Hamilton County, Texas
Hamilton is home to 28 official Texas Historical Commission markers — each one telling a piece of the city’s story. Browse the markers below, then find them on the map and discover more nearby with RoadHistorical.
Created February 2, 1842 from Montgomery and Houston counties; recreated January 22, 1858, organized August 2, 1858. Named in honor of General James Hamilton, 1786-1857. Lawyer and Governor of South Carolina; appointed…
View on map ↗-- from application - Built 1873 by John Jefferson Durham; 2-story rock, colonial residence. J. J. Durham was first to teach school in Hamilton. Owned several thousand acres of land, fought in Civil War, was an early…
View on map ↗Texas War for Independence soldier, 1836. Later commanded a frontier Minuteman Company. Erected by the State of texas, 1962
View on map ↗Built 1872; early Texas ranch style; 2-story, hewn rock
View on map ↗-- (RTHL medallion only)
View on map ↗Created and organized in 1858. By 1860 had 489 people in 78 families from 15 states. Vote in 1861 was 86-1 in favor of secession. 60 farmers were organized as Hamilton County Minutemen, a unit of part-time soldiers.…
View on map ↗J. T. James and Z. C. Law had the town's first drugstore in 1876. Law appointed postmaster, used a small safe in official duties. In 1881 Dr. George Perry bought Law's interest, but the safe remained in the store. The…
View on map ↗First Episcopal church in Hamilton County. Services were begun 1868 in home of Mrs. E. D. Bell, Rt. Rev. Alexander Gregg; first bishop of Texas, who rode here horseback from Galveston. Site given 1891 by Maj. C. W.…
View on map ↗Born in Tennessee, studied medicine by apprenticeship. Married Elizabeth Jane Reynolds; had seven children. In 1874 came to Hamilton County. A church leader, he farmed, practiced medicine. Gave land for West Point…
View on map ↗Before era of this impressive courthouse, Hamilton County's government was housed in stores, a rustic school, a former livery stable, a 2-story building with top floor especially designed for a courtroom, and briefly in…
View on map ↗Organized Sept. 5, 1880, by Rev. John A. McMurray, evangelist of Central Texas Presbytery. Its building of early 1880s was first frame church erected in Hamilton; used by other faiths on Sunday evenings for years.…
View on map ↗Between these trees Wm. Willis took refuge on Dec. 24, 1866, but was shot fatally by Indians. He was riding a mule to a dance when attacked. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967
View on map ↗(1815 - 1895) Gifted pioneer whose 1846-1895 writings brought many settlers to Texas from her native Norway. Countrymen also found her home open to newcomers. She is now called "Lady with the Pen". She and her husband…
View on map ↗Influential early promoter of Norwegian emigration to Texas; born Elise Tvede in 1815. In 1846, after John Reiersen migrated to Texas to found the first Norwegian settlement in the state, she became editor of his…
View on map ↗Named for historic trees. Built 1904 by Dr. Chas. C. Baker (1872-1942), city's first resident dentist, descendant of the Beemans, one of Dallas' founding families; graduate, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery,…
View on map ↗In area settled in 1870s. Some of the earliest settlers were Connels, McKinleys, Nettletons, and Roddys. First school, Union Hill, opened in 1883; A. S. Andrews, J. H. Clark, L. C. Sloneker, trustees. Post office,…
View on map ↗Congregation formed by local settlers in 1850s. First known pastor was the Rev. J. H. Perry, in 1870. Among early members were families of Isaac Steen, J. Hogue Pierson, J. A. Eidson, Thomas Dean, and Dr. George F.…
View on map ↗Outgrowth of earliest known religious work in this county--preaching by Baptist Elder D. S. Babb, 1867-73. Organized in 1873. Known charter members: Col. G. R. Freeman, S. C. Messer, J. P. Murphree, Mrs. Elizabeth Rice,…
View on map ↗Born in Larkinsville, Ala.; came to Coryell County, Tex., 1857, and Hamilton, 1860. Taught school here. Acquired much land; traded 200 cattle for C. C. Bumgartner's Store and Hotel. Helped found and direct Hamilton…
View on map ↗Built about 1900 by C. W. Cotton, this structure was originally a one-story brick and stone building used for mercantile stores. A second story was added in 1913 to serve as a meeting place for The Hamilton Knights of…
View on map ↗A number of German immigrants settled in this area in the late 19th century. Initially known as Pleasant Point, the settlement was later renamed Aleman. Traveling Lutheran missionaries held worship services for the…
View on map ↗Elizabeth (Ann) Whitney, a native of Missouri, accepted a teaching position at a newly erected rural school located about seven miles north of present day Hamilton in 1867. This school, called the Leon River School, was…
View on map ↗(1839 - 1867) Described as a stout lady with an engaging personality, Elizabeth (Ann) Whitney confirmed that she could be strong, brave, and resourceful on one fateful July day in 1867. Ann was a teacher at a nearby…
View on map ↗A pioneer community named Lookout began to develop in this area traversed by the Lampasas River and nearby Lookout Mountain during the 1870s and 1880s. Lookout School opened about one mile southeast of here in the late…
View on map ↗Local contractor Louis V. Manning built this house between 1880 and 1885 on land inherited from his father, pioneer Exekiel Manning, and lived here until 1904. The John H. and Abbie Gordon family owned the house from…
View on map ↗Ireland Cemetery This site was once the family burial plot for the Daniel Webster (D.W.) Edwards family. The first marked grave is for his one-year-old son, Sterling P. Edwards, dating to October 1873. Several stones…
View on map ↗(1830-1910) Kentucky native George Freeman came to Texas in the 1840s. He fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, then came to Austin as captain of the treasury guards. That group of about thirty former…
View on map ↗Established circa 1900 and designated Historic Texas cemetery in 2012.
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