Markers (click on a topic to jump to that section.)
Bostick, Sion Record | Camp McMillan, C.S.A. | Comanche Indian Treaty | John Duncan's Fort | Harkeyville | Indian Signaling Grounds | Lathum Cemetery | Old Methodist Camp Meeting | John Robert Polk Ranch | San Saba County | San Saba County Jail | Wedding Oak
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Couch, Chancy | San Saba Mission
Uncommemorated Active Battle Map (Stories below are on map.)
Capt. John Williams / Ed King | Benjamin F. Linn | Mr. Merrimond | Milburne Raid | W.D.C. (Boaz) Wood | Colonel John H. Moore and His Men on the San Saba | Ben Smith and Ruff | Beardy Hall | Henry E. McCulloch | Abner Gregg | Mrs. Margaret Pyett | Tom Cavness | Indian Fight in the Northwestern Part of Burnet County
Sion Record Bostick
Marker Title: Sion Record Bostick
Address: SH 16 in San Saba Cemetery
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1973
Marker Location: From San Saba, take Highway 16 1/4 mile north to San
Saba Cemetery, San Saba.
Marker Text: (December 7, 1819-October 15, 1902) A member of the party
of young Texans who captured the escaping Mexican General Santa Anna
after Battle of San Jacinto, during the Texas War for Independence.
Migrated from Alabama in 1828. Served in Texas army at Gonzales and
Bexar (San Antonio), 1835; at San Jacinto, 1836; and 1840 stand against
Comanches, at Plum Creek. An American soldier in Mexican War, 1846;
a Confederate in Hood's Brigade in the Civil War, 1860s. Married Susan
Townsend; after her death, Mary Indiana Rhodes. Had several children.
Became a leader in veterans reunions. He is buried in San Saba Cemetery.
Camp McMillan, C.S.A.
Marker Title: Camp McMillan, C.S.A.; Texas Civil War Frontier Defense
Address: US 190, at Courthouse
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: Courthouse grounds, Highway 190, San Saba.
Marker Text: Located 18 mi. West, 6 mi. North, this outpost guarded
the Texas frontier during Civil War. One of a chain of outposts a day's
horseback ride apart, from the Red River to the Rio Grande manned by
the Texas Frontier Regiment. Regular patrols kept Indians in check and
rounded up draft evaders. Food, clothing, horses and arms were always
needed. They shared few of the glories of the war, but at the cost of
the lives of not a few of them, these Confederates gave a measure of
protection to a vast frontier area. (Back Side Camp McMillan): TEXAS
CIVIL WAR FRONTIER DEFENSE: Texas made an all-out effort for the Confederacy
after voting over 3 to 1 for secession. 90,000 troops noted for mobility
and heroic daring, fought on every battlefront. An important source
of supply and gateway to foreign trade thru Mexico, Texas was the storehouse
of the South. Camp McMillan and other posts on this line were backed
by patrols of State Rangers, organized militia, and citizen posses scouting
from nearby "family forts." This was part of a 2000 mile frontier
and coastline successfully defended by Texans.
Comanche Indian Treaty
Comanche Indian Treaty Historical Marker
Photo taken by Chris Daubitz
Marker Title: Comanche Indian Treaty
Address: FM 2732 off US 190 SW of San Saba
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: From San Saba, take 190 West about 3 mile, then go
south on FM 2732 about 10 miles (marker is about .25 mile) north of
New Hope Chapel and Cemetery.
Marker Text: On this site a treaty of peace was agreed upon, March 1-2,
1847, between twenty Comanche chiefs and the German colonists represented
by Otheried Hans Freiherr Von Meusebach (1812-1897), who became a citizen
of Texas under the name of John O. Meusebach...this treaty was never
broken.
John Duncan's Fort
Marker Title: John Duncan's Fort
Address: US 190 & Hwy. 45 intersection
City: Richland Springs
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: On US 190 at intersection of 190 and Highway 45, Richland
Springs.
Marker Text: A private, or settler's fort, built 1858. Cabins of 4 families
(30 people) formed a stockade for defense against Indians. Daily a hunting
party would go out for meat; other men stood guard. Residents went home
to farm in spring, but through 1865 "forted up" each fall.
Harkeyville
Marker Title: Harkeyville
Address: US 190, W of San Saba
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1974
Marker Location: From San Saba, take Highway 190 west 2.5 miles, then
follow county road north about .25 mile. Marker is on west side of road.
