Texas Historical Marker #00723
Site of the Home of Captain John York. A member of one of Austin's ranging companies at San Felipe in 1829. Commanded A Company at the capture of San Antonio in 1835. Yorktown, named in his honor was laid out in 1848 on his land. Born July 4, 1800. Killed by Indians, October 11, 1848. #723
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01189
De Witt County. Created March 24, 1846 from Gonzales, Victoria and Goliad counties; organized July 13, 1846, with Cameron as the county seat. Named in honor of Green De Witt, a Texas Empresario born in Kentucky February 12, 1787. Died in Mexico, May 18, 1835. #1189
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01378
Eckhardt Ranch House. Robert Christian Eckhardt (1836-87) came from Germany at 13 to join an uncle, Yorktown's co-founder. A merchant and father of 11 sons and daughters, he built this house in 1879, afterward commuting to his store. Eckhardt and his wife Caroline Kleberg (1840-1913) became the ancestors of a U.S. Congressman, authors, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other leaders. The ranch home has been continuously owned by family members -- since 1947 by a grandson, Dr. Kleberg Eckhardt. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1975 #1378
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04679
Shiloh. The small farming community of Shiloh began about 1847 with settlement by the McBride, Hamilton, McFarland, Odom, Anderson, and Woods families. In 1851 John Keith Rankin helped organize a Methodist Episcopal Church, whose members erected a building in 1852. Shiloh School, established in 1856, served the community until the early part of the 20th century. The first burial in the Shiloh Cemetery was that of Montraville Woods, son of Texas patriot Zadock Woods, in 1857. Woods Cemetery, as it is now called, is all that remains of the Shiloh community. #4679
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05928
Yorktown. Founded 1848 as way station on old Indianola Trail. Chartered August 2, 1854. Incorporated 1871. San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad reached here 1886. Town's first school organized 1853. Prospered as center of farming and ranching; later, of oil and gas. Pioneer strains are German, American, Pole, Czech, Spaniard, Mexican, Negro. #5928
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00924
Co-Founders of Yorktown: John York, Charles Eckhardt. John York (1800 - 1848) -- Charles Eckhardt (1813 - 1852) Soldiers and builders of Texas. York, born in Kentucky, came to Texas in 1821; was a captain in siege which expelled Mexican Army from Bexar, 1835. Gave site for Yorktown, 1847. Died in an Indian fight won by his men. Eckhardt came from Germany. Fought in war for Independence and Mexican war. His mercantile and freighting interests led to founding of Yorktown on trail he had surveyed from Indianola to New Braunfels. He built the first house in Yorktown, 1848. #924
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12718
Upper Yorktown Cemetery. Upper Yorktown Cemetery In 1872, Ann Friar (1802-1899) formally established Upper Yorktown (Friar) Cemetery, where her husband, rancher-businessman Daniel Boone Friar (1800-1858), local masons and others were interred. In 1949, Barbara Respondek (1882-1949) donated one acre to the east for African-American residents, adding to its diverse Anglo, German and Hispanic origins. Noted burials include: Friar family members; 1876 feud victims Dr. Philip Brassell (b. 1827) and son, George (b.1855); settlers Gotlieb (1790-1867) and Marie (1790-1869) Heissig; Union sailor Timothy Sullivan (1836-1909); and numerous war veterans and local pioneers. Historic Texas Cemetery-2001 #12718
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #15880
Gruenau Turn and Schuetzen Verein. #15880
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00089
Adolph Strieber. Co. G, 16th Illinois Cavalry from April 1, 1863 to August 15, 1865. Enlisted as private in Springfield, Ill., after crossing Confederate lines by walking, stagecoach and steamboat. Like many Texas Germans, he felt U.S. should be kept together. Born in Zellerfield, Germany. Came to Texas via Old Indianola with parents in 1846. Married Marie Wagenschien 1866. Pioneer merchant. Prominent citizen. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1964 #89
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04932
Site of the Home of Robert Justus Kleberg. who came to Texas in 1834. Fought at San Jacinto in Captain Moseley Baker's Company. Senator in the State Legislature. Born in Herstelle, Germany, September 10, 1803. Died at Yorktown, Texas, October 23, 1888. A Texas county was named in his honor. #4932
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12794
