Historical Markers in Corsicana, Texas

Jose Antonio Navarro · 1936

Lover of liberty. Foe of despotism. Born in San Antonio, Texas, February 27, 1795. Died January 13, 1871 and buried there. Member of the Legislature of Coahuila and Texas, 1821; land commissioner of De Witt's colony…

Navarro County · 1936

Formed from Robertson County. Created April 25, 1846; organized July 13, 1846. Named in honor of Jose Antonio Navarro, 1795-1871, soldier, patriot and statesman, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Member…

The Birthplace of the Petroleum Industry · 1936

West of the Mississippi River. In this well, drilled by H. G. Johnston, E. H. Akin, and Charles Rittersbacher under contract for a water well for the city of Corsicana in 1894, the first oil in commercial quantities in…

Indian Trading Post · 1962

RTHL medallion only

L. P. Hodge Home · 1963

Colonel Roger Q. Mills · 1964

(1832-1911) Born in Kentucky. Came to Texas 1849. Civic and political leader. Represented Navarro County in Legislature, 1859-60. Joined in call for State Secession Convention, 1861. Joined 3rd Texas Cavalry. Later a…

Collin Street Bakery · 1967

Opened two blocks north of this site in 1896, by August Weidmann, an immigrant baker from Wiesbaden, Germany, and W. T. McElwee, a local cotton buyer. Combining the talents of a baker whose pride and joy was baking a…

Early Texas Natural Gas Pipelines · 1967

First public use of natural gas began in Texas in 1902, from transmission lines on this street, serving local homes and businesses. These early lines were forerunners of mains that now transport Texas gas to…

First Methodist Church · 1967

Founded 1851; sanctuary built 1871 was not yet consecrated when State Democratic Convention met here 1872 and laid plans to free Texas from Reconstruction rule. First missionary society west of the Mississippi organized…

George Taylor Jester · 1967

(1846-1922) Lieutenant governor of Texas (1894-1898), also father of Beauford Jester, a later Texas governor. As a boy, came from Illinois to Corsicana in a two-horse wagon. Worked on courthouse, first brick building in…

George Washington Shelton · 1967

(Jan. 12, 1814-Nov. 15, 1882) A Texas War for Independence soldier. Born in Virginia. Lived in Tennessee, where he joined 15 other recruits late in 1835 to come to Texas and fight against dictator Santa Anna. Served…

Roger Q. Mills Home · 1967

Outstanding example plantation architecture. Was long the home of U. S. Senator Roger Quarles Mills (1832-1911). Born in Kentucky, Mills came to Corsicana in 1852. Was colonel in Civil War; served Texas 27 years as…

Senator James H. Woods Home · 1967

Built 1900 of long leaf pine lumber. Entry paneled in beveled, leaded plate glass. Children had skating rink and gym in attic. Occupied by Senator Woods and family, 1900-1931; by son, 1931-1939. Senator Woods…

Beauford Halbert Jester Home · 1968

In 1923 Beauford H. Jester (1893-1949) and his wife, Mabel (Buchanan), built this colonial revival home on land that had been his family's dairy farm. A Corsicana attorney, Jester later served as chairman of the…

Birthsite of Beauford H. Jester · 1968

(1893-1949) Governor of Texas (1947-1949) Chief executive when significant Gilmer-Aikin Law was passed, raising standards of public education in Texas, his administration also made strides toward prison reform, water…

Old Welding Shop of H. C. Nicol · 1968

(1892-1963) Expert with acetylene torch, Nicol is remembered as first welder operating in the Navarro County oil fields, which opened 1894. He began work about 1912, at a time when he had to mix own welding chemicals.…

Col. Clinton McKamey Winkler · 1971

(October 19, 1821--May 13, 1882) Eminent judge, for whom a Texas county was named. Born in North Carolina. Settled in 1840 in the Republic of Texas. Admitted to the Bar (1843), he served 1847-49 in 2nd Texas…

The First National Bank of Corsicana · 1971

An institution whose history reflects rise of a landmark city. Corsicana was founded about 1850. In 1871, when the Houston & Texas Central gave the town rail connections with national commerce, two former H. & T. C.…

Alva Everett Taylor · 1974

(July 19, 1891-Dec. 8, 1965) Grassroots researcher-writer and historical preservationist whose work led to development of this pioneer village. Born near Dawson (10 mi. SW), Taylor attended Baylor University (1911-13),…

Corsicana in 1860-1872 · 1974

A center of patriotism especially committed to the Southern cause. After the Nov. 1860 presidential election, citizens lowered the Stars and Stripes and ran up the Texas flag on the Courthouse. Early in 1861 influential…

