Texas Historical Marker #08352
Margaret Lea Houston Home. Gen. Sam Houston's widow, lived here with their 8 children, 1863-1867. House built in 1830s. #8352
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08353
Houston-Lea Family Cemetery. When the widow of Sam Houston died of yellow fever during the epidemic of 1867, the danger of contagion made it impossible to carry her to Huntsville for burial beside her husband. She lies here, with her mother, Mrs. Nancy Lea, near the sites of their last homes and the old church they both loved. #8353
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08354
Margaret M. Lea Houston. Margaret Moffette Lea wife of Gen Sam Houston; April 11, 1819 - Dec. 3, 1867; and her mother Nancy Moffette Lea; May 1, 1780 - Feb. 7, 1864; women of character, culture and staunch devotion to their families and church, each in her own way greatly influenced the career of Sam Houston and the course of Texas history. #8354
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08355
Major William Edward Howth. Participated in the capture of San Antonio, 1835 and was a major in the Army of Texas, 1836; born in New York City Jan. 14, 1810; died Nov. 1, 1859. #8355
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08357
Independence. Settled in 1824. Named in 1836 to commemorate Texas independence. Important early-day town. Baylor University began here, 1845. Residence of family of Gen. Sam Houston, Texas hero, 1853-1867. Mrs. Houston is buried here. Confederate Quartermaster Sub-depot, 1864. Many historic sites marked. #8357
?, Independence, TX, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #08358
Old Independence Cemetery. A very old graveyard of Anglo-Texas. Started about 1823 on league of Judge J. P. Cole, one of the "Old 300" in the Austin Colony. A daughter, Madora Cole McCrocklin, gave the site. Many statesmen, educators, physicians, lawyers, war veterans and other "Old Texians" are buried here. #8358
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08359
Independence Postal Service. Until 1840, mail was carried by private conveyance--neighbors paying expenses of young man to travel by horse to Houston and bring mail for all; 1840 brought two stage routes giving weekly service. Postal service authorized in 1843; Moses Johnson appointed first Independence postmaster. During Civil War 10 (cent) stamps made by stamping with wood postmark; die carved by John McKnight. During 115 years of operation 21 postmasters served; Kathryn Schwarze being the last when service discontinued, Jan. 31, 1958. Now museum mailing station. #8359
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08360
Independence School. Although private schools were in operation in Independence as early as 1835, tax-supported public schools were not established until the 1870s. In September 1870 the county court ordered that each of the five precincts in the county be divided into two school districts--one for white students and one for black students. The first county school tax was levied in 1874, paving the way for schoolhouse construction. Classes for white students were conducted in a small frame building and in former facilities of Baylor Female Academy until the first public school building was erected on this site on the town square in 1889. By 1937 an average of forty-four students were attending the school, taught by three teachers. The 1889 schoolhouse was destroyed in a 1939 fire, and another building was erected on the same site. Passed by the State Legislature in 1949, the Gilmer-Aiken Law had far-reaching effects on the boundaries and funding of school districts in Texas. Because its enrollment did not meet the new minimum requirements, Independence School was closed in 1953. The last school building later became a private home. #8360
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08361
La Bahia Road. One of the first overland routes used by European explorers of Texas, La Bahia Road was originally an east-west Indian trail in southeastern Texas and Louisiana. Earlier it may have been an animal trail. Although not as famous, or long, as El Camino Real (the San Antonio Road), La Bahia is probably older and it figured quite importantly in the movement of explorers, soldiers, traders, and settlers across Texas. Possibly the first European to set foot on the road was La Salle, who explored for France in this area during 1685-87. Almost certainly it was traveled by the Spaniard Alonso De Leon, who searched for the French intruders in 1689. From 1812 on, the trail and its westernmost town, La Bahia (now Goliad), served agents of both war and peace. The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, part of Mexico's revolt against Spain, used the road in 1812-13. In 1821 the first Anglo-American colonists in Texas, the vanguard of the "Old 300", came down La Bahia into this area. During the 1836 Texas Revolution, the road found use by troops of the Texan army; Col. James Fannin and his 400 men were massacred near the road--in Goliad. In the 20th century, La Bahia's route helped surveyors map modern Texas highways. #8361
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08362
Nancy Lea Bell. Given to Independence Baptist Church in 1856 by Mrs. Nancy Moffette Lea, in thanks for conversion of her son-in-law, Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas. Cast in copper and tin, for soft tone, by Meneely Foundry, New York. Broken in fall from belfry, 1969. #8362
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08363
