Series 'Texas Historical Marker'

J. D. Hudgins Ranch. Joel Hudgins (1800-1873) of North Carolina came to the Republic of Texas in 1839 and settled in the Hungerford area. He married Rachel Ann Northington McKenzie (d. 1903) in 1847. He was elected county commissioner in 1854. After Joel's death, Rachel and their four sons began to buy more land and expand the ranching operation. Josiah Dawson (J. D.) Hudgins (d. 1928) headed the family's interests. He also owned a store, cotton gin, sawmill, and grew rice. In 1897 the four brothers divided the family property and operated independently. In 1915 J. D. and his children purchased their first purebred Brahman cows, descendants of the herd brought from India by A. P. Borden in 1906. J. D.'s son Walter Hudgins (d. 1943) helped organize the American Brahman Breeders Association in 1924. The Hudgins Ranch acquired the bull "Manso" in 1933. Manso's descendants are the cornerstone stock from which the ranch's American Gray Brahman herd was developed, now one of the largest registered American Gray Brahman herds in the world. Cattle from this ranch have been exported to over 42 countries and 34 states in the U.S. In 1962 the ranching partnership was reorganized into five separate entities, with each division operated by descendants of J. D. Hudgins. #2662

SH 60, Hungerford, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02663

J. Frank Norfleet. Son of a rancher and Texas Ranger, J. Frank Norfleet was born in Lampasas County. With little schooling, he grew up working on ranches. He served as foreman for 20 years on the Spade Ranch. Norfleet married Mattie Eliza Hudgins (1871-1972) in 1894 and they had four children. In 1905 after years of frugality, the Norfleets moved to their own land located on the east boundary of Spade Ranch. In time their holdings grew to 20,000 acres. In 1905 the Panhandle Short Line Railroad from Vega to Lubbock was begun through the new town named for Norfleet. The site lay 10 miles west of Hale Center. Soon a school called Norfleet was moved in and houses and stores appeared. Due to competition and lack of funds, the railroad was abandoned and the town died soon after. In 1919, while in Dallas, Norfleet was swindled out of $45,000 by a bunco gang. Enraged at losing his savings, he spent almost five years searching the United States, Mexico, Canada and Havana, Cuba, for the five thieves. His determination won him the nickname of "Little Tiger". After the capture which reportedly netted about 75 other confidence ring members, he wrote "Norfleet", a book about his adventures. 1978 #2663

702 Main Street, Hale Center, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02664

J. U. Fields Home. -- #2664

401 N. Avenue E, Haskell, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02665

J. Wright Mooar. J. Wright Mooar and his brother John W. Mooar established the first buffalo hunting camp in the Texas Panhandle in 1873. Wright killed a rare albino buffalo (one of two known killed in Texas) in Scurry county on October 7, 1876. Mooar shot about 22,000 buffalo, a record probably unsurpassed. His ability to hit a vital spot from a distance of 1,000 feet or farther won the respect of Comanche Indian Chief Quanah Parker, a friend in later life. The Mooar brothers began ranching in Scurry county in 1877 and Wright became known as Scurry county's No. 1 citizen. (1997) #2665

?, Snyder, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02666

J. A. Adkins House. Built 1868 by pioneer doctor, J. A. Adkins. House material came from patients paying in stone rather than cash. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1966 #2666

?, Lampasas, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02668

J. A. Walker House. Brownwood businessman and civic leader J. A. Walker (d. 1944) built this home in 1901. A prominent Texas Baptist, he was an early benefactor to Howard Payne University. The Colonial Revival styling of the Walker home reflects his status as a leader in the community. Outstanding features include the ornate portico, wide wraparound veranda and intricate ornamentation. The house remained in the Walker family for over 75 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1982 Incising on base: Restored in 1979 by Mr. and Mrs. Ben Barnes #2668

701 Center Ave., Brownwood, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02669

J.C. Carr-Bob Slight House. Bulit 1884 by an early settler, J.C. Carr. Adobe brick double walls were laid at night, slowly drying to super-strength, in time honoerd southwestern manner. Five abobe rooms were added after 1903 sale to Judge R.B. Slight (1869-1953), English law clerk who came here to be a cowboy after seeing wild west shows. Judge Slight was civic leader, rancher and merchant, influential in founding Sul Ross College. He lived in this house 50 years. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1968. House now owned by F.J. Ellyson. #2669

406 5th St., Alpine, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02670

Old J. C. Traylor Place. 1879. First home in Edna built of new lumber. Had spare room and an extra plate at table for neighbors in town to do yearly trading. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1964. #2670

403 Wells St, Edna, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02671

J. D. Cooper House. Built 1878 by J.D. Cooper, early landowner. Colonial design with square nails, wide board floors. Moved here by City. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965. #2671

211 Willis St., Arlington, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02672

J.D. and Georgia Brown House. This house was built in 1907 by the R.B. Spencer Lumber Company for Jefferson Davis (J.D.) (1853-1908) and Georgia Brown (1857-1946). By 1881 J.D. was owner/operator of an impressive dry goods store on the town square. He became a prominent banker and in the early 1900's was mayor of Granbury. The classical revival style house features a 2-tier porch with doric columns and victorian style angled bays at gable ends. The house remained in the Brown family until 1935. #2672

