Markers (click on a topic to jump to that section.)
Acton Cemetery |Aston-Landers Building | Bull Stone House, John W. | Comanche Peak | Granbury, General H.B. | Hood County Courthouse | Hood County Jailhouse | Hood, County Named for Famous Confederate General John Bell | Martin Cemetery | so-called "Squaw Creek" Indian Fight
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Boyd, Pleasant | Holt, Nathan | Wallace Drive, Big Foot
Uncommemorated Active Battle Map (Stories below are on map.)
G.B. Rozel | Indian Raid in Hood County | Indians Wound E.B. Dennis | Green, Jeremiah
Acton Cemetery
Marker Title: Acton Cemetery
City: Acton
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: Highway 167, Acton (about .5 miles south of North intersection
of FM 167 and FM 4, Acton).
Marker Text: Location of Acton historic site, smallest state park in
Texas. Includes the grave of Mrs. Elizabeth P. Crockett (1788-1860),
widow of the Alamo hero David Crockett, and two of his children. In
1911 a monument and statue were erected to her memory. Acton (formerly
Comanche Peak Post Office) was named in 1855 by C.P. Hollis, first merchant
in town. In spite of early name, Acton had few Comanche raids. After
erecting a building for church and school, area pioneers selected this
plot as cemetery. First person buried here was Mrs. Wash Hutcheson,
in 1855. (1968)
Aston-Landers Building
Marker Title: Aston-Landers Building
Address: 113 Bridge St.
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1974
Marker Text: Erected 1893 as a saloon by Andy Aston and George Landers;
of native stone, with patented iron front. Here occurred a 1901 duel
that badly injured a non-participating horseman on the square. Crusader
Carrie nation visited Granbury in 1905, and in 1906 voters outlawed
liquor. Afterward Aston had his Buggy and Harness shop in the building,
employing fine leather craftsmen Charlie Maxwell and Wilkes McCuen.
Later the building housed shops of many kinds.
John W. Bull Stone House
Marker Title: John W. Bull Stone House
City: Granbury vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: from Granbury, take FM 51 south about 14.5 miles to
FM 205 west and turn southwest immediately onto CR. Follow CR about
2.7 miles southwest then take gravel road south about 1/10 miles.
Marker Text: One of earliest masonry homes in area; built in view of
indian caucus site, Comanche Peak. John W. Bull (1818-98), born in Tennessee,
came to Texas in 1853; preempted land here, 1861; in Jan. 1865 participated
in the famed Dove Creek Indian Battle. After land grant was approved
(1871), Bull hired crew under Mason Pat Gannon to build this house of
stone quarried from Nearby Hill. Chiseled in chimney is the date "March
17, 1872".
Comanche Peak
Marker Title: Comanche Peak
City: Granbury vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1969
Marker Location: from Granbury, take SH 144 about 3 miles south.
Marker Text: Prominent Indian and pioneer landmark. Actually a Mesa,
the peak rises 1,229 feet (above sea level). May have had ceremonial
value for local tribes or have been a look-out point for game and enemies.
A Comanche trail crossed county in this vicinity. In 1846 whites and
indians en route to the so-called "peak" for a meeting almost
failed to find it because of its flat top. Later settlers held dances
here and students from Add-Ran College (about 10 miles north) had picnics
at the peak. Boys also hunted wolves and rattlesnakes among caves and
rocks on the top. More
General H.B. Granbury
Marker Title: General H.B. Granbury
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Location: 100th block of Pearl St., Granbury Courthouse lawn.
Marker Text: A Mississippian came to Texas early 1850's. Lawyer in Waco,
recruited Waco guards, confederate Army, 1861. Elected major 7th Texas
infantry. Beat back federals some miles, Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb.
1862. Captured there, exchanged Aug. colonel in Vicksburg campaign to
prevent split of confederacy along Mississippi River. Took 306 men into
battle, lost 158. Chickamauga, Sept. 1863 severely wounded. Had brigade
command missionary ridge. Promoted brigadier general 1864. Led Granbury's
Texas Brigade into Tennessee with hood. Was one of 6 confederate generals
killed at Franklin, Tenn. buried in Granbury Cemetery. (Back of Gen.
H.B. Granbury) Formed in Autumn 1863 from remnant of Deshler's Brigade.
Texas units included 6th, 7th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th
infantry, with 3rd, 5th confederate regiments of Memphis. Nov. 1863
battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Granbury's men repulsed
Sherman's attacks repeatedly C.S.A. Congress thanked unit for valor
at Ringgold Gap at Kensaw Mountain this and fellow Brigade counted 700
enemy casualties at their front after one charge. In Bayonet Combat,
yells in the dark from Granbury's men were sufficient to rout federals.
