked and unmarked, grace the cemetery. (1999) |
eight miles south of Clifton on SH 6; seven miles south on FM 854 | ||||
11759 | Scrutchfield, Lowry Hampton | 1999 | (June 11, 1824 - November 2, 1900) Born in Nacogdoches in 1824 to Fleming and Nancy Pool Scrutchfield,
Lowry H. Scrutchfield moved to Nashville on the Brazos with his widowed mother about 1834. In 1845 he met George
B. Erath, who taught him land surveying and introduced him to local Indian tribes. Scrutchfield assisted Erath
and John McLennan in surveying Waco Village in 1849. He married Nancy Proffit in 1851; they settled on the John
C. Pool survey. Scrutchfield emerged as leader of the small band of pioneers who settled and organized Bosque County.
He was elected the new county's first chief justice (county judge) in 1854. (1999) |
3.6 miles southwest of Valley Mills on FM 854 | ||||
4625 | Searsville Baptist Church | 1962 | RTHL | Church named in honor of Josiah Le Grand Sears who gave land and money for the original church and
for the present one. (1964) |
from Valley Mills take FM 217 west about two miles to church | |||
4953 | Smith Bend-Coon Creek Cemetery | 1978 | John Jackson Smith (1799-1867) and his wife Margaret (1802-1881) migrated here from Mississippi
in the 1850's and founded Smith Bend Community. They gave land for this cemetery after the death of their son Burton
(1832-1856). The Smith's daughter Ann and her husband Silas McCabe started the nearby settlement of Coon Creek.
Residents of the two communities, descendants, and friends help maintain the burial ground. Enlarged by later land
donations, the site contains over 500 graves. (1978) Incise on back: Marker Sponsors: Mmes. Marshall V. Bonds,
Lois Smith Hill, Camille Smith Womack |
from Meridian, take SH 22 17.1 miles southeast; take FM 56 south about 1.9 miles; take FM 2114 2 miles east to cemetery | ||||
5821 | Smith, William Berry | 1956 | Came to Texas from North Carolina in 1834; a soldier in the Texas War for Independence, veteran
of the Indian Wars. Died June 30, 1876 - 84 years old. Erected by the State of Texas, 1956 |
from Iredell go 4 miles south on FM 1238, one gate past Marker Ranch. 1.5 miles into pasture land | ||||
5014 | Spring Creek Cemetery | 1986 | As settlement along Spring Creek increased after the end of the Civil War, land in this area was set
aside for a missionary Baptist church, a school, and this cemetery. According to local tradition, the first burial
was that of a horse thief hanged in the vicinity. The earliest marked tombstone, however, is that of 2-year-old
Will Bullard who died in 1881. In its role as a reflection of the area's heritage, Spring Creek Cemetery is the
burial site of many early settlers, war veterans, schoolteachers, and church members. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 |
from Meridian take SH 22 about 2.3 miles west continue west on FM 1473 about 8.9 miles turn north on County Road 2160 to Spring Creek Cemetery, about 2 miles, near church | ||||
13712 | St. James Episcopal Church | 2004 | RTHL | Local Episcopalians founded
the St. James congregation in 1913. Charter members Dr. James Julius
Lumpkin and his wife, Ida Etoile (Fuller), donated this site, and
church officials consecrated the new facilities that year. The church
prospered in service to the community and for a time shared its
facilities with Faith Lutheran Church. Membership at St. James
declined over the years, and in 1994, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort
Worth donated the deconsecrated property to the Alliance for Justice
Foundation. The vernacular frame sanctuary exhibits Gothic Revival
influences, with lancet windows and a gable end entry with a segmented
glass arch. The building is flanked by what was the parish hall of St.
James. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2004 |
514 N. Bosque in Meridian | |||
18219 | St. Olaf Lutheran Church | 2015 | RTHL | no text - Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - |
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5416 | St. Olaf Lutheran Congregation, The Rock Church | 1974 | Built in 1886 of native stone by architect Andrew Mickelson and his brothers, Christian and Ole
Mickelson. It originally had a dirt floor and planks laid on wooden kegs for pews. The bell was acquired in 1897.
The church served the Norwegian settlers of this area, who were members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Norse
(6 miles east). In 1902, the growth of the community necessitated separation from the Norse church, and the St.
