Texas Historical Marker #07928
Presbyterian Church, U.S. 1092. First church building erected in Van Horn. This was used by all faiths until other churches were built. #7928
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07927
Van Horn Wells. Only watering place in wide region. Stage stand on the San Antonio to San Diego route, 1857-1882. Occupied by Captain J.J. Van Horn and Co. F, Eighth U.S. Infantry in 1859 while engaged in protecting the frontier against marauding Indians. The high peaks served as heliograph stations. #7927
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07931
Culberson County. Formed from El Paso County; Created March 10, 1911; Organized April 18, 1911; Named for David B. Culberson 1830-1903 famous constitutional lawyer, a Confederate officer, member of the Texas legislature, member of the United States congress; Van Horn, the county seat. #7931
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07932
Original Culberson County Jail. In order to provide local law enforcement in the wake of Mexican bandit attacks, Culberson County was organized in 1911. The following year the county commissioners accepted plans for construction of this red brick jail. Although prisoners at times dug through the brick walls, the structure was used until a new courthouse which included a jail was completed in 1964. #7932
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07933
Feely Cemetery. The nearby cemetery (250 yards south) was first used in 1910 for the burial of an infant son of J.H. Feely. The owner of a grocery in the railroad settlement of Plateau (2 miles north), he later served as the first sheriff of Culberson County when it was organized in 1911. Three years later he was killed in the line of duty and was buried in Van Horn (18 miles west). The burial ground here contains mostly unmarked graves of family members and pioneer area settlers. Only a metal fence has protected the site, which was unused and neglected for many years. #7933
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #12657
San Antonio-California Trail. (Three miles south) One of Texas' first cross-country wagon trails. The San Antonio-El Paso section of this route was surveyed in 1848 by a party under the intrepid Indian fighter Jack Hays. Used first by emigrants and gold-seekers, it became part of the San Antonio-San Diego mail line (1857), one of America's pioneer mail services. Passengers on the line paid $200 (one-way) to share a swaying Concord coach with 600 pounds of mail and braved bandits, dust, floods, and Indians to spend 27 days traveling 1,500 miles. Service ended in 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War. #12657
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #15609
Culberson County Courthouse (razed). #15609
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07935
Texas Civil War Indian Trouble. War brought turmoil to Indians living in Kansas and the Indian Territory, with unfortunate results for Texans on the frontier. Most Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks and Seminoles aided the South, while others adhered to the North. Few Comanches made a treaty with the South; but a great majority with their allies, the Kiowas, held aloof from either side and plundered the frontier at will. Apaches and Kickapoos did the same from Mexico. Texas and Confederate troops, despite poor arms and mounts, held defense lines until war's end. #7935
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07925
Clark Hotel. First permanent structure in Van Horn. Earliest portion (built 1901) housed original city post office. Main portion was built in 1905-06 by John Cox of concrete blocks handmade by crew on site. In 1911-12, when Culberson was newly organized, served as the county courthouse. Until 1918, when converted to hotel by Fred Clark, structure was site for theatrical programs and school graduations and housed a saloon, offices, and all kinds of shop. #7925
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07934
Colonel David B. Culberson 1830-1900. Native Georgian. Came to Texas 1856. Although opposed to secession he aided in raising 18th Texas Infantry as Lt. Colonel, C.S.A. Made commanding Colonel of 18th in 1862. After service in Vicksburg area broken health forced resignation of command winter 1862-63. As Adjutant and Inspector General of Texas 1863-64 responsible for protection of frontier against Indian attacks, Union invasion. #7934
?, Van Horn, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #07936
Figure 2 Ranch. The lands which now lie within the boundaries of the Figure 2 Ranch were occupied in the 19th century by nomadic Native American tribes. One of the last battles between Texas Rangers and Apaches Indians occurred in the mountains west of this site in 1881. James Monroe Daugherty (18501942), who came to Texas from Missouri as a small child in 1851, served as a Confederate express rider at age 14. Following the Civil War he returned home to Denton County and became interested in the cattle business. He participated in numerous cattle drives and by 1872 purchased his first ranch. He was a charter member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. As his empire grew, Daugherty acquired additional ranches in several states. In 1890 he purchased land here and founded the Figure 2 Ranch. Taking up residence here by 1905, he was active in local politics and served as one of Culberson County's first commissioners upon its creation in 1911. Due to his failing health, Daugherty sold the Figure 2 Ranch in 1933 to legendary millionaire businessman James Marion West, Sr. (1871-1941) of Houston. Although West did not live at the ranch, he visited often and the property remained in his family until 1992. #7936
?, Van Horn, TX, United States