Marker Text: A site once famous for its horses and racetrack. Riley
Harkey (1832-1920) and Israel Harkey (1835-1914) were Indian scouts
in Texas in 1850-53. In 1855 they led their parents, Mathias and Catherine
Harkey, to move here from Arkansas with other adult sons, daughters,
in-laws and grandchildren. The families ranched, and Mathias Harkey
ran a country store for many years. Riley Harkey brought to Texas a
fine, fleet footed mare, who with her racing progeny drew crowds of
enthusiasts to this site for half a century. Other sons and grandsons
of Mathias Harkey also joined in the breeding, training, and racing
of horses. Stores, blacksmith shop, and other businesses all faced east
on a single street overlooking the flat with its racetrack and baseball
diamond. There was no post office, but the village was so well known
that mail addressed to Harkeyville promptly arrived here. On Nov. 26,
1873, George W. Barnett (1823-1885) gave land for the first school;
the schoolhouse was used also for church services and public meetings.
The racetrack closed in 1907; the cotton gin burned in 1920, and was
not rebuilt; school consolidated in 1929 with San Saba. The last store
closed in 1954. A community hall, built 1973, marks site of the town.
Indian Signaling Grounds
Marker Title: Indian Signaling Grounds
Address: US 190 E. of San Saba about 4.5 mi.
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: From San Saba, take 190 east about 4.5 miles.
Marker Text: Heights used from pre-settlement days to 1870s by Comanches
and others to send messages over long distances. Smoke once rose from
here (Five Mill Hill); Chapel Hill, 2 mi. south; and old community of
Sloan in west San Saba County. Tribes wintered at main village near
Sloan; burial ground is on Chapel Hill. An early settler recalls Indians
peering through cracks in cabin at night while she, children, and friend
put ashes on fire and hid. She believed Indians would not enter a dark
house. Another time she heard livestock being taken. Many pioneers saw
signals on nearby hills. Indians communicated by means of smoke, at
times mirrors. Codes were used to confuse enemies. Messages sent news
and could gather or disperse tribes. The Comanches had an excellent
smoke signal system, also imitated animal cries. These often warned
settlers to prepare for attack. In some areas, whites later pre-empted
signal grounds for use against the Indians. Mirabeau B. Lamar visited
this area in 1837; later, as president of Republic of Texas, he had
a forceful Indian policy. On banks of San Saba in 1847, German Emigration
Company bought peace from the Comanches for $3,000 worth of beads, trinkets;
and in 1850 on Wallace Creek, about 15 mi. southwest, the U.S. signed
an Indian treaty.
A little east at the junction of the Colorado, Captain Burleson led his rangers in a fight against the Cherokees on Christmas, 1839.
Lathum Cemetery
Marker Title: Lathum Cemetery
Address: Did Not Locate
City: Lathum
Marker Location: Did Not Locate
Marker Text: The burial site of four pioneer area settlers, this cemetery
was first used for the interment of George Lathum (1859-63), the son
of John (Jack) and Caroline (Couch) Lathum, who died as a result of
a rattlesnake bite. Also buried here are Caroline's stepfather Chaney
Couch, killed by Indians in 1864, Mother Isabella (Christian) Couch
(d. 1887), and Grandmother Elizabeth Christian (d. 1868). Relatives
of these pioneer settlers later started the nearby Deer Creek Cemetery
and were responsible for the establishment of a school and chapel named
in honor of Isabella Couch.
Old Methodist Camp Meeting
Marker Title: Old Methodist Camp Meeting
Address: FM 501, about 30 mi. NE of San Saba (This should read FM 501, about 27 miles SE of San Saba.)
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1966
Marker Location: From San Saba take Highway 190 E. about 3.25 miles,
take 580 S. about 15.5 miles, and then take FM 501 west about 1 mile.
Go south on County Road about 15 miles to old tabernacle.
Marker Text: Established in August 1858 by settlers who came armed against
possible Indian attack. Preacher hung gun in tree, within reach; guard
was posted around congregation's horses, to prevent theft by Indians.
However, no attack was ever reported here, though many terrible Indian
depredations occurred nearby. Preacher in 1858 was a circuit rider,
Rev. Tunnell. Jim Clark family came 10 miles in ox-drawn farm sled to
first campmeeting. Charter members included families of Ezekiel Boyett,
Fielding Dawson, Nay Gorman, John and Joab Harrell, Sr., Charles Harris,
S.A. Houston, Dave Hillin, George Keeney, Dick Kolb, Milton Low, Bart
Lucas, McCrea, David Matsler, Jim Means, W.W. Millican, Henry Ripple,
Harmon Smelser, Tom Smith, Tom and Yancy Tate and Jim Ware. Coming between
summer farm and ranch work and the autumn harvest, camp meeting was
yearly season for spiritual and social enjoyment. Many marriages followed
courtships that began here. Mrs. David Matsler donated original campsite.
