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Marker Title: Bronte
City: Bronte
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: South intersection of SH 158 and US 277, on SH 158,
Bronte.
Marker Text: Eastern gateway to Permian Basin, in Coke County. Called
Oso and Broncho in early 1880s. Formally named for English novelist
Charlotte Bronte, in 1890. Incorporated 1907. Basic agricultural economy,
predominantly ranching. Site of major oil and gas development since
1948. (1964)
Marker Title: Coke County
City: Robert Lee
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: from Robert Lee, take SH 158 E about 1 mile, in roadside
park.
Marker Text: Formed from Tom Green county. Created March 13, 1889, Organized
April 23, 1889. Named in honor of Richard Coke 1829-1896. Governor of
Texas 1874-1876, member of United States Senate 1878 - 1896. County
seat, Hayrick, 1889 Robert Lee, since 1890.
Marker Title: Richard Coke
City: Robert Lee
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Location: Courthouse square 7th and Austin Avenue.
Marker Text: (1829-1896) Virginia native. Leader Texas secession movement.
Joined army, rose to captain 15th Texas Infantry company serving in
Louisiana, Arkansas, chiefly Tennessee campaigns. Elected to state supreme
court 1866, removed by Reconstruction military authorities. Defeated
Governor E.J. Davis 1873. Bloodless controversy ensued, Davis retired
under protest, marking political end Reconstruction in Texas. U.S. Senator
1877-1895. A Memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy Erected by
the State of Texas 1963.
Marker Title: Fence-Cutting War
City: Robert Lee
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: Courthouse square, 7th and Austin Avenue.
Marker Text: This area was a center of hostilities during 1880's conflict
between landless cattlemen trying to keep use of free grass and open
range and those erecting barbed wire fences to create permanent ranches.
On L.B. Harris Ranch (3 miles west of here) posts and wire worth $6,000
were burned by anti-fence group during crisis. War was brought on by
severe drought in 1880's when men without land found best waterholes
fenced in. Many ranchmen owned or leased land they fenced, but some
overambitious ones enclosed public lands, farms, and small ranches belonging
to homesteaders recently arrived in Texas. Widespread resentment prevailed
against these fencers, who, by blocking a road, had little regard for
convenience of travelers. When drought pushed landless cowmen to brink
of financial ruin, violence was inevitable. They blamed barbed wire
fences for their predicament. At first, cutting of fences that blocked
roads or waterholes occurred, but soon all fences were threatened. Armed
"Nippers" cut fences in almost every Texas county. Fence cutters
were then viewed as outlaws rather than crusaders. When laws were passed
in Gov. John Ireland's administration to stop the war, Texas had suffered
much damage to its property and reputation. (1967)
Marker Title: First Producing Oil Well in Coke County
City: Silver County
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: 1 mile east of Silver at intersection of FM 1672 and
SH 208.
Marker Text: Sun Oil Company's well - No. 1 Allen Jameson -- was staked
in Sept. 1946, and struck oil Nov. 17. Intermittent drilling had gone
on in Coke County for 30 years, but this discovery began a county-wide
oil boom. Drilled by the Dallas firm of Roberts & Hawkins, the well
hit pay dirt at 6,230 feet in fossil-bearing limestone 280 million years
old. In a 24-hour test it flowed 168 barrels. Coke County recently ranked
among the top quarter of oil-producing counties in Texas, with its 18
fields exceeding 6.4 million barrels annually. (1968)
Marker Title: Fort Chadbourne, C.S.A
City: Bronte County
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Location: City Hall grounds, 100 block of S. Washington St.
Marker Text: Located 8 miles north on old Butterfield stageline. Upon
secession, company of First Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles occupied this
post to give protection against Indians. Stopover on way west for many
Union sympathizers and people wanting to avoid conflict of war. Permanent
personnel left the fort in 1862 when the frontier defense line was pulled
back more than 50 miles east. However scouting parties and patrols of
Confederate and state troops used the fort intermittently in aggressive
warfare to keep Indians near their camps and away from settlements and
to check on the invasion by union forces. Usually supplying their own
mounts, guns and sustenance, these men guarded the frontier until war's
end. (1963)
Marker Title: Indian Rock Shelters
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: from Bronte, take US 277 north about 8 miles to the
junction with SH 70.
Marker Text: Throughout this area during the last several centuries,
rock ledges gave protection to Lipan, Kickapoo, Comanche, and Kiowa
Indians. In one typical shelter archeologists found evidence of 3 periods
of occupation, plus numerous intricate petroglyphs (rock carvings).
River shells, turkey and deer bones, flint knives, scrapers, and points
lay about the area. One of several hearths (2' x 3' in size) consisted
of small pieces of sandstone lining a natural rock trough. On the highest
level was found green bottle glass from nearby Fort Chadbourne (1852-1867).
(1970)
Marker Title: General Robert Edward Lee
City: Robert Lee
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: City Hall, 7th and Austin Ave.
Marker Text: Military officer in Texas, 1856-1861. In Civil War, Confederate
general. This county seat was named in his honor. This memorial given
by Mr. and Mrs. W.D. McAdams.
