Texas Historical Marker #08394
Seelhorst-Lehrmann House. Handsome Victorian residence with 18' x 18' ground floor rooms; 13" plastered brick walls; and a copper roof from which rain is piped to cistern on back porch. Constructed about 1879 by W. E. Seelhorst, a German settler who built many fine Brenham houses. About 1883 a nephew Adolph and wife, Louisa (Winterfelt) Seelhorst, moved here. Their family owned the house 1891-1944. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lehrmann purchased it in 1944. #8394
702 Seelhorst, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08395
The Sledge House. Antebellum home of Col. Wm. Sledge; built about 1850. Greek revival architecture. Leaded glass door panels; rare nine-over-six light windows; arched cornices. Sledge built railroad to Chappell Hill, 1856, using his crop to finance bridge. #8395
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08396
Union Hill. The Hugh and Lucy Kerr family from Tennessee started the Kerr settlement in this area in 1831. W. B. McClellan (1804-80) from North Carolina bought land from W. P. Kerr in 1844 and began a second settlement. Union Academy was operating by 1850. Union Hill Post Office opened in 1854. Mrs. Lucy Kerr gave acreage at this point for a Methodist church; Masonic lodge and school soon shared the site. Stores, a hotel, and other buildings stood to the west. Unincorporated, the town of 800 dwindled after 1870, as railroad facilities in Burton (2 mi. south) drew away the local businesses. #8396
?, Burton, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08397
John Sterling Smith House. Originally built in 1855 as a one-story dog-trot structure, this house was purchased in 1873 by John Sterling and Claytonia Smith. Their son, John Sterling Smith, Jr., a community leader, businessman, and cotton farmer, had the home remodeled to its current Queen Anne style appearance in 1910. It is the last remaining house of its style in Chappell Hill. Its features include an octagonal tower, second floor gables and dormers, and a curvilinear porch. #8397
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08398
Steiner & Dallmeyer Building. Built by 1875, this commercial structure first housed the Burton Farmers Co-op. In 1903, German immigrants William Dallmeyer and Joe Steiner opened a mercantile business, which was in operation for over fifty years. The store housed the first telephone in town and served as a local cotton marketing center. Features of the building include a double-gable roof, wooden balustrade, and a 1913 addition with a false front and recessed central entry. #8398
?, Burton, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08399
Washington County. To the memory of those courageous souls, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention held here March 1-17, 1836 who declared Texas free, organized a Republic, and framed its constitution Jessie B. Badgett; Dr. George Washington Barnett; Thomas Barnett; Stephen William Blount; John White Bower; Asa Brigham; Andrew Briscoe; John Wheeler Bunton; John S.D. Byrom; Mathew Caldwell; Samuel Price Carson; George Campbell Childress; William Clark, Jr.; Robert M. Coleman; James Collingsworth; Edward Conrad; William Carroll Crawford; Richard Ellis; Dr. Stephen Hendrickson Everitt; John Fisher; Samuel Rhoades Fisher; James Gaines; Dr. Thomas Jefferson Gazley; Benjamin Briggs Goodrich; Jesse Grimes; Robert Hamilton; Bailey Hardeman; Augustine Blackburn Hardin; Samuel Houston; William Demetris Lacey; Albert Hamilton Latimer; Edward Oswald Legrand; Samuel Augustus Maverick; Collin McKinney; Michel Branamour Menard; William Menefee; John W. Moore; Dr. Junius William Mottley; Jose Antonio Navarro; Martin Parmer; Sydney Oswald Pennington; Robert Potter; James Power; John S. Roberts; Sterling Clack Robertson; Francisco Ruiz; Thomas Jefferson Rusk; William Bennett Scates; George Washington Smyth; Elijah Stapp; Dr. Charles Bellinger Stewart; James Gibson Swisher; Charles Standfield Taylor; David Thomas; John Turner; Edwin Waller; Claiborne West; James B. Woods; Dr. Lorenzo De Zavala May these names be engraved on the hearts of all Texans #8399
?, Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #08400