Site of Merchants Opera House · 1974

At this site in 1891, a group of businessmen built a three-story structure to replace the small Corsicana Opera House above city hall. The Merchants Opera House had stores and offices on the first two floors and a…

Judge E. J. Simkins House · 1975

Eldred James Simkins (1838-1902) then of South Carolina, served 4 years in the Confederate army. A brother, William S. Simkins was credited with firing the first shot of the Civil War at Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. E.…

Oil City Iron Works · 1975

This modern plant grew from the small machine shop and foundry started on this site in 1866 by John Winship (1826-86) to make parts for his cotton gin. He sold the operation in 1886 to businessmen Joseph Huey…

Corsicana City Jail of 1908 · 1976

The city's first brick jail, this structure was erected in 1908 adjacent to the city hall on a lot purchased from Rebecca A. Croft, widow of Judge William Croft. On the lower floor were cells and on the top floor the…

Rex Ingram · 1976

Dean of American black actors. A Corsicana native, Rex (Clifford) Ingram was the son of Mack and Mamie Ingram. He graduated from Northwestern University before launching his brilliant acting career, which spanned 50…

Site of the First Courthouse · 1976

The Texas Legislature specified that the seat of Navarro County should be called Corsicana; but the location was not secured until 1848, when this site was donated by David R. Mitchell, James C. Neill, and Thomas Smith.…

Westminster Presbyterian Church · 1976

On May 16, 1853, the Rev. John Patton and about 20 Cumberland Presbyterians formed the first organized church in Corsicana. Other Presbyterians organized later: The First Church, U. S., in 1868; and an Associate…

Corsicana State Home · 1977

Created by the 20th Legislature in 1887, the State Orphan Asylum originally provided care for orphans under age 14. State officials located the institution in Corsicana after local citizens donated over 200 acres at…

Fire Station No. 2 · 1977

The Corsicana Volunteer Fire Department was organized in Dec. 1879, with J. J. Strupper as chief. Volunteer fire fighters carried buckets before acquiring hand- and horse-drawn equipment. Fire Station No. 1, located at…

Former Site of Fred Douglass - G.W. Jackson School · 1977

Corsicana built its first public school for blacks on this site in 1881. The early formal name, commemorating ethnic leader Frederick Douglass (1817-95), was changed in 1925 to honor the first principal, G.W. Jackson…

Odd Fellow and Rebekah Children's Home · 1977

In 1885 the Grand Lodge of Texas, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, founded the I. O. O. F. Widows and Orphans Home, one of the first fraternal orphanages in the state. Corsicana Lodge No. 63 and other local citizens…

Frank Neal Drane · 1978

(1862-1938) A Navarro County native, Frank Neal Drane married Florence A. Bingham in 1885 and had two children. He ran a hardware store with his father before becoming president of City National Bank. In 1901 Drane…

Hamilton-Beeman Cemetery · 1978

William Harvey Beeman (1817-1860) received a Mercer colony grant of 640 acres in Navarro County and brought his family here in the 1840s. He and pioneer Samuel Hamilton (1820-1900), who owned adjacent property, each…

Joseph S. Cullinan, Pioneer in Texas Oil · 1979

( former homesite of) At age 14 Joseph S. Cullinan (1860-1937) began his career as a laborer in the Pennsylvania oilfields. After the Corsicana oil discovery in 1894, Cullinan played a major role in the early…

First Independent Baptist Church of Corsicana · 1980

A group of former slaves, led by Simon Perry, organized the second African Baptist Church in 1868. Following an 1886 storm that destroyed the sanctuary on Fourth Avenue, the members purchased this property and…

Grape Creek Cemetery · 1980

G. W. Eliot donated land at this site for a school, Methodist church, parsonage, and graveyard. Burials in the cemetery began about 1881. The Doolen, Duncan, Eliot, Humphries, Metcalf, Rakestraw, Smith, Stokes,…

R. N. White · 1980

First County Clerk - First Corsicana Postmaster A native of South Carolina, Robert Newton White (1810-1891) moved his family to this area in 1845. One year later Navarro County was created and White was elected the…

St. John's Episcopal Church · 1980

This church was established in 1871 following Episcopal missionary efforts which began in the Corsicana area in the 1850s. Started as a mission, St. John's was organized under the leadership of the Rev. Virginius Gee.…

The Scales-Fortson House · 1980

This residence was constructed in the 1890s by H. L. Scales, owner of a local gin and cottonseed oil mill. In 1911 it was purchased by John Thompson, president of the Corsicana National Bank. It became the home of…

Angus Schoolhouse · 1981

The community of Angus began soon after rail lines were completed to this area in 1871. Three years later a public school was started under the direction of Lila Blackburn. The first schoolhouse was a two-room frame…

