Texas Historical Marker #01573
Farmers and Merchants National Bank. The oldest financial institution in continuous operation in Nocona, the Farmers and Merchants National Bank was founded in 1905 with capital stock of $30,000. Seven directors were named at the bank's organizational meeting, and W.A. McCall (1845-1915) was named President. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son, Cadmus McCall (1876-1953), who served for thirty-eight years. First housed in the J.A. Foshee Store at Oak and Clay Streets, the bank moved to this location in 1926. Throughout its history, the bank has been active in the civic life of Nocona. (1987) #1573
Clay and Elm St., Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01661
First Baptist Church of Nocona. Organized in the summer of 1889 by The Rev. J.W. Holman and thirteen charter members, the Nocona Baptist Church first met in a local schoolhouse. The Rev. S.E. West served as first pastor. A sanctuary was completed in 1897, and in 1903 the name was changed to First Baptist Church. A new sanctuary replaced the 1897 structure in 1927. Over the years this congregation has been involved in many outreach projects, including the organization of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Nocona and the support of foreign missionary activities. (1989) #1661
511 Cooke St., Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #03438
Montague County Trails. #3438
US 82, east side of Nocona, Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12232
Molsbee Chapel Cemetery. The Rev. Abraham Molsbee and his wife Susan Looney Molsbee brought their eight children to Texas from Tennessee in 1888. They purchased 965 acres of land for farming and stock raising. A minister in the Church of the Brethren denomination, Molsbee and Henry Brubaker established a church in Nocona in April 1889. Molsbee also was instrumental in the organization of a number of other congregations throughout northwest Texas. He did mission work in the communities of Williams Creek in Cooke County, Live Oak in Parker County, Lingleville in Erath County, Pampa in Gray County and Salt Creek in Montague County, as well as in the Indian Territory (later Oklahoma). This cemetery, located adjacent to the Molsbee Chapel Church, began as a family graveyard when the Molsbees' 20-year-old son, Orville, died in 1888. Other marked 19th century graves are those of the Molsbees' son Robert, who died at age two in 1895 and a neighbor, Wilfred Beck, who died in 1898. Though the graveyard was used by the community at large, it legally was a private cemetery until 1942, when David C. Molsbee, who inherited the land including this site from his parents Abraham and Susan, deeded two acres for a community burial ground. A cemetery association was established in 1971. Many veterans of the Armed Forces are interred here, among them Confederate soldiers John P. Watson of the 43rd Georgia Regiment and Fulton B. Loe, Jr., of Company A28, Louisiana Infantry. Other veterans include participants in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam conflict. The burial ground continues to serve the area and is a chronicle of northwest Texas history. (2000) #12232
?, Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12231
Starkey Cemetery. Drawn to fertile lands of north Texas, settlers began arriving in this area in significant numbers after 1850. Montague County was established in 1858 and the area began to grow. B. L. Starkey and his sons Columbus and Napoleon came from Ellis County with their families about the time of the Civil War. According to oral history, Starkey Cemetery began in the 1860s. A newly-arrived pioneer family named Wells was settling in for the winter when their small daughter died. The family asked Columbus Starkey, their closest neighbor, for permission to bury the child on the Starkey family land. Another of the Wells children died that same year and was also interred here. The property soon became a community cemetery. B. L., Columbus and Napoleon Starkey organized a Methodist church on this site in the 1870s. By 1875, those interred here included members of the Mounts, Lemons and Flatt families. The first of the Starkeys to be interred on this site were twins Helen and Ellen, daughters of Napoleon and M. C. Starkey, who died and were buried in 1886. The Starkey community school, attended by students from surrounding areas, was funded by the Starkey family. Matilda Ellen McKinney Sloss, born in 1850, came to the area as a young girl. In a 1940 interview with another church member, "Grandmother Sloss" related much of the oral history that is known about this area in the 19th century. Starkey church and cemetery remain active as a place of worship and burial ground as well as a chronicle of the area's pioneer settlers. (1999) #12231
?, Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #03608
North Nocona Oil Field - Montague County Oil Discovery, 1922. Pennsylvania oil man George Williams, backed by Cad McCall, drilled for oil intermittently, 1918-22, beginning at Eagle Point (4.5 mi. SE). Leasing by individuals and major companies--including Phil Lesh, A.E. Humphrey, and the Texas Co.--kept rigs working. Gas blew in at 800-foot depth on J.W. Maddox-J.E. Lemons land, one well yielding over 100,000,000 cubic feet daily. The gas was piped to Nocona and rural homes. Oil was discovered in 1922 on Maddox site, at about 1,000 feet. Production continued at 1,000-2,000 feet, there and elsewhere. The gas caused trouble: a capped well blew mud from prairie dog holes and gas from water well a quarter-mile away. In 1925, a gas well on W.W. Jones land (2 mi. W) blew out a gigantic crater. Another well (.75 mi. W) caught fire, burned its rig, and was finally doused by nationally-famed oil well fire fighter Tex Thornton. With an estimated 100,000,000-barrel total on record, this 12,295-acre field still produces. (1972) #3608
FM 103, 10 mi. W of Nocona, Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00789
Central Christian Church. This sanctuary was constructed in 1894, six years after Central Christian Church was founded by The Rev. M.F. Smith. Built by craftsmen Roger Brothers and R. Chenowith, the Gothic Revival structure was one of the first of its style to appear in this area of the Texas frontier. Outstanding features of the church building include the steeply-pitched gables, lancet windows, and fine interior woodwork. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1962. #789
300 Cooke Street, Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04219
Red River Station. Established 9 miles northwest 1861 as Civil War outpost near major buffalo and indian crossing. Local soldiers, determined to guard edge of settlement against Indian raids, Union invasion from Indian territory, joined by Texas Frontier Regiment Cavalry Company. Families of settlers, cattlemen built log cabins within post stockade. Poorly fed, clothed and short on horses and ammunition Confederates patrolled area effectively. Comanche, Kiowa raid at Illinois Bend 15 miles east Jan. 1863. Major cattle crossing after war. A memorial to Texans who served in the Confederacy - Erected by the State of Texas 1963; (BACK OF RED RIVER STATION) Texas Civil War Frontier Defense 1861-1865 Texas made an all-out effort for the Confederacy after voting over 3 to 1 for secession. 90,000 troops, noted for mobility and and heroic daring, fought on every battlefront. An important source of supply and gateway to foreign trade thru Mexico, Texas was the storehouse of the south. Red River Station and other posts on this line were backed by patrols of state Rangers, organized militia, and citizens posses scouting from nearby "family forts." This was part of a 2000 mile frontier and coastline successfully defended by Texans. (1963) #4219
US 82, 6 mi. W of Nocona, Nocona, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05632
Valley View Baptist Church. The Tri-County Baptist Association, comprised of churches in Montague, Clay, and Wise Counties, voted to establish a church near Spanish Fort in 1895. Red River Baptist Church was formally organized that year following a revival service held under a brush arbor at Red River station. Early worship services were held in the Rowland Schoolhouse (1 mile west) and in the March Schoolhouse (1 mile north). About 1919-1920, after the Valley View Schoolhouse was built, the Baptist congregation shared that facility with other local churches. In 1921, during the pastorate of The Rev. J.A. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. York donated land at this site for a church building. Brother Russell, who also served as Principal of Valley View School, lived in a teacherage on school property until 1927, when the church built a parsonage. He later resigned to become Pastor of the First Baptist Church in nearby Nocona. In late 1928 or early 1929 church members voted to change the name of the congregation to Valley View Baptist Church. The Valley View congregation has a long history of supporting outreach and missionary activities. Many of the congregation's former pastors later served in the foreign missionary field. (1995) #5632
FM 103, 15 mi. N of Nocona, Nocona, TX, United States