Marker Title: Mule Creek Cemetery
City: Tennyson vicinity
County: Coke
Year Marker Erected: 1971
Marker Location: 4.5 miles southwest of Tennyson on US 277, at its intersection with FM 2333
Marker Text: Established by pioneers of Mule Creek community, a small frontier settlement founded in 19th century. Said to be named either for (1) an early horse and mule ranch, or (2) a stagecoach mule that died at a creek which runs nearby. The Abilene-Fort Concho stage once served area. For years principal building in here was a combination school church, since 20th century, shift to urban living has diminished population of Mule Creek. Inscriptions of tombstones chronicle history of community. In spring, grounds are covered with bluebonnets, state flower. (1971)
Marker Title: Panther Gap
City: Robert Lee
Year Marker Erected: 1973
Marker Location: SH 208, 13 miles northwest of Robert Lee.
Marker Text: Landmark on ancient Indian trail, and early route of travelers
and military west of Fort Chadbourne (20 miles east) before the Civil
War. After 1880, was used extensively to connect this area with the
railroad at Colorado City. Named for Panthers (Cougars), which still
roam the region. (1973)
Marker Title: Henry Davis Pearce
City: Robert Lee
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: Robert Lee Cemetery, on SH 158 at east city limits.
Marker Text: (June 4, 1845 - December 8, 1911) Born in Illinois. Came
to Texas 1856. Joined Confederate army in New Orleans, 1861; fought
in Siege of Vicksburg (1863), in Battle of Mansfield (1864), and at
Pleasant Hill, La., where he was captured. Exchanged at Blair's Landing,
he served to end of war. He wrote history of Confederate veterans. Married
Sarah Elizabeth Pride. Had eight children. Pioneered and helped organize
Runnels County. He moved to Robert Lee, Coke County, in 1906. Recorded
- 1970
Marker Title: Sanco
City: Robert Lee vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1966
Marker Location: from Robert Lee, take SH 208 northwest about 6 miles,
then go north on Sanco Loop about 3 miles.
Marker Text: Sanco (originally located 1 mile east) On site of prehistoric
Indian camps; in area where in 1850s Fort Chadbourne soldiers often
skirmished with Indians. One of the first settlements and second pioneer
post office (established 1888) in county. Named for the Comanche Chief
Sanaco, who with Chief Yellow Wolf had regularly camped here. Yellow
Wolf, killed in a fight with Lipans, is buried nearby. In 1907, new
site was surveyed; town relocated here on Yellow Wolf Creek. School,
post office, store, blacksmith shop moved to this new site, where Methodist
church was already located. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1966.
Marker Title: Shelving Rock
City: Robert Lee vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1972
Marker Location: from Robert Lee, take FM 2034 south/southwest about
16 miles.
Marker Text: Archeological findings at an overhanging rock ledge on
Walnut Creek show that the spot, midway between the Colorado and North
Concho Rivers, was for hundreds of years campsite or village of nomadic
Indians who sought the shelter, running water, wood, and high lookout
point above ledge. After 1850, campsite was used in turn by Fort Chadbourne
and Fort Concho scouts, surveyors, and line riders of area ranches.
There rangers, state militia, and a posse of settlers hunting horses
and Indians rendezvoused a few nights prior to disastrous battle of
Dove Creek, Jan. 8, 1865. (1972)
Marker Title: Route of the Southern Overland Mail
City: Bronte vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: from Bronte, take US 277 north about 11 miles to roadside
park.
Marker Text: One mile southeast to Fort Chadbourne, a station on the
Butterfield mail and stage line, which linked St. Louis and San Francisco,
1858 - 1861. The fort was established in 1852, occupied until its surrender
to state forces in 1861, and garrisoned at times after the Civil War.
Marker Title: Southern Overland Mail, 1858-1861
City: Robert Lee vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1966
Marker Location: from Robert Lee city limits, take SH 158 east about
5.75 miles.
Marker Text: Passed near this site, providing for the first time combined
passenger and mail service between Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Operating
west from St. Louis and Memphis, John Butterfield's company used 1,350
horses and mules and 90 Concord coaches and wagons. Stage traveled at
a run, despite lack of good roads. A signal given approaching a station
would have fresh horses ready and food on the table for crew and passengers.
Route had stations 12 to 113 miles apart, and was sometimes changed
to get water. Crew and passengers wore guns; to reduce danger of Indian
attacks, mules (less coveted than horses) were used west of Ft. Belknap.
The trip one way took 25 days -- seven spent crossing Texas, from Preston
(now under Lake Texoma) to Jacksboro, Ft. Belknap, Ft. Chadbourne and
El Paso. One way fare for the 2,700 miles was $200. Passengers rarely
stopped off, because they might not find seats on a later stage. Merchants
in Jacksboro and other towns used Butterfield's light freight service
to make mail-order sales. Greatest contribution of the overland stage
was its carrying news; coaches also brought mail from the west one to
10 days faster than it came by ship. Service was ended in 1861 by the
Civil War. (1966) Incise on base: Early Travel, Communication and Transportation
Series erected by Moody Foundation, 1966.
Marker Title: Tennyson
City: Tennyson
Year Marker Erected: 1971
Marker Location: On US 277 at its intersection with FM 2333.
Marker Text: In area roamed by Indians for centuries. Tamed by open-range
cattlemen in the late 1870's. Permanent settlement began in 1880's.
A post office, named for British poet Alfred Tennyson, was established
in 1894 with Mrs. Sarah E. Kiser as the first postmaster. Seven persons
have held that office to date (1970). Over years, area has had several
schools, but all are now closed. Near Mt. Margaret (height 335 feet),
once locale of Indian activities, is now site of annual community homecoming
(the Saturday before Labor Day) and Easter sunrise religious services
each spring. (1971)
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