Markers (click on a topic to jump to that section.)
1st Cavalry Division Museum | 4th Infantry Division Museum | Alexander's Distillery | Bell County | Bell County Courthouse | Early Bell County Jail | Bell County Museum | Bird Creek Battlefield | Bird Creek Indian Battle | Central Texas Area Museum | Comanche Gap | First Cavalry Division | Fort Griffin | Little River Fort | Railroad and Pioneer Museum | Salado Creek | Sanderford Log Cabin | Scott and White Log Cabin Medical Museum | SPJST Pioneer Museum | Stagecoach Inn | Wilson, Van Dyke
Uncommemorated Sites (click on a topic to jump to that section.)
Joseph Taylor
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Bloody Raid in Bell & Coryell Counties
1st Cavalry Division Museum
Museum Name: 1st Cavalry Division Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5187
City: Fort Hood
Zip Code: 76545-5101
Street Address: Bldg. 2218
Area Code: 254
Phone: 287-3626
County: Bell
4th Infantry Division Museum
Museum Name: 4th Infantry Division Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5917
City: Fort Hood
Zip Code: 76544
Street Address: 27th Street and Battalion Ave.
Area Code: 254
Phone: 287-8811
County: Bell
Francis R. Lubbock
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Alexander's Distillery
Marker Title: Alexander's Distillery
City: Salado
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: Center Circle, Salado.
Marker Text: On this site in 1861-65, the William R. Alexander
Distillery met a wartime need in Texas. May 28, 1862, Governor Francis
R. Lubbock closed all Texas distilleries, to save grain. Army calls
for medicinal liquor (for opiate and stimulant purposes) soon caused
him to order a few, including Alexander's, re-opened. In drastic medical
shortages, Texans throughout the Civil War gave such help as they could.
Bandages, sewing silk, lint, polk weed, peach bark, barilla and other
home medical aids went to various military units. (1964)
Bell County
Marker Title: Bell County
City: Belton vicinity
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: Roadside park at Lampasas River bridge and IH-35
S. feeder road, 2 miles S. of Belton.
Marker Text: Settlement began on Lampasas River, 1847. Created
Jan. 22, organized Aug. 1, 1850. Named for Peter Hansbrough Bell (1812-1898),
native of Virginia; veteran of Battle of San Jacinto; served in Somervell
expedition to stop Mexico's Raids into Texas; officer in Mexican War;
Governor of Texas 1849-1853; U.S. Congressman, 1853-1857. First county
seat Nolanville. Moved Dec. 16, 1851, to Belton. By 1860 population
was 4,799. Sent 12 troop companies into Civil War. Furnished goods from
flour mills, hat factory, tanyard, leather works, blacksmith shops,
cabinet shop, beef slaughter pens. (1965)
Bell County Courthouse
Marker Title: Bell County Courthouse
City: Belton
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 2000
Marker Location: Central Ave. at Main St.
Marker Text: Using arched passageways, round-arch and pedimented
windows, a clock tower with columned gallery, and a rusticated limestone
finish, Jasper N. Preston & Son of Austin designed the 1885 Bell
County Courthouse in the Renaissance Revival style. Ben D. Lee served
as contractor. The original tower and dome were removed in the 1950s,
but were rebuilt in 1999 based on documentation provided by historic
photographs. A fine example of Preston's work, the style is echoed throughout
Belton's downtown, in large part rebuilt after an 1889 fire razed much
of the commercial district. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2000.
Early Bell County Jail
Marker Title: Early Bell County Jail
Address: 210 N. Pearl
City: Belton
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Text: In 1854, four years after the county was organized,
a 2-story structure of logs was built on this site, to serve as the
first Bell County jail. That log jail was replaced in 1873 by this building
of native limestone. In 1874, vigilantes from all parts of Texas raided
this jail and executed nine men charged with murder, robbery, horse
theft and other crimes. This citizens' attack was regarded as a major
factor in ending lawlessness in Bell County during the 1870's. Building
was rented to city of Belton in 1884 when third county jail was completed.
