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Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Texas Brazos Trail Region

Map of Sutton County

Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
Site of Fort Terrett | The Frisco Trailway | Miers Home Museum | Sutton County | Sutton County Courthouse | Sutton County Jail | Sutton, Colonel John S.
Site of Fort Terrett

Marker Title: Site of Fort Terrett
Address: CR 307 off IH 10 via exit 429
City: Sonora
County: Sutton
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: From Sonora, take I-10 East about 30 miles to Exit 429 go under I-10 to FM 3130, go east on 3130 about 1 mile to CR 307, go down CR 307 about 1 mile to marker.
Marker Text: Established February 5, 1852 by the United States Army as a protection to frontier settlers, named in honor of Lieutenant John C. Terrett who fell at Monterrey, September 21, 1846; abandoned February 26, 1854.

The Frisco Trailway

Marker Title: The Frisco Trailway
Address: Water and Main St.
City: Sonora
County: Sutton
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: Courthouse Square, corner of Water and Main Streets Sonora.
Marker Text: Important in development of Sutton County. 100-mile Market Lane, used 1900-1930. Built by E.F. Tillman (agent, Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railway), to move cattle via Fort McKavett and Menard to railhead at Brady. Fenced and 250 feet wide (generally), lane had watered holdover traps every 10 to 15 miles. Marker in memory of Joe B. Ross, historian.

Miers Home Museum

Museum Name: Miers Home Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 885
City: Sonora
Zip Code: 76950 0885
Street Address: 307 E. Oak Street
Area Code: 915
Phone: 387-5144
County: Sutton
Types of Exhibits/Collections: Local/Pioneer History

Sutton County

Marker Title: Sutton County
Address: SH 67, E of Sonora
City: Sonora
County: Sutton
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: 4 miles east of Sonora on SH 467
Marker Text: Has traces of culture at least 20,000 years old, occupied by Apache Indians up to founding of Fort Terrett, 1852. Anglo-Texan settlement began 1879 at Sonora, a trading post on San Antonio-El Paso Road. Created April 1, 1887, from land then in Crockett County; organized November 4, 1890, with Sonora as the county seat. Named in honor of John S. Sutton (1821-1862), a member of Santa Fe Expedition, Texas Ranger and Indian fighter, soldier in Mexican War and colonel of Mounted Volunteers, who died of wounds received in Civil War Battle of Val Verde. 1936/1965

Sutton County Courthouse

Marker Title: Sutton County Courthouse
Address: Water & Main St.
City: Sonora
County: Sutton
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Corner of Water and Main Streets, Sonora
Marker Text: This building site of all land transactions incident to development of county. Water well, a few feet from building, was first water here, where sheepmen watered their flocks, hence locating here as a home. Father of founder of the townsite killed father of one of West Texas' most prominent families on site of Courthouse over argument concerning watering sheep.

Sutton County Jail

Marker Title: Sutton County Jail
Address: Water & Main St.
City: Sonora
County: Sutton
Year Marker Erected: 1975
Marker Location: Courthouse Square; Corner of Water and Main Streets, Sonora.
Marker Text: Soon after Sutton County was organized (1890), the commissioners authorized the Pauley Jail Building and Manufacturing Co. of St. Louis to erect this jail. Construction was begun in Feb. 1891 under the supervision of Judge J.L. Dunagan. Completed in Sept. 1891, the two story native stone building had a jailer's residence in addition to cells for lawbreakers. The first prisoner here was gambler and gunman John Denson, a cousin of outlaw John Wesley Hardin. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1975

Colonel John S. Sutton

Marker Title: Colonel John S. Sutton
Address: Water & Main St.
City: Sonora
County: Sutton
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Courthouse Grounds; corner of Water and Main Streets Sonora.
Marker Text: At outbreak Civil War, this veteran soldier, Ranger, Indian fighter joined 7th Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers. Elected lt. colonel, led five companies Arizona-New Mexico campaign designed to make Confederacy an ocean to ocean nation. Mortally wounded in Battle of Val Verde while leading rifle assault against enemy cannons, he refused immediate aid and motioned on his battalion which captured the battery. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy.

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