118 W. Bluff St., Granbury, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02673

J. E. Foust & Sons, Funeral Directors. John E. Foust (1861-1926) moved to Grapevine in 1880 and started a general merchandise store which stocked coffins. He gradually added other services and with the help of his wife Daisy (Huitt) (1876-1963) established a funeral company. A civic leader, Foust also assisted in the development of other area businesses. His son John E. Foust, II (1898-1978), joined the firm in 1923. Following his father's death he managed the Funeral Home and mercantile store until the 1960s. For over 100 years Foust family members have served in the business and civic activities of Grapevine. (1981) #2673

523 Main, Grapevine, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02674

J. E. Millhollon Ranch House. About 1900, J. E. and Nettie (Bell) Millhollon trailed their cattle from Glasscock to Martin County, acquiring this homesite and 34 sections of land. Business and church leaders in Stanton, the couple had this house erected in 1907 by N. H. Hunt of Big Spring, who built many structures along the Texas & Pacific Railroad. The restoration, begun 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Wright, who bought the property in 1974. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1974 #2674

?, Stanton, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02675

J. F. Warnock Hardware. Jeptha Franklin Warnock came to Erath County in 1898 and later settled near Bluff Dale. In 1908 he opened a hardware store and in 1915 built this structure to house his business. Here Warnock provided supplies and implements to the surrounding agricultural area. A community landmark, the Warnock Store features a brick parapet, wooden storefront, and transom windows typical of early commercial buildings once common in Texas. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1984 #2675

147 N. Greenwood, Bluff Dale, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02676

J.F. and J. Nutt Building. Erected for Jesse and Jacob Nutt, blind brothers who aided in establishing county seat at Granbury. Their first (1866) store had been a 16 by 12 log house with a wagon yard in the rear. This structure of hand-hewn Hood county stone was built in 1893 by local contractor Jim Warren. About 1919 Nutt Hotel--famed for dining room--moved in after "grocery" was remodeled. Building has been occupied by 3 generations of the Nutt Family. #2676

117 E. Bridge St., Granbury, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02677

J. H. Meurer Home. German native John H. Meurer (b. 1850) settled his family in this area about 1900 when he became a land agent for H. J. Scott of the Clark and Plumb Company. In selling over 60,000 acres of land, Meurer helped to establish the towns of Windthorst (6 mi. S) and Scotland (named for H. J. Scott), both primarily German Catholic settlements. Meurer had this one-and-a-half story home built in 1911. The 11-room house with wraparound porch remained in the Meurer family until 1941 when Saint Boniface Catholic Church purchased it to serve as a residence for parish priests. (1982) #2677

?, Scotland, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02678

J. J. Josey General Store. Built by John Crutcher in 1847 of the Plaza de Commercio in San Felipe, this was the last store built in the town after its 1836 burning by military order. Purchased in 1867 by Dr. J. J. Josey, it was in continuous operation as a store until 1942. The building has been relocated a number of times. Josey, in 1880, moved the store one mile east to a new location on the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railroad. In 1962 the structure was returned to its original site and restored for use as a museum. It was moved to the Stephen F. Austin State Park in 1969. (1987) #2678

?, San Felipe, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02679

J. J. Moore No. 1 Oil Well (1.4 miles south). First producing oil well in Scurry County; opened a major West Texas petroleum area. Drilled February to October 1923 by E. I. (Tommy) Thompson, W. W. Lechner and E. E. (Buddy) Fogelson of Loutex Corp., W. A. Reiter located the well. Leon English was field geologist. Drillers were Jesse Thomas, Begossa Murphy, Tom Mann, Charlie Dodson, Sim Taylor. The tool dresser, James O. Jarmon, was the only man working the well from top to bottom. Pat and Mike Moore, the young sons of the landowner, helped to fire the steam roller. The drill struck a pressurized reservoir of "cold air" (nitrogen and helium) unique in Texas at that time. It blew mud and water 60 feet above the well head. Soon harnessed, it replaced steam to operate the drilling. It also refrigerated food and water. Completed to 3575 feet and plugged back to 1800 feet in the San Andres formation, the J. J. Moore No. 1 has yielded over 500,000 barrels of oil; is still producing. Several "dusters" were drilled nearby in 1924. Exploration was further discouraged in the 20s by low prices; eventually, however, here in the Sharon Ridge Field over 2200 wells have been brought in. In 1948 deep wells began to tap the canyon reef in Scurry; the county now has over 4,000 oil wells. (1966) #2679

SH 350 & FM 1606, Snyder, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02680

J. J. Pierce. Born at Blum, Texas. Became Sheriff of Crosby County in January 1947. Was killed in line of duty while arresting a bootlegger at Ralls, Texas. Dedicated to enforcement of law--a man of quiet courage and fearless character. Father of eight children. Recorded, 1967. #2680

?, Crosbyton, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02681

J. M. Boren Home. Built in 1908 of lumber hauled 75 miles. Boren was first county judge, a rancher, bank director, civic leader. Hospitality of home was well known to area pioneers and cowboys visiting town. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967. #2681

504 W. 12th St., Post, TX, United States

Texas Historical Marker #02683

J. S. Means Ranch House. Built in 1900, this is one of the oldest houses in Andrews County. S. H. Purcell, his wife, and two relatives each filed on a section of public land, building this home where section-corners met, so that each individual could fulfill the legal requirement to live on his claim. Soon after proving their claims, they sold out to Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Means, who then (1904) owned 14 sections. Adding much more land, the Means family established a very successful working ranch. It continues to run cattle, even though the range has contained oil fields since the 1920s. (1974) #2683

?, Andrews, TX, United States