Sold later. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967
Bell County Museum
Museum Name: Bell County Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1381
City: Belton
Zip Code: 76513
Street Address: 201 N. Main Street
Area Code: 254
Phone: 933-5243
County: Bell
Bird Creek Battlefield
Marker Title: Bird Creek Battlefield
City: Temple
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: In median at intersection of Adams and S I-35
across from Church of Christ, Temple
Marker Text: Named in honor of Captain John Bird who lost his
life here May 26, 1839 With only 34 Texas Rangers he met 240 Indians
at this point, and routed them. More
Bird Creek Indian Battle
Marker Title: Bird Creek Indian Battle
City: Temple
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: At the 2000 blk. of Nugent (inside of road),
west of I-35 and just east of Bird Creek.
Marker Text: May 26, 1839 This marker commemorates the death
of captain John Bird Sergeant William Weaver Jesse E. Nash H.M.C.
Hall Thomas Gay and the heroic and successful battle of a Ranger force
of 34 against 240 Indians. More
Central Texas Area Museum
Museum Name: Central Texas Area Museum
Mailing Address: 1 Main Street
City: Salado
Zip Code: 76571
Street Address: 1 Main Street
Area Code: 817
Phone: 947-5331
County: Bell
Comanche Gap
Marker Title: Comanche Gap
City: Nolanville vicinity
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: At the intersection of Comanche Gap Rd and FM
2410, 2 miles SW of Nolanville.
Marker Text: Break in mountain chain from Lampasas River to Nolan
Creek. Route to one of oldest Indian trails in Southwest, and escape
point for Comanches after last raid in Bell County. On March 14-16,
1859, the Indians killed four settlers, including John and Jane Riggs.
They captured Rhoda and Margaret, daughters of the Riggses, but abandoned
them here at the gap as they fled from a posse. Public feeling after
this raid led to a campaign against the Comanches, led by Maj. Earl
Van Dorn, commanding U.S. Cavalry. Recorded Texas Historical Landmark,
1967
First Cavalry Division
Marker Title: First Cavalry Division
City: Killeen
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1976
Marker Location: At Fort Hood, behind Building 2218 76th Tank
Div. Rd and 51st St.
Marker Text: First in Manila--first in Tokyo--first in Pyongyang.
The Fifth Cavalry regiment, raised and posted in 1855 to Fort Belknap,
Texas, is the oldest unit in the 1st Cavalry Division, United States
Army. Next (1866) were the Seventh and Eighth regiments. The Eighth
initially saw duty at Fort Concho, Texas. On Sept. 13, 1921, the Dvision
was constituted of these and one other regiment (later dropped) at Fort
Bliss, Texas, to defend the United States-Mexico Border. In 1933, the
twelfth regiment, formed in 1901 at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas,
came into the Division. Dismounted in 1943 and sent to the Pacific,
the Division captured the Admiralty Islands, joined the Invasion of
Leyte, and captured Manila on order of General Douglas MacArthur to
act as his "First Team". During United Nations action in Korea,
the division swept over 100 miles in 11 hours to reach Osan and win
victory. It was the first force to enter the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
On July 1, 1965, at Fort Benning, Ga., It was converted to an Airmobile
Division--the first in U.S. military history. It had a distinguished
record in Vietnam. Since 1971 it has been based at Fort Hood, in the
state of its creation and earliest service. (1976)
Fort Griffin
Marker Title: Fort Griffin
City: Belton vicinity
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: 5 miles SE of Belton on FM 436
Marker Text: Site of a picket fort on Little River commonly called
Fort Griffin; also known as Fort Smith and Little River Fort. Erected
by Geo. B. Erath and 20 Texas Rangers in November, 1836 as a protection
against Indians. Abandoned as a military post before the Santa Fe Expedition
camped here, June 24-29, 1841 but used by settlers many years as a place
of defense against the Indians. More
Little River Fort
Marker Title: Little River Fort
City: Belton vicinity
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1969
Marker Location: 2 miles north of Belton on IH-35 to roadside
park at Lampasas River bridge
Marker Text: A stockade and blockhouse of the Republic of Texas.
Built in November, 1836, by a unit of some 20 Rangers under Lt. George
B. Erath (soldier-statesman for whom Erath County was named). By Christmas
they had erected 7 or 8 cabins, a blockhouse and a picket stockade,
which enclosed about 1/2 acre of land. A spring nearby supplied water.
Rations included an ear of corn daily, game, honey and a little coffee.
