Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
Enlisted Men's Barracks, #5 | Enlisted
Men's Barracks, #6 | Ben Ficklin, Major | Fort
Concho | Chapel and School House of Fort Concho
| Administration Building of the Fort Concho |
Officers Quarters No. 2 | Officers
Quarters No. 4 | Officers Quarters No. 8 |
Green, Tom, Confederate General | John
R. ("Sarge") Nasworthy | Tenth Cavalry
| Tom Green County
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Angling, Private
Enlisted Men's Barracks, #5
Marker Title: Enlisted Men's Barracks, #5
Address: Ave. C & Burgess, Fort Concho
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Fort Concho, 2nd Building, West from corner of Burgess
& Ave C
Marker Text: N/A
Enlisted Men's Barracks, #6
Marker Title: Enlisted Men's Barracks, #6
Address: Ave. C & Burgess St., Fort Concho
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Corner of Ave C and Burgess St.
Marker Text: N/A
Major Ben Ficklin, C.S.A.
Marker Title: Major Ben Ficklin, C.S.A.
Address: US 306 & Ben Ficklin Rd.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: US 306 access rd. SW side., near where it crosses Ben
Ficklin Rd.
Marker Text: (1827-1871) Called Mystery Man of the Confederacy. Educated
at Virginia Military Institute. At age 18 served as a corporal in Mexican
War. In 1850s worked with stagecoach and mail lines from Missouri to
San Francisco. Helped to start the Pony Express Line in 1860. Promoted
idea of the railroad that later was the Union Pacific-- the first to
span the U.S. Was a soldier and state quartermaster in Virginia at start
of Civil War. Appointed Confederate purchasing agent, his swagger and
success in Europe excited Federal envy. Personally ran blockade and
passed through New York and Washington on secret missions. In 1867 was
awarded U.S. contract for weekly mail run from Fort Smith, Ark., to
San Antonio and El Paso. Had his operational headquarters 3 miles below
Fort Concho. Owned 640 acres of land here. Built corrals, blacksmith
shop, storage rooms, adobe house, kitchen and commissary. On a visit
to Washington, died of swallowing fish bone. Was buried in Charlottesville,Va.
Associates carried on the mail stage runs, later named town near Fort
Concho for the late Major. "Benficklin" was first county seat
of Tom Green, serving until it was destroyed by flood in 1882. (1964)
Fort Concho
Marker Title: Fort Concho
Address: Oakes & D St.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: Oakes St. at corner of Oakes & Ave. D, San Angelo
Marker Text: The center of a line of forts extending from the northeastern
border of Texas to El Paso. Was also northern point of southern chain
of forts extending to Rio Grande, thence along that river to its mouth.
Established 1867 (at then junction of Butterfield Trail, Goodnight Trail
and road to San Antonio) by 4th Cavalry under Capt. George G. Huntt
to protect frontier. By March 1, 1870, fort buildings were (in order
of their construction) a commissary and quartermaster storehouse, hospital,
five officers quarters, a magazine and two barracks-- all built of sandstone.
Among those who commanded post were: Gen. Wm. R. Shafter (later major
general of volunteers, Spanish-American War; commanded troops at capture
of Santiago de Cuba, July 1898); Maj. John P. Hatch (at one time fort
was named in his honor); Gen. Wesley Merritt (first commander of Fort
Davis after Civil War; was later superintendent of U.S. Military Academy
at West Point); Gen. Ranald Slidell Mackenzie (who led attacks, from
this and other forts, credited with defeat of Indian resistance in southwest);
and Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, commander of African troops of 10th Cavalry.
On June 20, 1889, fort was abandoned as a military post and property
passed into private ownership. (1970)
Chapel and School House of Fort Concho
Marker Title: Chapel and School House of Fort Concho
Address: Ave. D and Burgess St.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Located on southwest corner of intersection of E. Ave.
D and Burgess Street. Fort Concho, San Angelo
Marker Text: N/A
Administration Building of the Fort Concho
Marker Title: Administration Building of the Fort Concho
Address: Fort Concho, between Ave. C & D
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Fort Concho on Center Green, N. End, between Avenues
C & D, San Angelo
Marker Text:--
Officers Quarters No. 2
Marker Title: Officers Quarters No. 2
Address: 115 East Ave. D.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: 115 East Avenue D, San Angelo 2nd building from West
end of Officers Row.
Marker Text: N/A
Officers Quarters No. 4, Fort Concho, Texas
Marker Title: Officers Quarters No. 4, Fort Concho, Texas (missing)
Address: 201 East Ave. D
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: 201 East Avenue D
Marker Text: N/A
Officers Quarters No. 8, Fort Concho, Texas
Marker Title: Officers Quarters No. 8, Fort Concho, Texas.
Address: Fort Concho, Ave C.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1962
Marker Location: Bldg. on North one-half of Lot No. 8, Block 55, Ft.
