United States / Alice, TX

First Presbyterian Church of Alice. On November 6, 1898, twenty-one ears after the founding of Alice, fifteen people met with an evangelist, the Rev. A.H.P. McCurdy of the Western Presbytery of Texas, to organize a mission church. The fifteen charter members were Mrs. Anna Adams, Mr. M.D. (Frank) Ayers, Mrs. Alice Mary Ayers, Miss Sadie P. Ayers, Mrs. Lillie Beckham, Mr. Walter Caldwell, Miss Lillie Clark, Miss Annie Doughty, Mrs. Mollie Gibson, Mr. W.A. Hinnant, Mrs. M.J. Jones, Miss Carrie E. Mosser, Mrs. Annie Schoebaum, Mrs. Sarah R. Staples, and Miss Ann Staples. The Rev. Mr. McCurdy served as first pastor. In January 1903, the Presbyterian Ladies' Aid Society was formed with fourteen member. By December 1903 the society had raised enough money, through such enterprises as ice cream socials, oyster fries, and bazaars, to purchase land on this site for a price of $137.75. In July 1908 a white frame church building was completed, and in 1912 a two-story manse was erected next door. The mission became a self-supporting church in 1937. A new brick building was erected in 1938, and an educational building was added in 1948. The structure was remodeled in 1979 to fit the congregation's growing needs. In 1998, the First Presbyterian Church of Alice had 181 members. Continuing in the traditions of its founders, the congregation remains involved in community service and outreach, mission programs, and worship activities. (1998) #11955

77 N. Adams Street, Alice, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #06288

Archelaus Bynum Dodson. (December 31, 1807-March 10, 1898) Texas patriot famed as man who introduced the Lone Star flag during the Texas Revolution. Born in North Carolina, Dodson came to Texas with his parents in 1827. He served as a delegate to the 1832 Convention seeking governmental reforms. On May 17, 1835, he married Sarah Rudolph Bradley. Later in the year 1835, Dodson was first lieutenant in Texas defense unit under Capt. Andrew Robinson. To Robinson's company his bride presented her handiwork-- a red, white and blue flag of Texas. This banner flew at Washington-on the-Brazos when Declaration of Independence was signed March 2, 1836. Dodson continued to fight in the Texas Revolution until after victory at San Jacinto. He located his headright of land in Grimes County, moving family there in 1844. Mrs. Sarah Bradley Dodson, flag maker and mother of six children, died in 1848. Her grave is in Bethel Cemetery, near Bedias, Grimes County. Dodson in 1850 married Louisa McWhorter, a widow. In 1860 he moved his family west to another Texas frontier, on the Nueces River. In this vicinity he lived to a respected old age. At death he was buried in Collins Cemetery, a half-mile south of here. (1969) #6288

?, Alice, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #05270

Vicinity of Texas Rangers' Battle of May 29, 1850. A gallant fight in era after Mexican war, while the Federals and Texans were ridding Nueces to Rio Grande area of marauders. Texas Rangers under Capt. John S. "Rip" Ford surprised a camp of Comanches near this site on May 29, 1850. In numbers, Rangers and Indians were about equal. Seven comanches were wounded, four slain; one Ranger was killed and two were wounded. Comanche Chief Otto Cuero was wounded by Capt. Ford and slain by a bullet from the gun of Ranger David Steele, who sent chief's regalia to Governor P. H. Bell, an ex-Texas Ranger. #5270

?, Alice, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #05139

Stringfield Massacre. On Sept. 28, 1870, the Thomas W. Stringfield family was ambushed by Indians and bandits raiding from Mexico. Overtaken in their horse-drawn wagon, the victims ran for a nearby house, but did not reach it. Thomas and wife Sarah Jane were stabbed and shot to death. Six-year-old son Adolphus was also murdered, but the fate of Thomas, 4 years, was never known. The survivor, 8-year-old Ida Alice, fought to avoid capture. She was then speared 7 times, trampled by the raiders' horses, and left for dead. She was later rescued and lived until 1937. 1968 #5139

?, Alice, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #03294

McGill Brothers Building. Mississippi native J. W. McGill and his wife Lydia (Abell) reared two sons, James Claude (1873-1935) and H. Frank (1883-1952). The McGill brothers attended school in Flatonia, Fayette County, Texas. In 1904 Claude McGill established small ranches in Fayette and Nueces counties. In 1911 he and his brother Frank formed a partnership and in 1916 they purchased the Santa Rosa Ranch in Kenedy County, Texas. Frank married Annie Lake in 1905 and Claude married Eva Rowland in 1922. Both families settled in Alice, Texas. The McGill brothers helped organize Jim Wells County and were active members of the Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Claude served as vice-president of the association in 1935; Frank served as president in 1936. The McGill brothers became prominent south Texas ranchers and noted experts in the cattle business. Frank built this structure in 1941 to provide offices for the family ranching operations. According to family tradition the building was patterned after San Antonio's Alamo Museum which had impressed Frank during a visit in 1940. The building exhibits Greek influences and features a distinctive corbelled stone parapet. In 1975 heirs of the McGill brothers donated this building to the South Texas Museum Corporation. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1994 #3294

?, Alice, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02757

Jim Wells County. Formed from Nueces County, created March 11, 1911, organized May 6, 1911. Named for Judge James B. Wells, an able lawyer. Born near Aransas Pass, Texas, July 12, 1854; died at Brownsville, December 21, 1923. Alice, the county seat. #2757

?, Alice, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #00117

Alice. In the 1880s, when the lines of the Corpus Christi, San Diego, and Rio Grande and the San Antonio and Aransas Pass railroads intersected, a new townsite was platted at the junction in what was then Nueces County. First called Bandana and then Kleberg, the town was finally named Alice (for Alice King Kleberg) when a post office was granted in 1888. Homes, business, schools, in south Texas were headquartered in Alice. P. A. Presnall was elected the first mayor in 1904. Alice became the county seat of newly created Jim Wells County in 1911. (1988) #117

?, Alice, TX, United States