Washington County, C.S.A.. Washington County was the most populous in the state during the Civil War. It served as a center for production, warehousing, transportation and communications, and had a large quartermaster depot. Local wartime factories made spinning jennies, lumber, pots, kettles, wagons and army ambulances. Government cotton was held in Brenham, one of four state depots. From here, wagons and carts hauled it to Mexico in exchange for vital military and civilian supplies. Brenham, terminus of rail connections to Houston, was alive with troops, stagecoaches and freighters. Here, the early morning train was met by a pony express operation that carried the Houston Telegraph to Austin so that town's Gazette might publish the latest war news in the state capitol. A Confederate paper shortage forced the Brenham Banner to suspend publication. In nearby Washington-on-the-Brazos, however, Eva Lancaster never missed an issue, printing The Texas Ranger while her husband and two sons spent four years fighting for the South. Cavalry, infantry and artillery units from Washington County fought on all fronts during the war. Waul's Legion organized and trained in the county, and Brenham served as the headquarters for the reserve corps of Texas. Additionally, Gen. Jerome Roberston of Independence led the celebrated Hood's Texas Brigade for seventeen months. (1965) Marker is property of the state of Texas #8400
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08401
Washington County Courthouse. Built in 1940 with funds granted by the Public Works Administration. This is the fourth courthouse to serve Washington County since its formation in 1835. Constructed during the tenure of County Judge Sam Low, the massive white limestone courthouse was designed in the art moderne style. Details of that style include the light fixtures and cast aluminum eagles at the entries. The building stands as a symbol of Washington County government. #8401
105 E. Main, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08402
Washington County State Bank. James S. Giddings (1849-1940) was the principal organizer of this financial institution, which was established as the result of the creation of a state banking system in 1905. The official date set by the Legislature for filing bank charters was August 13, 1905. Since that date fell on a Sunday, the first charters were filed in Austin on August 14th. Washington County State Bank was the fifth in line that day to receive a charter. Since the first four state-chartered banks have been dissolved, Washington County State Bank is the oldest state bank in operation in Texas. The bank's first officers included H. K. Harrison as president, James Giddings as cashier, and Alex Simon, Sr., and A. D. Milroy as vice-presidents. Harrison served as president until his death in 1914. Washington County State Bank has grown and continues to serve Brenham and the surrounding area. Housed at 115 East Main Street for the first 73 years of its existence. The bank moved to this site in 1978. It retains historical significance as an early participant in the state-chartered banking system. #8402
200 W. Vulcan St., Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08403
Waul's Texas Legion Campsite. In the spring of 1862 Thomas N. Waul (1813-1903) recruited men from Washington and the surrounding counties to form a legion for Confederate service. Composed of twelve infantry companies, six cavalry companies, and two artillery companies, the legion numbered some two thousand soldiers. The organizational and training encampment of Waul's Texas Legion was located here along New Year's Creek. Waul was commissioned colonel of the legion on May 13, 1862, and the companies remained in camp here until August 18, when they departed for active duty. Part of the legion served in Mississippi in 1862 and 1863. They participated in the defense of Vicksburg and surrendered there following the siege. Other units served in Arkansas and Louisiana. The legion was later reorganized and returned to Texas to serve at Galveston and along the Gulf Coast until the end of the war. Throughout the war, the legion performed notably in numerous battles, sieges and skirmishes. After the Civil War Waul was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1866 (Reconstruction Convention). He later practiced law in Galveston. He died on his farm in Hunt County in 1903. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986 #8403
Waul's Legion Rd, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08404