Concho Addition
Marker Text: N/A
Tom Green, Confederate General
Marker Title: Tom Green, Confederate General
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Location: 100 block of W. Beasregard
Marker Text: (Star and Wreath) Led 5th Texas Cavalry, Battle Val Verde
in Arizona-New Mexico Campaign, 1861-1862. Commanded "cotton clad"
carrying Cavalrymen dubbed "Horse Marines" in recapture Galvston,
January 1863. Made brigadier general while leading Green's Cavalry division
1863 campaign to save Louisiana. Killed 1864 leading attack at Blair's
Landing, Louisiana in Red River Campaign to prevent the Federal invasion
of Texas. An ardent Texan, a brave leader, he constantly sought the
heat of battle. A memorial to Texas who served the Confederacy. This
county was named in honor of Tom Green, 1814-1864. Came to Texas from
Tennessee, 1833. Veteran Battle of San Jacinto 1836 manning famed "Twin
Sisters" cannons. Fayette County representative 4th Congress. Secretary
of Senate, 6th and 8th congresses. Clerk of Supreme Court, 1841-1861.
Participated frontier Indian campaigns. Member Somervell Expedition.
Officer in Mexican War. Confederate general in the Civil War.
John R. ("Sarge") Nasworthy
Marker Title: John R. ("Sarge") Nasworthy
Address: Hillside Dr. and Knickerbocker Rd.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: Corner of Hillside Drive and Knickerbocker Road (FM
584) about 2 miles south of Intersection of SH 306 and Knickerbocker
Marker Text: Colorful pioneer and Texas Ranger who helped to create
civilization and institutions of West Texas. Owned ranch land on which
today is situated Lake Nasworthy -- first conservation lake in this
area. Born in Georgia. Served 1864-1865 in Confederate army, during
Civil War. Later came to Texas, living first at Bonham. After he moved
west, he operated in Menard area as a buyer of beef cattle for United
States army mess halls at Fort Concho. In 1880s he was deputy county
clerk and deputy sheriff of Tom Green County and the first treasurer
of the city of San Angelo. He owned the first local brick kiln, a wagon
yard, a livery stable, and the only hearse in town in the early days.
He was second man to fence land, second man to grow cotton in the county.
A county commissioner, 1910-1916, he promoted building of the old Chadbourne
viaduct. A leader in church and philanthropic endeavors, he was a promoter
of the Baptist encampment at Christoval (then one of the largest religious
gatherings in the south). He married Dena Von Fisher. The family had
homes on Beauregard Street, Knickerbocker Road, Ben Ficklin Road and
at Nasworthy Lake site. His six children carry on family tradition of
community leadership.
Tenth Cavalry
Marker Title: The Tenth Cavalry
Address: Ave D & Oakes St.
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1987
Marker Location: Corner of Ave D & Oakes St. (on Oakes St.) Fort
Concho National Historic Site
Marker Text: Following the Civil War, the United States Congress authorized
the creation of six regiments of black U.S. Army troops. The Tenth Cavalry
was organized in 1867 under the leadership of Col. Benjamin Grierson
(1826-1911). The order creating black troops also specified that they
would be commanded by white officers. Facing problems of racial discrimination
at the regiment's headquarters in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Grierson
wanted the Tenth Cavalry reassigned to the West, and they arrived at
Fort Concho in the Spring of 1875. The contributions of the men of the
Tenth Cavalry to the settlement of the American West are of major importance.
They took part in grueling scouting and mapping expeditions and campaigns
against hostile Indians, often facing days without proper supplies or
water on the high plains. They were instrumental in the defeat of the
Mescalero Apache Indians led by Chief Victorio in 1880. The men of the
Tenth Cavalry were stationed at Fort Concho until 1882, when they were
moved to Fort Davis. Transferred frequently after 1885, members of the
unit eventually served throughout the world, including Cuba, North Africa,
Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. (1987)
Tom Green County
Marker Title: Original Tom Green County
Address: 100 block W. Beauregard
City: San Angelo
Year Marker Erected: 1972
Marker Location: Courthouse grounds, 100th block West Beauregard
Marker Text: On transcontinental trail of California Gold Rush. Until
1846 a part of Bexar land district, Republic of Texas. Private tracts
were surveyed as early as 1847. German Emigration Company colony (90
miles southeast) had grants here, but in 1840s found Indians blocking
settlement. Butterfield Overland Mail managers lived at stands in area,
1858-61. R.F. Tankersley family established a permanent home in 1864
in future Tom Green County. By 1874 there were five settlements here,
including Bismarck farm, a colony of 15 German immigrants. The county
(12,756 sq. mil., 10-1/2 times as large as state of Rhode Island) was
created in 1874 and named for heroic Gen. Green (1814-64), a state official
and gallant Texas soldier. After a decade of progress, the original
Tom Green County began losing outlying areas. Midland County -- halfway
between Fort Worth and El Paso on newly opened Texas and Pacific railway
-- was created in 1885. Settlers remote from San Angelo petitioned for
new counties in 1887, and the Texas Legislature created Crane, Loving,
Upton, Ward and Winkler. Coke and Irion Counties were cut out of Tom
Green in 1889. Ector and Sterling were created in 1891. Last diversions
-- Glasscock (1893) and Reagan (1903) -- gave Tom Green its present
size. It remains influential in the region.