Texas Historical Marker #05835
William Lenard Foster. Navarro County native William Lenard Foster migrated to this area in 1881 with his brother Robert West Foster. One of the region's pioneer settlers, W. L. Foster was a prominent rancher and landowner and was elected one of the first commissioners of Sterling County. A founder of the First Methodist Church, he served as president and director of the First National Bank of Sterling City from its founding in 1910 until his death in 1950. Recorded - 1982 #5835
SH 163, about 5.2 mi. S of Sterling City, Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05525
Town of Cummins. The pioneer settlement of Cummins developed at this site about 1890 around the saddle and harness shop of the earliest permanent settler, Mississippi native Robert Benjamin Cummins (b. 1848). A post office the following year the nearby town of Sterling City (1.9 miles east) was founded. The two towns became rivals for the designation of county seat when the Texas Legislature created Sterling County from Tom Green County on March 4, 1891. An intense publicity campaign developed, aided by the writings of the respective town newspaper editors: W. L. Thurman of the Cummins paper, the "North Concho News", and S. R. Ezzell of the "Sterling Courier". An election, conducted May 20, 1891, appeared to be a victory for Cummins until several voting boxes were dismissed for technical reasons, resulting in a tie. A second election on July 7 gave Sterling City a 13-vote margin and it was named the county seat. Most Cummins businesses and residents had moved to Sterling City by the end of 1891. Nothing remains of the early townsite, which once included a school, saloon, meat market, mercantile, blacksmith shop, and grocery stores. #5525
SH 87 about 1.9 mi. W of Sterling City, Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05114
Sterling County Jail. This two-story jail building was constructed in 1912, twenty-one years after the organization of Sterling County. Built by the Southern Structural Steel Co., it is located on property deeded to the county by Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Stewart. Stone for the exterior was quarried locally. The interior includes a downstairs living area for the sheriff and seven cells on the upper floor. An addition to the rear was completed in the 1960s. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1980 #5114
4th and Elm St., on Courthouse lawn, Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05100
State Hotel - First State Bank. Directors of the First State Bank of Sterling City, the town's earliest financial institution, had this two-story brick commercial building constructed in 1910. It originally housed the State Hotel and the banking operation, which was acquired in 1926 by the First National Bank. Other offices that have been located here include those of doctors, the telephone company, post office and city hall. E. B. Butler also operated a drugstore here from 1926 to the 1960s. Businessmen associated with the site have included many of the prominent early leaders of the community. #5100
4th and Elm St., Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04154
R. P. Brown Home. N/A - Medallion only #4154
705 5th Ave., Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #03447
Montvale. The community of Montvale was established in 1884 when the pioneer settlement of St. Elmo was relocated here. Then a part of Tom Green County, Montvale was located on the Shafter Military Trail, an early road from Fort Concho. A community school, the earliest in the area, was in operation by 1886. Three years later the town was platted by H. B. Tarver, the surveyor for Tom Green County. It is believed the settlement was named for a nearby hill referred to in Tarver's field notes as Mt. Vale. Early businesses in Montvale included the saddle and harness shop of R. B. Cummins and the general store and blacksmith shop of B. Z. Cooper. The town was also the site of a Methodist church, a hotel, a post office and a variety of stores. About 1889 R. B. Cummins started the town of Cummins (5.4 miles northwest) upriver from Montvale. Both settlements began to decline in 1891 with the establishment of Sterling City (3.5 miles northwest) as the seat of government for the newly created Sterling County. A community cemetery is all that remains of the townsite of Montvale, a pioneer settlement that played an important role in the area's development. #3447
US 87 about 4 mi. SE of Sterling City, Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #02040
Foster Cemetery. The Foster Cemetery originally was part of the ranch land owned by Robert West and Fannie B. Foster, early settlers and prominent civic leaders in the area. Their infant daughter, Fay, was the first to be buried at the site in 1883. Over the years, numerous prominent Sterling County citizens have been buried in the public graveyard. Included among those are R. W. Foster and his brother, William Lenard, who served on the first Sterling County Commissioners Court; Ethel Foster, a former president of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs; Rufus West Foster and John Walraven, former mayors of Sterling City; early ranchers Newel C. Hodges, W. E. Brownfield, James W. Reynolds, and A. Carper; and saloon keeper and cattle inspector Frank C. Sparkman. For more than one hundred years the cemetery has served the Foster family and citizens from all parts of Sterling County. Now consisting of approximately 3.5 acres, the graveyard is maintained by the Foster Cemetery Association. With historic ties to the formative years of Sterling County, Foster Cemetery is a good example of a pioneer graveyard. #2040
SH 163 S of Sterling City about 5.2 mi., Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01274
Dr. P. D. Coulson. Born near Morganton, Tenn. He enlisted, May 22, 1861, as private in 3rd Tenn. Inf., Confederate Army. Promoted to surgeon with rank of major, 1862, he saw much action -- First Manassas, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, other battles. Was twice wounded. Came to Texas after Civil War. Served as first county judge of Sterling County in 1890s. County judge of Coke county, 1907 - 1910. Married Etheldra Ann Johnson. Had four sons, four daughters. #1274
SH 87 about 4 mi. SE of Sterling City, Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00661
Camp Elizabeth. Thought to have been established 1853. Used as an outpost hospital of Fort Concho 1874 - 1886. #661
US 87, Sterling City, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #00533
Brown House. N/A - Medallion only #533
Labapie & 7th Street, Sterling City, TX, United States