Gideon Lincecum. As a boy Gideon Lincecum moved with his father to various frontier sites in his native Georgia and in Mississippi. It was during this time that he developed insights about natural habitats and cultivated an understanding of Indian culture which later characterized his various scientific and social achievements. He participated in the War of 1812, and in 1814 married Sarah Bryan. After settling near here in 1848 the self-taught Lincecum opened a medical practice. He gained a reputation for rejecting commonly-used contemporary medicines and dispensing herbal remedies instead. As a naturalist Lincecum recorded detailed observations of a variety of flora and fauna for a long-term study of an agricultural ant common to the state. He conducted scientific research in numerous fields and for many years maintained records of the weather in Washington County for the Smithsonian Institution. Except for a 5-year stay in Mexico during Reconstruction Lincecum lived and worked in Washington County where he completed his autobiography. Initially buried in nearby Mt. Zion Cemetery, his remains were later removed and reinterred in the Stephen F. Austin lot in the State Cemetery in Austin in 1936. #8363
?, Burton, TX, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #08365
Live Oak Female Seminary. Founded in 1853 by Presbyterian minister James W. Miller (1815-1888), Live Oak Female Seminary provided educational opportunities to female boarding students and male and female day students until 1888. Miller's sister-in-law, Rebecca Stuart Red, was principal until 1875, when she opened Stuart Female Seminary in Austin. Live Oak campus included the Miller home, "Oak Lodge," which housed classes on the second floor; dormitories; an auditorium; and a music conservatory. The Miller home was moved off the site and the last of the school buildings were razed in the 1970s. #8365
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08366
Lockhart Plantation. Home built 1850 by Dr. John W. Lockhart, Chappell Hill physician and frequent host of Sam Houston. House is of cedar and black walnut hand-cut on rich 1,000-acre place that had its own blacksmith shop, cotton gin, store, other facilities. #8366
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #08367
Masonic Academy. Replaced Hickory Grove School, organized 1840. Land was given to Graham Lodge No. 20, A.F. & A.M.; lodge built Masonic Academy in 1849, only school in the area. Texas Public School Act of 1875 caused academy to close, and property sale proceeds were given to Brenham Public School. #8367
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08368
John McNeese Graveyard. Land here on La Bahia Road was in 1831 grant to brother-in-law and sister of Stephen F. Austin. It was bought by John McNeese (1789-1853), an 1835 settler from South Carolina, whose grave is here. Plot is set aside by deed covenants forever for McNeese family graves. #8368
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08369
Leander H. McNelly. Born in Virginia; was valiant Confederate soldier. In 1870, appointed one of four State Police captains by Gov. E. J. Davis. Then with Texas Rangers, McNelly was assigned a special force, "The Washington County Volunteer MiIitia," to mediate the Sutton-Taylor feud. Company then assigned to Rio Grande border to control international cattle thieves in "Las Cuevas War." His men always proudly called themselves, "Little McNellys." #8369
?, Burton, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08370
Methodist Church. Organized prior to 1847. First pastor, Robert Alexander, had been a missionary in Texas since 1837. Original church built in 1853; was destroyed in great storm of 1900; rebuilt in 1901, constructed of pine. Memorial inscription placed in window in honor of Dr. Alexander, a member of the Texas Conference for 45 years. Texas Methodist Conference sessions were held in Chappell Hill six times: 1847, 1854, 1860, 1865, 1870 and 1878. #8370
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08371
Mount Vernon. The rural settlement of Mount Vernon, named for the Virginia home of President George Washington, served as county seat of Washington County from 1841 to 1844. John Stamps (1798-1867), an early area settler, is credited with founding and naming the Mount Vernon community. Stamps, who owned vast acreage in this vicinity, represented Washington County in the Eighth Congress of the Republic of Texas in 1843-44. At its height, Mount Vernon included a log courthouse and jail, homes, businesses, churches, and a school. An estimated twenty families lived in the community. An election held in 1844 resulted in the relocation of the county seat to Brenham. The loss of county seat status, coupled with the improvement of transportation as new roads were built enabling easy travel to Brenham, resulted in the demise of the Mount Vernon township by the 1880s. Families gradually moved away, and by 1900 all that remained of the community were a few building foundations. Eventually, the town site reverted to farmland. Although no physical remnants of Mount Vernon exist, it remains a significant part of Washington County history. #8371
?, Mount Vernon, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08372
Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Pioneer area settlers organized the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1852 on land donated by James R. Hines. Early ministers included notable Baptist leaders from Old Baylor College at nearby Independence. The church building was dismantled and rebuilt in the new town of Burton on land donated by F. A. Rice and A. Groesbeck in 1882. At that time the congregation was renamed Burton Baptist Church. The sanctuary was rebuilt after being damaged in the 1900 storm and on Feb. 18, 1983, was moved here to its original site. It now serves as a reminder of the area's rich pioneer heritage. #8372
?, Burton, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08373
Mt. Zion Cemetery. This 5-acre cemetery is located on the league of land granted to Robert Clokey, of Stephen F. Austin's Second Colony, in 1831. First grave here was that of an infant, E. A. Metcalfe, who died Sept. 15, 1852. Some unmarked graves may date from a yellow fever epidemic that struck this area in 1867. The cemetery was probably named for the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, located here from 1857 to 1882. Deeded to cemetery trustees in 1881 by owner J. R. Hines, the site contains 13 marked graves, which represent 55 families. The Burton Heritage Society now maintains the property. #8373
?, Burton, TX, United States