William Jackson Luna
August 5, 1852 - June 19, 1943
A Loving Tribute In Memory of The Founder of Plains, Texas
In Louisberg, Tennessee, William Jackson
Luna was born August 5, 1852, and Mary S. Driver
was born September 1854.
They were married in 1870 near Greenville, Texas. Three children
were
born: Ora in 1874, Lela on July
15, 1876, and Murphy William on January 4, 1890. From Greenville
the family moved to the southern part
of Palo Duro Canyon near Canyon, Texas. In the fall of 1904,
Mr. Luna purchased section 426 in
Yoakum County from the John Obertheers and filed on four sections
of adjoining land on the Sulphur
Draw. The family moved here in February of 1905 with their be-
longings and large herd of cattle
using the Flying L brand. They lived on the west side of Plains in the
Sulphur Draw and established a post
office in their home after carrying the mail from Gomez free for
a year.
Mrs. Luna died in the spring, April 1906, and Mr Luna gave five acres of land
for a cemetery in
which to bury her. The
second death was the little Narramore baby who died from whooping cough.
The third grave was for Mr. Robert H.
Hurst who passed away October 12, 1907.
More land was being filed on and more people were moving to this
area. In 1907, Mr. Luna
built a mercantile store, moved the
post office, designated the town section 427 as Plains, Texas, for
the broad open
plains. The county was organized September 21,
1907. This big event was cele-
brated with an all-day picnic.
The roots of our pioneers were true and sound. They were men of
courage, determination and
vision. May this tribute
be a challenge to each of us to continue to help make our county a better
place to live.
Pictures Submitted
by Suzahn Smith, Great-Granddaughter of William Jackson Luna.
Article from "Yoakum County From
Sod to 1986" published by the Yoakum County Historical Commission.
Happy 90th Birthday!!