Washington-on-the-Brazos. This village -- site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first capital of the Republic of Texas -- began in 1822 as a ferry crossing. Here the historic La Bahia Road (now Ferry Street) spanned the Brazos River. In 1834 a townsite was laid out and named, probably for Washington, Georgia, home of a leading settler. In 1835, as political differences with Mexico led toward war, the General Council (the insurgent Texas government) met in the town. Enterprising citizens then promoted the place as a site for the Convention of 1836 and, as a "bonus," provided a free meeting hall. Thus, Texas' Declaration of Independence came to be signed in an unfinished building owned by a gunsmith. The Provisional Government of the Republic was also organized in Washington, but was removed, March 17, as news of the advancing Mexican Army caused a general panic throughout the region. The townspeople fled too on March 20, 1836, in the "Runaway Scrape." After the Texan victory at San Jacinto, the town thrived for a period. It was again capital of Texas, 1842-1845; and became center of Washington State Park, 1916. It now contains historic buildings and "Barrington," home of Anson Jones, the last President of Texas. (1969) #8404
Park Road 12, Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08405
The Wesley Brethren Church. First congregation in Texas of the Czech-Moravian Brethren. Organized 1864 by Rev. Joseph Opocensky. Ministry had begun in homes, with settlers coming as far as 20 miles to worship. This first church built 1866, principally of hand-hewn logs. Necessary lumber was hauled by ox-carts from Galveston. Native rock and oak logs in foundation. Until about 1900, served also as school, usually with pastor as the teacher. #8405
?, Wesley, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08406
Wittbecker-Weiss House. Home builder and lumber company owner Frank Wood built this house in 1895 and later that year sold it to bakery owners H. G. and Annie Wittbecker. A late 19th-century L-plan Victorian dwelling, the house features fan-shaped porch brackets, wood shingled gable ends, decorative bargeboards, heavily embellished corner brackets on the front gable, and turned-wood columns. Merchant Robert Weiss acquired the house in 1920 and it remained in his family until 1982. #8406
600 Third St., Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08407
Witte-Williams House. Victor Witte (1820-1900), who came from Hanover, Germany, to Latium in 1848 built a 3-room frame house here for son Armin in 1872; later added log cabin from Mill Creek Crossing of nearby Houston-Austin Wagon Road, as a hay barn. Witte's granddaughter, Emma Williams, and family moved here in 1906, built 2-room ell and porch in 1914. Her descendants sold place in 1969 to Mr. and Mrs. Robin Elverson, whose restoration included annexing the log cabin hay barn as living room. #8407
?, Greenvine, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08408
The Wood-Hughes House. W. A. Wood (1851-1909) and his wife Fannie (Wheeler) built this house in 1897. A lumber yard owner, Wood used fine materials--oak, heart pine, Louisiana cypress--and had siding milled to simulate cut stone. This is an excellent example of late Victorian residential architecture. Home was sold 1913 to planter-rancher Henry W. Hughes (1865-1935) and wife Bess (Thornhill), whose family owned it 58 years, selling in 1971 to Kenneth E. and Fonda (Clark) Rich, who call it "Clarich." #8408
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08409
Julius Yanch Home. Prime example of pioneer Texas architecture. Built for Yanch in 1854 by M. P. Munyan, contractor for many early Chappell Hill structures. Cedar construction with tongue and groove flooring; chimney, underground cistern of native limestone. #8409
?, Chappell Hill, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08410
Asa Brigham. Alcalde of Brazoria municipality, 1835; signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836; auditor of the Republic, 1836; treasurer of the Republic 1836-1840 and 1841-44. Born in Massachusetts 1790; died in Washington, Texas July 2, 1844. #8410
?, Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX, United States
Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #08411
Lewis Kraatz. A San Jacinto veteran; born in Germany; died in 1857 #8411
?, Independence, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08412
George Washington Petty. A San Jacinto veteran; Born in Tennessee; April 7, 1812; Died July 27, 1901 #8412
?, Brenham, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #08413
John William Smith. Soldier in the army of the Republic. Member of Congress. First mayor of San Antonio. Born in Virginia, 1792. Died in Washington Texas, January 13, 1845 #8413
?, Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX, United States