Before troops of equal number in open field the unit was unconquerable.
Fought intrenched Army, Franklin, Tenn. Battle. Flags flying, drums
rolling, but with no cover Granbury's men ran Forth on the double. Courage
inspired by the leader named it forever: Granbury's Brigade.
If you have the time for this longer trip, from Granbury, continue past Comanche Peak to Glen Rose on Hwy. 144. Take I-35 to visit Parker's Fort near Mexia and the Texas Ranger Museum.
Hood County Courthouse
Marker Title: Hood County Courthouse
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: 100th block of Pearl St., Granbury Courthouse lawn.
Marker Text: Fifth courthouse on this site. Erected 1890-1891, this
handsome building is a Texas version of the french second empire style.
First courthouse (1867) was a 1-room log cabin housing county records,
lawyers and land agents' offices, and mail station. It was succeeded
by 3 stone structures. Contractors Moodie and Ellis and Architect W.C.
Dodson built this native stone edifice. The clock tower, added after
completion, was reinforced with steel in 1969.
Hood County Jailhouse
Marker Title: Hood County Jailhouse
Address: 208 N. Crockett
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Text: Second county jail. Celebrated in early local Ballad. Built
to succeed 1873 log jail at time when lawlessness was rampant. Main
building is late victorian in style. Separate stone kitchen was added
upon completion. The tall front section was to have a gallows, but no
hanging have occurred here. Jail admits some 55 prisoners yearly. "Uncle"
Andy Walters, a local character, once locked sheriff in this jail, but
left key with judge on way home.
County Named for Famous Confederate General John Bell Hood
Marker Title: County Named for Famous Confederate General John Bell
Hood
City: Granbury
Marker Location: 100 block of Pearl Street, Granbury courthouse lawn.
Marker Text: Born Kentucky. West Point graduate. Army service on Texas
frontier led Hood to adopt the Lone Star State. Resigned U.S. Army 1861
to serve South. Commanded 4th Texas Infantry. Led "Hood's Texas,"
most renowned Confederate Brigade. Rose rapidly to Lieutenant General.
Known as "The Fighting General" for leadership in the Army
of Northern Virginia. Although lost leg Battle Chickamauga, became commander
Army of Tennessee. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy Erected
by the State of Texas 1963.
Martin Cemetery
Marker Title: Martin Cemetery
City: Lipan vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 2001
Marker Location: 5 miles east of Lipan on FM 4 to Diamond A Ranch, then
2 miles down main ranch road through two gates.
Marker Text: A reminder of pioneer life in Hood County, the Martin Cemetery
may have had its origins as early as 1859 when Nathan Holt was buried
on the property after being killed during an Indian attack. The graveyard
is named for the family of William Harvey Martin, who came to Texas
from Illinois in 1855 and obtained the land on which the cemetery rests
in 1876. The oldest tombstone--dated June 17, 1868--is that of Spencer
Marion Self, infant son of David and Frances Self, while a reproduced
stone marks an even earlier burial, that of Elizabeth Fortner Holt,
from about 1860. Grave markers of granite, concrete and hand-carved
stone reflect the lives of those buried here and stand as testament
to the area pioneers. (2001)
so-called "Squaw Creek" Indian Fight
Marker Title: so-called "Squaw Creek" Indian Fight
City: Glen Rose
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: FM 144 N of Glen Rose about 2 miles.
Marker Text: Civil War frontier victory, near this site. About 25 raiding Indians jumped a fox hunter, Rigman Bryant, killed him, shot his dog, stole his horse. That afternoon the Indians and stolen horses were seen by a minister, Silas Scarborough, W. C. Walters and an African bringing home a turn of meal from the gristmill. Scarborough and Walters headed into a cedar brake. The Indians urged the African to join them, shot him full of arrows when he refused. In a few hours the Cavalry attacked the Indians, recovered the horses, killed one Indian, chased the others away. One settler was shot. In a week the wounded African died. Many of the 1848-1861 settlers on the Paluxy and so-called "Squaw Creek" were away in the Confederate army. Very young boys and elderly men joined defense forces. Some drew military duty for 10 days, were off 10 days to look after mills, cattle, horses and farms. For safety, women dressed as men while their sons, husbands and fathers were away. At times 50 to 100 tents were used in hasty "forting up" of families. During the war, Alex McCammant established county's first tannery, using cedar leaves in processing hides. For cloth making, county's first cotton was grown.
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