Texas Historical Marker #07999
St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Earliest Episcopal services in Rockdale were held in 1875 in a store, where other faiths also worshiped. On Dec. 19, 1876, Bishop Alexander Gregg organized St. Thomas Mission, and in 1879 this site was bought with funds given by the Solon Joynes family. A frame chapel-- preserved as nave, chancel, and sanctuary in the present edifice-- was built in 1880. The Rev. Joseph Carden, 1920-24 rector, made and adorned the altar with original carvings. To accommodate the growing parish, the church was enlarged and a parish hall added in 1952. #7999
302 E. Davilla, Rockdale, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08000
Salty Community. Settled in 1860s; named for Salty Creek, cattle licks. Joseph and Sarah Frasure gave site for Methodist Church, 1871. Earliest burial in cemetery was in 1875. Community had school by 1878. Violence erupted in area in 1880s over barbed wire fencing. Salty was designated a voting precinct in 1886. Mail service was initiated 1897. Settlement had telephones, stores, a barber shop, at least three doctors. About 1900 the Annual Salty Singing Convention was founded by A. J. Jackson. This institution remains, although stores and the school were closed in the 1940s. #8000
?, Thorndale, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08001
Sharp. A farming and ranching community, Sharp traces its origins to the years immediately after the Civil War when settlers, attracted by the fertile black soil, began arriving in this area. The first business, a store, opened in 1892. It was soon joined by a blacksmith shop and the Davis General Store in 1896. Cotton was the principal crop of the area, and a gin opened in 1896. When a post office was established here in 1901, the name Sharp was chosen to honor Dr. William F. Sharp, a physician in Davilla (8 mi. W). An annual reunion of Sharp residents began in 1978. #8001
?, Sharp, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08002
Sharp General Store. Civil War veteran Daniel G. Davis, Sr. (1836-1927) built this structure in two stages in 1895 and 1896. The Sharp General Store, which Davis and his descendants operated here until 1985, was the area's largest mercantile facility and main outlet for local produce. It offered banking services, public scales, and a place for local citizens to socialize and enjoy water from a barrel on the porch. It is a fine example of late 19th century free-standing commercial architecture. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1995 #8002
FM 487, San Gabriel, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08003
Sharp Presbyterian Church. This church traces its history to 1872, when the Mt. Herman Cumberland Presbyterian Church was founded. It was divided into the Davilla and Leachville congregations in 1893. The Leachville church was renamed Sharp in 1902, the same year this structure was built. The vernacular church building, exhibiting influences of the Italianate style of architecture, features a truncated tower, window hoods, and horizontal milled siding. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1988 #8003
13054 N FM 487, Buckholts, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08004
Steamboat Washington Landed Here. In the winter of 1850-1851 with Captain Basil M. Hatfield, commander, the Steamboat Washington landed here with a shipment of merchandise from Washington-on-the-Brazos to J. W. McCown and Co., merchants at Cameron. The first, last and only steamboat to navigate Little River. #8004
?, Cameron, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08005
William Carroll Sypert. (Nov. 15, 1815 - July 18, 1885) A native of Tennessee, William C. Sypert entered the army of the Republic of Texas in 1836 at the age of 20. He returned to Tennessee and married Permelia Benjamine Perry (1819-94) in 1838. After two trips via covered wagon between Tennessee and Texas, they settled permanently in Texas in 1849. A schoolteacher and musician, Sypert served as justice of the peace in Bell County, as postmaster at Bryant's Station in 1859, and as Milam County Judge, 1867-70. #8005
?, Davilla, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08006
Mrs. Edna Westbrook Trigg. (December 30, 1868 - November 15, 1946) Pioneer leader of Texas women in rural club work. While serving as principal of a school near Milano, Mrs. Trigg was asked by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1911 to supervise Texas' first Girls' Tomato Club. Her role included organization, teaching, and experimentation. In Aug. 1912, her clubs showed canned products at Milano Fair-- the state's first exhibit of this kind, and a great success. In 1913-14, she worked in Childress and Milam counties, holding canning schools financed by local groups and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. After enactment of national and state legislation (1914-1915) established the Agricultural Extension Service at land grant colleges, Mrs. Trigg became (in 1916) the first county home demonstration agent in Texas. Stationed in Denton, she also served on staff of the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Woman's University), overseeing courses in methods for home demonstration work, assuring its professionalism. Edna Trigg was a native of Milam County, daughter of Ervin and Rachel Walker Westbrook. She married (in 1892) Charles Letman Trigg, and was mother of Charles Westbrook Trigg and Eloise Trigg (later Mrs. Johnson). Mrs. Trigg is buried in I. O. O. F. Cemetery, Denton. #8006