Holy Cross Catholic Church. Holy Cross Catholic Church This church was established by Polish families who first came to Texas in the 1850s and settled in Panna Maria, then migrated to this area. A group of Polish Catholics split from the primarily German Catholic Church in Meyersville and joined the Catholic Church in Yorktown. By 1867, there were 13 Polish households as members of the Yorktown congregation, and the time had come to build a new church facility. In 1867, Anton and Lucyia Koszielsky deeded land at this site to the church, and the building that was constructed was dedicated to St. Mary. After it burned in 1915, the parish hired architect F. B. Gaenslen to design their new building. Completed in 1916, the building utilized the cross from the steeple on the former church and thus came to be called Holy Cross. Construction work was overseen by Falbo Contractors of San Antonio, with much of the labor supplied by parishioners. Gaenslen's design for a simplified Romanesque style church was carried out in red brick, with polychrome brick detailing on the tower. Its Romanesque features are evident in its tower, semi-circular arched windows and corbelled parapet. Since 1916, Holy Cross Catholic Church has served Catholics in Yorktown and the surrounding area. The building stands as an architectural landmark in the region, as it houses the parish's ongoing ministries of worship, education and outreach. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2001 #12794
1214 Zorn Rd., Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #03095
Lithuanians in Texas. Among the many European immigrants arriving in Texas in the mid-19th century was a small group of Lithuanians who settled in the Yorktown vicinity of De Witt County. Due to their eventual assimilation with the numerous German immigrants in the area, the Lithuanians and their contributions to the history of this region were overlooked for generations. Records reveal that the first Lithuanian family to settle in this area probably was that of David and Dora (Scholze) Stanchos. They arrived about 1852, making them among the earliest documented Lithuanian immigrants to America. By 1874 they were joined by about 70 more immigrants, most from the province of Gumbinnen in what was then part of east Prussia. Leaving their homeland for a variety of religious and political reasons, the Lithuanians arrived in Texas primarily through the ports of Galveston and Indianola. Establishing farms in the area, the Lithuanians became American citizens and contributed to the history and culture of this area. Men from the community fought on both sides of the American Civil War. A small graveyard south of Yorktown known as Jonischkies Cemetery contains the interments of many of these early settlers. #3095
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00593
C. Eckhardt and Sons Building. Erected 1876. Had iron shutters, elevator, walls 25 inches thick. Housed general mercantile store begun by pioneer Caesar Eckhardt family in 1848, soon after founding of Yorktown. Wagons brought in goods from seaport of Indianola. Gold and silver hidden under potatoes were sent to San Antonio to purchase other supplies. During the Civil War, wife ran the business while the husband and two sons served the south. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965 #593
?, Yorktown, TX, United States
Charles a. schlinke (1863-1940) community leader and businessman charles a. schlinke played a vital role in the development of dewitt county. born in posen, germany, schlinke immigrated to the united states with family in 1869, following his father, who settled in weesatche (goliad co.). in 1885, charles schlinke purchased property from his father and married martha kleiman, who was also born in germany before immigrating to texas. the couple had eleven children. soon after marrying, schlinke purchased 3,948 acres in dewitt county, and in 1893 he became a united states citizen. he raised horses, mules and donkeys for sale as working livestock and for riding. a believer in the value of education, schlinke donated two acres of land to county school trustees for school use after the previous building burned down. residents built valley view school on the donated property. schlinke was also a founding member of the lindenau scheutzen verein (lindenau shooting club), established in 1901. the organization, which still exists, sponsored shooting competitions with other nearby clubs and provided fellowship through feasts and dances. schlinke was often called upon as an advocate for his community. in one instance, he was the spokesman for landowners protesting the building of a road; to resolve the issue, schlinke donated his own land for the road. he also donated property for this park in memory of his wife, who passed away in 1931. in 1940, charles a. schlinke died from illness and today is remembered as a man who was devoted to his family, community, church and business. (2008) [full inscription unknown]
6111 TX-72, Yorktown, TX, United States