Dunn-Ransom Home · 1981

A native of Kentucky, Ewing Eric Dunn (1835-1917) came to Texas in 1850. He served as Navarro County deputy sheriff, 1854-1858, and joined the Confederate army during the Civil War. In 1866 he built the first portion of…

First Baptist Church of Corsicana · 1981

Originally known as the United Baptist Church, this fellowship was established through the leadership of the Rev. Noah Turner Byars, a pioneer preacher and founder of the Trinity River Baptist Association. The church…

Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church · 1981

Established before the Civil War by pioneer area settlers, this congregation first met in a schoolhouse on the property of William Harvey Beeman (1817-1860), a member of the Mercer Colony. Early services were conducted…

Temple Beth-El · 1981

The earliest Jewish settlers in Corsicana arrived in 1871, the year rail lines were built to the area. In 1898 a group of reformed Jews established Temple Beth-El. Two years later they built this house of worship, which…

American Well & Prospecting Company · 1982

Organized in Kansas in 1890 by Horace Greeley Johnston (1851-1930) of Ohio and Pennsylvania native Charles Rittersbacher (1857-1919). This company began as a water well drilling business. In 1891 the partners moved to…

James Emerson Whiteselle · 1982

Born in Tennessee on Dec. 31, 1851, James Emerson Whiteselle moved to Texas in 1870 to work in the lumber company of his uncle P. W. Ezell. In 1875 he began working in the local Carruthers Lumber Company which he later…

Grange Hall Cemetery · 1983

Established to serve the small farming community of Cryer Creek, Grange Hall Cemetery most likely derived its name from the active farmers' organization known as The Grange. The site was used for a burial ground as…

Holman Home · 1983

William Lee Holman (1863-1932) moved to Corsicana in 1908 to become the manager of the Southland Cotton Oil Mill. He built this home in 1914,and it remained in his family for eighteen years. The classical revival style…

J. A. Megarity Homestead · 1983

James A. Megarity (1838-1911) was born in Georgia and served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. He took part in several important battles including Gettysburg and Petersburg. He was also present at the…

James L. Collins · 1983

Born in Weston, West Virginia, James Lawrence Collins (1883-1953) began his career in the petroleum industry at age fourteen. New oil discoveries in Texas brought him to the Corsicana area about 1923. He soon formed a…

Lemon-Edens House · 1983

Corsicana resident A. L. Lemon built this home in 1895 of Louisiana cypress. In 1902 it was sold to John Wesley Edens. The owner of 2400 acres of local farm and ranch land, Edens had served the area as deputy sheriff,…

Navarro County Courthouse · 1983

Navarro County was created in 1846 by an act of the first Texas Legislature. It was named for early statesman Jose Antonio Navarro (1795-1871), a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The first county seat…

Tatum Home · 1983

Built before 1900 by William M. Tatum, son of a Corsicana pioneer merchant, this colonial revival style mansion features first-floor palladian windows. Massive Ionic columns support the two-story porch. Tatum's son…

The Molloy Hotel · 1983

In 1874, three years after the rail line was laid through Corsicana, lawyer Henry Molloy (1829-1913) had a one-story hotel built to accommodate businessmen and other travelers. Molloy added the second story in 1881.…

Henry G. Damon · 1984

(1846-1918) Born in Florida, Henry Damon served in the Confederate army and was taken prisoner during the Civil War. After moving to Corsicana in 1873, Damon became a lawyer and established the Texas Loan Agency with…

Rosenberg Family · 1984

Ben Rosenberg (1862-1929) emigrated from Poland to the United States about 1882. After living several years in Waco, he settled in Corsicana about 1890. Rosenberg soon became the proprietor of the Cotton Exchange Saloon…

Samuel R. Frost · 1984

(Mar. 1, 1846 - Jan. 1, 1908) A native of Huntsville, Texas, Samuel R. Frost grew up in Navarro County and in 1863 enlisted in the Confederate army. After the Civil War, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in…

Smith-McCrery Home · 1984

Built in 1880, this house originally was the residence of Dr. John R. Smith, who served as the mayor of Corsicana from 1883 until 1885. During his term of office, Smith organized the volunteer fire department and helped…

State National Bank of Corsicana · 1984

Organized in 1917 by B. B. Munsey, G. C. Dunn, P. D. Williams, and E. L. Dupuy, the State National Bank originally was located just off the southwest corner of Collin and Beaton streets. Munsey served as the…

Alexander Beaton · 1985

A native of Scotland, Alexander Beaton came to the United States in 1843. He migrated to Texas in 1848 after serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. In 1850 he settled in Corsicana and began the practice of…