?, Cameron, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08007
Val Verde Baptist Church. Val Verde Baptist Church traces its history to 1875, when eight members of the Baptist Church in Davilla joined together to organize a congregation closer to their homes. J. S. Mullins served as the first pastor of the new church. One of the charter members, James Putnam Whittington (1830-1909) was a veteran of the Civil War. A member of H. H. Sibley's brigade in the New Mexico Campaign, he had participated in the Battle of Val Verde. When the time came to name the new church, Whittington suggested Val Verde, and the other members agreed. The congregation met in a small schoolhouse until 1884, when Whittington donated this property for a larger sanctuary and community cemetery. A building was erected which served the members for the next sixty-five years. In 1949 a surplus army chapel was moved here from Brownwood to serve as a new sanctuary. Church members worked to rebuild the structure, and it was dedicated in January 1951. An annual church memorial day has been observed by present and former members of the congregation since 1982. The Val Verde Cemetery on the church grounds contains the graves of many area pioneers. #8007
?, Davilla, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08008
Westbrook-Walker Cemetery. Georgia native Ervin Westbrook and his wife Rachel McCorra Walker left their Mississippi farm for Texas in 1858. They were joined by Rachel's brother, John H. Walker, and his family. The two families settled in this area in 1859. The cemetery began with the burial of Walker's wife, Mary Frances Wells, in 1864. It served as a graveyard for the Westbrook and Walker families and a number of their neighbors until the last burials here in the early 1920s. Among the 20 to 30 people buried here are Civil War veterans Ervin Westbrook, William P. Walker, and John Walker. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845 - 1995 #8008
CR 236, Milano, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08009
Alley-McKay House. Daniel Nelson Alley (1810-68) built this home about 1851. A founder of Jefferson, Alley was a prominent early landowner in Marion County. Several families owned the house before 1884, when Hector McKay (1835-93) bought the property. A veteran of the Civil War, McKay was one of the area's leading attorneys. His son, Arch McKay (1875-1954), retained ownership of the home until his death. Designed in the Greek revival style, it features a 4-room central hall plan. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1986 #8009
306 E. Delta St., Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08010
Old Apothecary Shop. Relics of H. H. Sedberry, 1859 Jefferson druggist, building restored with Caddo Lake cypress wood. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965 #8010
312 E. Broadway St., Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08011
Atkins House. Late Greek revival style house. Probably built in 1860 by T. O. Alley (1836-1860), son of Daniel N. Alley, co-founder of Jefferson. Over the years other notable owners have been james M. Tucker (d. ;1891), steamboatman and captain in 16th Texas Dismounted Cavalry, Confedereate Army; and W. R. Camp, an attorney. Longest ownership (1892-1923) was by W. T. Atkins (1842-1930), official of Jefferson Iron Co. House was acquired in 1961 by Mrs. Nettie Mae Lemmon. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1972 #8011
407 E. Walker, Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08012
Austin Street Mercantile. Building. Typical of city's heyday as greatest inland port in southwest. Erected before 1866. Housed offices, grocery, saloon, drugstore. A famous owner was Sallie Harrison, given this building (1882) on her marriage to C. A. Culberson, later to become governor and U. S. Senator. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970 #8012
?, Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08013
Beard House. Built 1860 with kitchen detached, in custom of Old South. Represents cottage type. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966 #8013
Vale and Henderson St., Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08014
Homesite of Barry Benefield. (May 12, 1877 - Sept. 22, 1971) Born while Jefferson was a dominant East Texas city, Barry Benefield learned well the character and lore of this region while working at his father's wagon yard, located beside this 1860s house the family had purchased in 1897. Upon his graduation from the University of Texas, Benefield became a journalist and later a novelist. Two of his works, "Chicken Wagon Family" (1925) and "Valiant Is the Word for Carrie" (1935), were made into movies and gave international fame to Jefferson. In retirement, Benefield again lived in this house until his death at the age of 94. #8014
909 Line St., Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08015
"Gay 90's House". Drawing room held many social affairs when city was a leading port in Texas. Now J. M. Benefield Home. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966 #8015
1009 S. Line, Jefferson, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08016
Bluebonnett Farm. Raised cottage; begun in 1847. Main wing, built 1869, is of heart pine cut on the home place. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966 #8016
?, , TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08017
Doyle Bower House. Typical of early Texas. Constructed with square nails and pegs. Built in 1858 by Haye Zolley. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966 #8017
1005 S. Line St., Jefferson, TX, United States