The Rangers withdrew about May, 1837. Later the fort was used by settlers,
hunters and adventurers. The remains of the structures were removed,
1840's. (1969) More
Railroad and Pioneer Museum
Museum Name: Railroad and Pioneer Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5126
City: Temple
Zip Code: 76505
Street Address: 710 Jack Baskin
Area Code: 817
Phone: 298-5172
County: Bell
Salado Creek
Marker Title: Salado Creek
City: Salado
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: South end of Salado Bridge on Main St., Salado.
Marker Text: Gushing limestone springs, abundant fish, flowers,
and trees have long made the banks of Salado Creek a good home site.
Indians camped beside stream; Spanish explorers named it; the first
Anglo-American settler was Archibald Willingham, 1851. College and town
of Salado were built on creek, 1860. Stream once had 8 mills, thus was
county industrial center. Chisholm Cattle Trail crossed it, as did Dallas-San
Antonio Stage Line. The 35-mile creek is one of many which rise at the
Balcones Fault--an outstanding North American region of springs. Recorded
Texas Natural Landmark - 1967
Sanderford Log Cabin
Marker Title: Sanderford Log Cabin
City: Belton
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: 5 miles W. of Belton, Texas on old Killeen Highway
Marker Text: One of earliest homes in Nolan Valley community.
Built when he moved to Texas in 1867 by John Rice Sanderford (1841-1923),
a veteran of the Civil War. Birthplace, 1895, of John Roy Sanderford,
State Senator from this district from 1933 to 1937. Settler John Rice
Sanderford was father of 12 children. First wife, Elvira Keith, for
whom he built this cabin of hand-hewn Oak Logs, died in 1884; his second
wife was Emily Viola Lacy. The descendants are area leaders in civic
and business life. Cabin restored by youngest son, Judge T.E. Sanderford,
1964. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1967.
Scott and White Log Cabin Medical Museum
Museum Name: Scott and White Log Cabin Medical Museum
Mailing Address: 600 South 25th St.
City: Temple
Zip Code: 76504
Street Address: 2401 South 31st
Area Code: 254
Phone: 771-8208
County: Bell
SPJST Pioneer Museum
Museum Name: SPJST Pioneer Museum
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 100
City: Temple
Zip Code: 76503
Street Address: 520 N. Main
Area Code: 817
Phone: 773-1575
County: Bell
Stagecoach Inn
Marker Title: Stagecoach Inn
City: Salado
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Main Street (old US 81) at College Hill, Salado.
Marker Text: Constructed during the 1860s, the Stagecoach Inn
was known as Salado Hotel and as Shady Villa before the current name
was adopted in 1943. Military figures George Armstrong Custer and Robert
E. Lee, and cattle baron Shanghai Pierce are among those thought to
have stayed here. A good example of frontier vernacular architecture,
the Stagecoach Inn features a two-story galleried porch with a second-story
balustrade. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1962
Wilson Van Dyke
Marker Title: Wilson Van Dyke
City: Belton
County: Bell
Year Marker Erected: 1984
Marker Location: Resthaven Cemetery, 1 mi. S. of Belton off Conklin
Rd. exit of IH 35.
Marker Text: (Dec. 25, 1817-Aug. 3, 1881) A native of South Carolina,
Wilson Van Dyke served as a member of the Somervell Expedition, which
was organized in 1842 to expel the Mexican Army from Texas. Under command
of Col. W.S. Fisher, he crossed the Rio Grande and was captured. A survivor
of the "Black Bean Episode", Van Dyke was imprisoned near
Mexico City until Sept. 1844. He later participated in muster activities
during the Civil War and died at his home in Bell County. Recorded -
1984.
Joseph Taylor
Some three miles southeast of present day Belton, Kickapoo's attacked the home of Joseph Taylor on the night of November 12th, 1835.
"Heroic Defense of the Taylor Family" was originally
published in James DeShields' 1912 book, Border Wars of Texas.
The family held off the Indians and managed to kill two of the attackers. At one point the mother threw a shovel of hot coals into the face of an Indian who was peering through a hole in the wall. Two months after the fight, their fourteen year old son Stephen Frazier joined Sterling Robertson's Ranger company. Rangers arrived the day after the attack, including George Chapman, who lived at the Taylor's home and later married one of the Taylor daughters. She later recalled:
My late husband came to us at the home of Mr. Childers. He had been to our house. The bodies of the two Indians were being eaten by the hogs.
The Rangers cut the heads off of the dead warriors and stuck them on poles as a warning to any other hostiles that should pass that way.