|
Tyler County, Texas
Historical Markers & Historic Landmarks
Click on thumbnails for larger view
Marker
Photo |
Marker Name & Text |
|
Alabama-Coushattas of Texas
|
Two tribes, welded into one in their wanderings.
Visited Texas briefly in 1816, at Peach
Tree Village, Tyler County, before swinging back into Louisiana. Seeking
land to call their own, however, returned and made first home in
Texas on this site, from 1836 to 1844,
under leadership of First Chief Colabe Sylestine and Second Chief Antone
Sylestine. Tribe built log cabins for chiefs and lean-tos of bark and
wood for rest of the people. Settlement locations had to be carefully
selected. As place for important tribal gatherings, an open field of
deep sand had to be situated at center of every village. Here were held
tribal pow-wows and ceremonial dancing, but the field's really popular
function was as the ball park. Ball playing among the Alabama-Coushattas
was a form of lacrosse, in which a long-handled racquet was used to
catch, carry or throw a hard ball past the goalee. Women of the tribe,
when they played, used no racquet-- only their hands. Known as migrants,
rather than agricultural Indians, the Alabama-Coushattas nevertheless
were Texas settlers who contributed to the
culture of the state.
Erected: 1964 |
|
James Barclay Place, 1842 |
Hand-hewn pine. Oldest home in county. Built by area's first Indian
agent, an appointee of President Sam Houston.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965 |
|
Beech Creek Baptist Church |
FM 1013 on CR 4540, Beech Creek
Georgia native James G. Collier moved his extended family to this area
in 1852. Collier settled in the Beech Creek community and established
the area's first sawmill. This church was organized in Collier's home by
8 charter members on September 24, 1855. The congregation accepted both
Anglos and African Americans into its membership. African American Henry
Gainer was ordained as minister by the church in 1867. Early worship
services were held in a local school building and baptism services were
conducted in nearby Mill and Beech creeks. The church grew with the area
and in 1892 the congregation erected its first sanctuary here on three
acres donated by James Collier for church and cemetery purposes. Church
membership continued to expand, and in 1905 a Sunday School was
organized. An additional two acres of land were purchased in 1955, and
in 1969 a new building was erected to house growing educational and
recreational programs. The church called its first full-time pastor in
1995. Beech Creek Baptist Church has historically
supported local and regional ministries and continues to serve the
community with various programs and activities. Sesquicentennial of
Texas Statehood 1845-1995
Erected 1995 - |
|
Original Site of Bethel Baptist Church |
205 W Wheat St., Woodville (Attached to entry way of 1st Bapist
Church Auditorium)
First church in county. Organized by Thomas Rock, Milton McQueen,
Mrs. Mary Parsons. First pastor was the Rev. J.B. Masterson. Courthouse
was used for worship until church was built 1852. Last of old structure
was dismantled in 1957. The original bell is now mounted here.
Erected 1968 |
|
Burch-Cauble House |
N of Chester via US 287 E to FM 2097 N 5 mi to Peach Tree Village
Burch-Cauble House, built 1835 by Peter Cauble, early settler. Enlarged
by son-in-law Valentine Burch, veteran of battle of San Jacinto.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1964 |
|
Colmesneil-Mount Zion Cemetery |
Colmesneil - Off US 69 on Zion Cemetery Rd
According to local oral tradition, African American residents of
Colmesneil began using this land for burial purposes as early as the
1850s. The property remained in the hands of absentee landlords until
the 1930s, when the new owner allowed burials to continue at the site.
The oldest legible tombstone in the graveyard is that of Henry Mitchell,
who died September 11, 1859. There are a number of unmarked graves,
however, and some possibly predate Mitchell's burial. Among the more
than two hundred interments here are those of prominent members of
Colmesneil's black community, including ministers, doctors, teachers,
railroad employees, and veterans of World War I and World War II. Known
as the Colmesneil Cemetery until 1972, the graveyard was renamed Mount
Zion Cemetery to avoid confusion with another Colmesneil Cemetery in the
city. The new name was taken from a combination of the names of two
local churches with which the cemetery historically has been associated
-Mount Hope Baptist Church and Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. The
cemetery serves as a visible reminder of the area's African American
Heritage.
Erected 1992 |
|
Cooper-Reid Home |
Built 1850. Home of Congressman Samuel B. Cooper (1850-1918). Bought
1903 by S. H. Reid; lived in continuously by Reids. Restored by
Mr. and Mrs. S. D. O'Brien
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1968 |
|
Squire Cruse |
On Cruse Cemetery Rd., 8 mi E of Woodville on US 190
Soldier in the Texas War for
Independence. Served in Bexar Campaign, 1835.
Erected 1936 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tyler County, Texas Entry