Mrs. E.E. West and R.H. Walton gave additional acreage. Lots were
held by families--some for 6 generations. Present tabernacle is replacement
for arbors made of brush and renewed year after year by settlers.
We received the following e-mail regarding the above historical marker.
There is a major mileage error in reporting where this camp ground is.
See bolded corrections.
Marker Location: From San Saba take Highway 190 E. about 3.25 miles, take 580 S. about 15.5 miles, and then take FM 501 west about 1 mile. Go south on County Road about 15 miles to old tabernacle.It should read 1.1 miles. The way it is written, you would end up in Cherokee, Texas, which is south of San Saba on Hwy 16. Matsler and Smelser are some of my relatives on my mother's side of the family. My great-grandmother, Delia Ray "Lamb" Bourke married a Rev. John Richard Smelser of San Saba. He was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher. She was 75 and he 85 when they married. Delia was sister to Bell Matsler, wife of Tom Mastler of High Valley. Delia Smelser lived to be 85, while Rev. Smelser lived to be 102. Tom Matsler lived to be 92, passing away from heart failure while he was taking a water break from plowing his field. Now that is the way to go. He was a wonderful godly person as was all these individuals. Rev. G.R. Diehl
John Robert Polk Ranch
Marker Title: John Robert Polk Ranch
Address: US 190 W of San Saba, did not locate
City: San Saba
Marker Location: From San Saba, take 190 west. Did not Locate.
Marker Text: Known as San Saba County property with history of longest
continuous ownership by a single family. Texas settler Headley Polk,
a kinsman of 1845-1849 United States President James K. Polk, bought
from grantee Burke Trammel in 1849 a section of land a half-mile to
the south of this marker. Headley's son, John Robert Polk (1853-1946),
grew up in Lockhart and on the San Marcos River at the Mooney Mill,
where he made fine furniture. In 1883, "Bob" and his wife
Kate Word Polk moved to this property with their herd of cattle. Over
the years they bought adjacent land until they had 2,000 acres with
frontage of three and one-half miles on the San Saba River. The second
tract of land in this county ever to be enclosed was fenced by Polk
with the help of a man named Baker. Two schoolhouses were built at different
times on this ranch, for the convenience of the Polk family and neighbors.
In the early era, Polk trailed his Bar-P cattle to market; for years
he belonged to the Texas Trail Drivers' Association. John Robert and
Kate Polk were parents of a son Headley (who died at 17, in 1904) and
five daughters: Annie (later Mrs. W.W. Holman), Eupha (Mrs. Louis J.
Bryan), Ivor Mae, Katie (Mrs. J.A. Sloan), and Lex.
San Saba County
Marker Title: San Saba County
Address: US 190, E of San Saba
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: From San Saba, take 190 East .2 mile.
Marker Text: Formed from Bexar County; created February 1, 1856; organized
May 3, 1856. The river traversing the region, the mission erected near
by in 1757, and later the county and county seat were given the name
of an early saint, whose name in Spanish is Saba.
San Saba County Jail
Marker Title: San Saba County Jail
Address: E. Commerce & S. Water St.
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1969
Marker Location: Corner of East Commerce and South Water, San Saba.
Marker Text: County's oldest existing public building. Erected in 1884,
the structure cost $13,000 and lot $300. Jail was built of blue limestone
in Italianate Texas style. A 12-foot-high board fence (built after an
1886 jail break) has been replaced. Jailer lived on first floor.
Wedding Oak
Marker Title: Wedding Oak
Address: On China Creek Road
City: San Saba
Year Marker Erected: 1972
Marker Location: From intersection of 9th Street, take China Creek Road
NW about 1 mile, San Saba (north side of road).
Marker Text: A legendary Indian site, popular into the 1900s, Wedding
Oak sheltered many marriage services. Three occurred in one day, Dec.
24, 1911.
W.D.C. (Boaz) Wood
During February of 1860, Henry and W.D.C. Wood were a short distance from their homes hunting horses. They lived about five miles east of the present town of Richland Spring. They became separated. W.D.C. Wood was charged by Indians and soon received a mortal wound. Henry Wood successfully made his escape.
The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.