BAYLOR COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKERS Contributed by: Joan Renfrow ******************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************************** BAYLOR COUNTY HISTORICAL MARKERS The Texas Historical Commission http://www.thc.state.tx.us/index.html BAYLOR COUNTY Marker #340 Location: From Seymour, take Highway 82 east about 9 miles to junction of Highway 183 and Highway 82. City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1936 Marker Text: Created February 1, 1858; Organized April 23, 1879; named in honor of Dr. Henry W. Baylor 1818-1854; Indian fighter and Ranger captain; served in the Mexican War. Seymour, the County Seat. EARLY COMMUNITY BUILDING Marker #1 Location: N. East and Morris Street City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1969 Marker Text: Built 1877 by Charles Holman, builder-carpenter from Sweden. Stone was quarried south of town. Over the years, structure housed a school, churches, a newspaper office and a community center. It was purchased by J. E. McClelen in 1949 and restored as a private home. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1969. WILLIAM LEWIS ELLIS Marker #5837 Location: From Seymour, take FM 114 1 mi. SE to FM 1286 - follow FM 1286 S. 1 mi. to Masonic cemetery on E. side of Rd. City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1969 Marker Text: (January 25, 1861 - August 6, 1916) Sheriff of Baylor County 1912-1916. A champion of the law, he was feared by the many rustlers and bandits in the area. He gave his life in the line of duty. First wife was Barnetta (Ashton); second, Sarah E. (Scott). He was Presbyterian. Recorded--1969. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF SEYMOUR Marker #1717 Location: 401 N. East Street City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1970 Marker Text: Organized March 1880 with 12 members: Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Bandy, Mr. Banteau, Miss May Boone, Judge and Mrs. R. J. Browning, Mr. and Mrs. Buck McEwen, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Ransom, Mr. and Mrs. Windy Turner. Early services were held in Baylor County Courthouse. Later, rock building nearby was used. Cooperating with the Masonic Lodge, church body erected a 2-story building in 1884. Present Gothic revival church of local stone was built during 1906-1907. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970. ROBERT E. LEE BUILDING Marker #19 Location: Corner of Lee and Baylor Streets City: Marker Only EDWARD D. AND MARY S. MILLER Marker #1396 Location: From Seymour, take FM 114 SE about 1 mi. SE to FM 186. Take 1286 S. 1 mi. to Old Seymour on west side of road. City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1971 Marker Text: Edward D. Miller (1829-1880) Mary S. Miller (1838-1890) One of four couples who were cofounders of town of Seymour; he was born in Tennessee, she in Arkansas. Wealthy plantation owners, they came to this area in 1878 after economic hardships of Civil War and Reconstruction. From 160 acres of land here, they donated streets in "Miller Addition" and part of Courthouse Square. Both were active in real estate promotion. E. D. Miller was also Justice of the Peace. Recorded, 1971. ROUND TIMBER COMMUNITY Marker #4361 Location: From Seymour, take SH 114 SE about 8 mi. to FM 1285 S. - follow FM 1285 to FM 2374, and follow FM 2374 South to Round Timber Cemetery. City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1972 Marker Text: Named for round clumps of oaks. Pioneered by C. C. (Lum) Mills, 1863, but soon abandoned to Indians, site became the first permanent settlement in Baylor County when reopened in 1874 by T. K. Hamby, C. C. and W. B. Mills, John W. Stevens and Tom Whitworth. Post Office opened in 1879 with A. C. Burnham as postmaster. In school built in 1879, first teacher was Eliza Mitchell. Town had stores, barber and blacksmith shops, 1880s. The church was built by Methodists, 1879, sold to Baptists, 1933. The burial ground, dating from 1870, was deeded 1962 by J. Hop Parker to the cemetery association. Incise on back: Marker sponsored by Harry and Helen Portwood. 1972. ST. JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH - BOMARTON Marker #5036 Location: From Seymour, take US 277 south about 10 miles to Bomarton & take county road about .25 mi. east to church City: Bomarton Marker Erected: 1970 Marker Text: Established in 1908, when services and Masses were held in Mary's Creek Schoolhouse or in home of Matt Marak. First Church edifice was built 1909, with John Cocek, Marak, Leopold Skrehot, and Alois Sykora, trustees. Father Paul Mosler was installed as first pastor in 1910. Brick church was built in 1936. (1970) WESTERN TRAIL Marker #5766 Location: From Seymour, take US 82 1 mi north to Roadside Park City: Seymour Marker Erected: 1972 Marker Text: Principal cattle trail from Texas to Kansas and beyond from 1876 to 1887; superseded the Chisholm Trial after Dodge City replaced Abilene as the main intermediate northern beef market. As its name implies, the Western Trail ran west of the Chisholm Trail, by about 100 miles. Most of its feeder trails started in South Texas, although some made connections at San Antonio and Fort Griffin. Here in Baylor County the trail crossed Brazos River, passing half a mile east of Seymour, a major supply center. The herds bedded near Seymour Creek, at the site of the present Fairgrounds. The Millett Ranch (established 1874) served as a watering spot, and the Millett Brothers--Eugene, Alzono, and Hiram-- were among the first users of the trail. From Seymour the route continued north, leaving Texas at Doan's Store on the Red River. It then ran through Oklahoma to Dodge City, with lesser extensions proceeding to Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. During its life, the Western Trail moved hundreds of thousands of cattle north to stock ranges, Indian reservations, and markets. But after the fencing of the open range and building of the Texas & Pacific Railroad, it ceased to be used by the cattle industry. (1972) WESTOVER Marker #12745 Location: 16 mi. SE of Seymour at intersection of SH 114 and Hale Rd. City: Seymour Marker Erected: 2002 Marker Text: Westover Platted in 1910 on the gulf, Texas and Western Railroad, Westover developed into a small market center providing goods and services for area farmers and ranchers. J. W. Stevens offered part of his ranchland for the townsite, which was given the maiden name of his mother-in-law. James H.B. Kyle served as first postmaster when the post office was established in 1910. Businesses, including a bank, barbershops, cotton gins and dry goods stores, as well as churches, a school and a cemetery were established to serve area residents. After the commercial area suffered a fire in 1921 and the rail line was abandoned in 1942, many settlers and businesses moved to Seymour. (2002) WESTOVER SCHOOL Marker #12746 Location: 16 miles SE of Seymour on SH 114 at Hale Road City: Seymour Marker Erected: 2002 Marker Text: Westover School One-half mile east of this site is the location of the former Westover School, which served students in this part of Baylor County from 1910 until 1950. School classes first met in the Church of Christ building in Westover until trustees constructed a frame schoolhouse in 1911. Six years later, that building was replaced by a two-story brick building, which held all eleven grades and included seven classrooms, a library and an auditorium. Enrollment reached 400 students by the 1930s, but with abandonment of the rail line in 1942 and the general movement of people from rural areas after World War II, the student population declined, and Westover School closed in 1950. (2002)