Texas Historical Marker #02692
John L. Jones Ranch. ESTABLISHED ABOUT 1875 BY JIM IKE AND JOHN L. JONES (1852-1912). JOHN JONES DROVE THOUSANDS OF CATTLE TO KANSAS RAILHEADS, AND BY 1885 HAD HIS BROTHER'S INTEREST IN THE RANCH, WHICH HE INCREASED TO 25,000 ACRES. ORIGINALLY HE RAN LARGE HERDS OF CATTLE, BUT LATER ADDED SHEEP AND GOATS TO HIS RANCH. HE BUILT A STONE DRIFT FENCE, POSSIBLY FIRST IN COUNTY; PORTIONS OF THIS STILL STAND. HE WAS PERSUADED BY FRIENDS TO RUN FOR SHERIFF IN 1896, TO HELP RID THE COUNTY OF RUSTLERS; HE COMPLETED THE JOB IN ONE TERM. DESCENDANTS OWN MUCH OF THIS ORIGINAL RANCH PROPERTY TODAY. (1973) #2692
?, London, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04238
Reichenau Gap. For more than 100 years, travelers followed road from Mason to Junction through this pass. Named for Adolph A. Reichenau, a German emigrant who settled near pass in 1860 as an early landholder in nearby Big Saline Valley. He moved in 1866 because of Indian depredations. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1966 #4238
?, London, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11999
London Post Office. In the early days of Kimble County, Len and Bettie Lewis established their ranch as a trade center. Bettie received most area mail at their home, the Lewis Hotel and Wagon Yard. In 1882 Bettie filed an application to formalize her postal station and was made the first post-master of the New "London" Post Office. Because of its central location and good roads, London became the direct route between Mason and Junction City. This site replaced an earlier post office near the town square. By 1997, 14 postmasters had served London in 115 years. (1997) #11999
17295 US-377, London, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #11996
Old Beef Trail Crossing. Once used for revivals, this Llano River crossing became a main line of the spring cattle drives from 1867 to the 1880s. Capt. C. A. Schreiner and his partners herded cattle on their way to Abilene and Dodge City on the western trail; many area cowboys rode with them. Preceded by a trail boss and chuckwagon, as many as 2,000 cattle per herd took half a day to cross. With the air full of dust, local ranchers sat on their horses watching their own cattle closely to ensure that none of their herd joined the trail drive. This site later became a vehicle crossing. (1997) #11996
?, London, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #03637
Old Beef Trail. 300 yards down the main Llano is crossing used 1867-1900 by cattle herds of Real, Frio, Kerr, Kimble, Medina, Edwards, Uvalde counties. Capts. Chas. A. Schreiner and John Lytle put half a million "SL" cattle over this end of western trail, up to market in Dodge City. Also this way went herds of " 7 OL", Western Union Beef Co., Seth Mabry, Terry, Hodges and Schmelter ranches. In early days vehicles from London and Junction forded here on way to Fredericksburg, San Antonio, Kerrville. Here also in old-time camp meetings, settlers convened for weeks. (1965) #3637
?, London, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04412
Site of Ivy Chapel and School. THE IVY COMMUNITY WAS NAMED FOR SAM, JACK AND BOB IVY, BROTHERS WHO MOVED TO KIMBLE COUNTY IN 1883. S. H. IVY DEEDED TWO ACRES OF LAND IN 1898 FOR A SCHOOL SITE AND A STRUCTURE WAS BUILT NEARBY. IN 1917 IVY DONATED ANOTHER TRACT OF LAND, AND A SCHOOLHOUSE WAS BUILT THAT YEAR. THE BUILDING ALSO SERVED AS A COMMUNITY CHAPEL AND PREACHERS HELD SERVICES ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. THE BUILDING WAS THE SITE OF SOCIAL GATHERINGS, SUCH AS BOX SUPPERS, AND WAS USED AS A VOTING PLACE. ALTHOUGH IVY SCHOOL WAS CONSOLIDATED WITH NEARBY LONDON SCHOOL IN 1939, THE CHAPEL CONTINUES TO SERVE THE AREA. (1996) #4412
?, London, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #02988
London Town Square. PLANNED AS COURT SQUARE OF PROPOSED COUNTY. PLATTED ABOUT 1878 BY POSTMASTER LEN L. LEWIS, WHOSE TOWN NAME CHOICE, "BETTY LEWIS "(FOR HIS WIFE), WAS VETOED BY POSTAL AUTHORITIES. "LONDON" IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN PROPOSED BY THE PEARL FAMILY, FOR THEIR OLD KENTUCKY HOME TOWN. ON THE WESTERN CATTLE TRAIL, LONDON HAD TRAIL DRIVERS AS RESIDENTS AND SOLD SUPPLIES TO CREWS PASSING WITH LONGHORN HERDS. BUSINESSES IN EARLY DAYS: BLACKSMITH SHOP, STORES, COTTON GIN. ALSO THERE WERE 3 CHURCHES AND A SCHOOL. COKE R. STEVENSON, 19411-47 TEXAS GOVERNOR, LIVED HERE AS A CHILD. (1971) #2988
?, London, TX, United States