Olaf congregation was organized. A new edifice was erected in Cranfills Gap (4 miles west) in 1917, and this church
has since been used only for special services. Incise on back: In Memory of Otto H. Reesing 1890-1974 |
from Cranfils Gap, take CR 4145 about 4 miles east to church and cemetery, on north side of road | photo | |||
15754 | Steiner Baptist Church | 2009 | Steiner Baptist Church Steiner Baptist Church began in 1891 in the town of Fowler as Fowler Baptist Church. The church’s first structure was built in 1906 on property donated by Joe Yates, but a fire destroyed the building in 1907 and it was rebuilt the following year. When the name of the town was changed to Steiner in 1916, the church took the name Steiner Baptist Church, and it merged with Cedron Creek Baptist Church of Christ in 1940. The town of Steiner was compelled to evacuate in 1950 because of the creation of Lake Whitney and the church was moved at that time with mule teams and wagons. However, because it was unable to cross a nearby bridge, it was decided that the church would remain at the roadside, at its present location. |
1 mi. E of Hwy 56 on FM 1713 | ||||
5595 | Union Hill School | 1981 | Started before 1879, the Union Hill School was one of several rural schools that served the early
settlers of Bosque County. A two-room 1888 schoolhouse, located across the road, was used until 1914, when a two-story
building was constructed at this site. A nearby stable housed the student's horses during the school day. Enlarged
by the 1926 merger with the Auburn Hill District, Union Hill became part of the Kopperl District in 1939. Former
students, which include many area business, professional, and agricultural leaders, still meet for a biennial school
reunion. (1981) |
from Morgan take SH 174 about 4.5 miles north, marker is on south side of the highway | ||||
5630 | Valley Mills Santa Fe Railway Depot | 1973 | RTHL | A standard No. 9 combination freight-passenger depot, built in 1910 on Temple-Cleburne line of Gulf,
Colorado & Santa Fe Railway. Local social center, especially at train time, when in pre-radio and TV era the
conductor brought late news or traveling political candidates wooed votes. Highway travel and instant communication
robbed depot of its business and glamour. Phased out in 1966, it was relocated here as museum in 1969. Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark - 1973 |
Valley Mills Park, 5th to 6th Streets on Avenue D, 2 blocks west of SH 6, Valley Mills | photo | ||
3874 | Valley Mills, Original Site of | 1990 | A. H. Steagall and Dr. E. P. Booth purchased 300 acres of land on the north side of the Bosque River
in 1868. They mapped out and platted a townsite, which they named Valley Mills. As settlers began arriving in the
area, the first homes were built of logs. Soon, however, with products provided by a local sawmill, many more homes
were constructed of sawn lumber. In addition to the sawmill, flour and grist mills were also built in the valley.
Cotton gins were soon built, as well, to process hundreds of bales from neighboring farms. A United States Post
Office was established in Valley Mills in 1867, with Moses Isenhower serving as first postmaster. Experiencing
steady growth, the town at its peak boasted homes, general stores, a drugstore, blacksmith shop, boardinghouse,
and stagecoach stop. In 1881 the Santa Fe Railroad line was built through the area, but the tracks were laid on
the south side of the river about one mile from the original townsite. Soon thereafter the residents of Valley
Mills moved their town to be closer to the rail line. By 1900 the original site of Valley Mills had become a ghost
town. (1990) |
from Valley Mills take FM 56 north 1 mile; go east on FM 1637 about 0.2 miles to marker | ||||
17176 | Womack-White Cemetery | 2012 | HTC | This historic cemetery began as the family cemetery for the Abner Pryor Womack family who lived beside Steele Creek. The Womack Family moved to this area from Polk County in 1859 where they farmed the land and raised livestock. In 1866, they purchased the property form J. P. Baker. The earliest documented burial is that of John A. Womack, Abner's grandson, who died in 1874, but numerous unmarked graves exist. In 1877, the Womacks sold their land to John Loren White and Elizabeth (Miller) White. The first burial from the White Family began with Katie White after her death in 1882. The Womack and White plots are divided into their own areas with 38 documented gravesites. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2011 |
1314 CR 1115, Morgan |
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