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Marker Title: Town of Antelope
City: Antelope
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: US 187 - Antelope Business District.
Marker Text: Named for springs where herds of antelope watered and Kiowa
Indians had a campsite. In 1875, Walter S. Jones platted townsite on
Henrietta-Graham mail route. By 1887, place had 400 people, a general
store, post office, a school, doctors, hotel, and spa built around its
mineral wells. Town was overnight stop and supply point for cattle trails
leading north. The G.R. Christian Camp No. 703, United Confederate
Veterans, active 1895-1941, served as city's park association. Economy
is based on ranch and oil income; area is known for its churches and
hospitality. (1970)
Marker Title: Bryson
City: Bryson
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: US 380, on north side of road, one block east of traffic
light.
Marker Text: Jack County Petroleum Capital. Founder, Henry E. Bryson
(September 1, 1839 - October 25, 1909), a Civil War veteran, farmer
and stockraiser, built first log cabin here in 1878. After Bryson post
office was established in 1882, the town developed as a center for the
growing of cotton and grain. Rock Island Railroad reached here in 1902.
The first oil well was drilled 1925; town in 1920s and 30s had a gasoline
plant; from 1935 until late 1954 an oil refinery was in operation here.
Churches, schools, social and civic clubs and Masonic bodies have contributed
to growth. (1968)
Marker Title: Butterfield Stage Line
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: City limits on US 281, just north of Lost Creek Bridge.
Marker Text: Here ran the Southern Overland Mail Line connecting St.
Louis and San Francisco with semi-weekly stage and mail service, 1858-1861.
The length of the route, 2,795 miles, and the superior service maintained
made this a pioneer enterprise of first magnitude.
Marker Title: G.D. Cross
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1969
Marker Location: Picnic area, Sewell Park (south section of Jacksboro,
US 281 and Lost Creek).
Marker Text: (1855 - 1941) Born in Arkansas. Served in Hunter's Texas
Ranger Company 1873-1874, helping remove Indians from Texas. Later became
merchant and farmer. Married Mary A.E. Shawver, 1881. Had 13 children.
Built this picnic table (where his ranger unit once camped) to be used
at family reunions. (1969)
Marker Title: James B. Dosher
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1997
Marker Location: US 281, Jacksboro and Fort Richardson State Park, interpretive
center.
Marker Text: James B. Dosher moved to Texas in 1847 and served in Cureton's
Company of the Texas Rangers. Discharged in 1848, he married Velma Eddings
in 1851. They settled in Jack County in early 1855 and worked their
farm south of Jacksboro. Dosher also served with Captain Tackett's Company
of Texas Rangers. During the Civil War he was active in the Texas State
Troops and the Confederate Army. In 1870 as a civilian guide for the
U.S. Army, he received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action during
an engagement at Bluff Creek, Texas. (1997)
Marker Title: Fort Richardson
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: Fort Richardson State Historical Park, at interpretive
center.
Marker Text: As partially reconstructed in 1936. Established by the
United States War Department on November 26, 1867 as a protection of
the frontier against hostile Indians. Named in honor of General Israel
B. Richardson, U.S.A., killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862. Abandoned
May 23, 1878 as the line of settlement had passed westward.
Marker Title: Fort Richardson Cavalry Post Hospital, 1867
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: Fort Richardson State Historical Park.
Marker Text: In fort built to halt Indian depredations in North Texas.
One of buildings and units on inspection in May 1871 by General William
Tecumseh Sherman, when news came of massacre of Warren Wagon Trail,
24 miles northwest. Killers, later found at Fort Sill, were brought
to trial in Jacksboro - first time Indians were ever tried in the white
man's court in North Texas. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965.
Marker Title: Fort Richardson
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: from Jacksboro take US 281 .5 mile south to marker
on east side of highway.
Marker Text: Established November 26, 1867 by the United States Army
to defend the frontier against the Indians. A mail station on the Butterfield
Overland Stage Line, 1858-1861. Abandoned as a military post May 23,
1879.
Marker Title: Jack County
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: at west entrance to Courthouse, Courthouse Square,
Jacksboro.
Marker Text: Created 1856. Organized 1857. Named for W.H. and P.C.
Jack, brothers and patriots in the Texas Revolution. Butterfield Overland
Mail, 1858-1861, had 3 stage stops in county. In 1861, Jack County voted
against secession, 76-14. Most men fought in frontier units. Some were
Confederates; others joined Federal army. Fort Richardson was established
in 1867. In 1871 near Jacksboro, Kiowas massacred Warren Wagon Train
teamsters. General of the Army W. T. Sherman, then at the fort, sent
General Ranald S. MacKenzie, commander, to arrest the Indians. Chiefs
Satanta and Big Tree were convicted in first non-tribal trials of Plains
Indians in North Texas. By 1875 MacKenzie's raiders had opened West
Texas for settlement. A Corn Club founded in Jacksboro by County Agent
Tom Marks on September 8, 1907, was the forerunner of the International
4-H Clubs. Fort Richardson, with 7 original buildings standing, is now
a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Museum is open the year round. Other
attractions include circular high school building and old limestones
on square, Jacksboro. Recreation centers about lakes, parks, campgrounds.
Economy is based on agriculture, oil, cattle, sheep, and goats. (1965)
Marker Title: Community of Jermyn
City: Jermyn
Year Marker Erected: 1972
Marker Location: SH 114, 1 mile east of Jermyn.
Marker Text: Located on the western edge of Lost Valley, a 20-square
mile area of Jack County, Jermyn was founded in 1909 as site of the
roundhouse, depot, and office building for the Gulf, Texas & Western
Railroad. It was named for J.J. Jermyn (1852-1928), line's president.
Land for the town was donated by Oliver Loving II (grandson of "Dean
of Texas Trail Drivers") and W.P. Stewart. Many lots were sold
and the town embarked on two decades of prosperity and progress. A school
was built about 1912 and Jermyn came to have numerous businesses, including
a hotel, garage, bank, two general stores, blacksmith shop, land office,
cotton gin and warehouse, restaurant, drugstore, ice house, lumber yard,
confectionary, U.S Post Office, and a newspaper --The "Enterprise"
-- succeeded by the "News". With the sale of the G.T. &
W. Railroad to the Frisco system in 1930, however, a gradual decline
set in. By 1936 the line curtailed passenger service, then all service.
Highway construction hastened the railroad's -- and the town's-- economic
demise as citizens moved to the cities to find work, and businesses
closed. Today the post office, two churches, and a general store still
function and part of the school serves as a civic center. Current economic
base is ranching. (1972) (1972)
Marker Title: Lost Valley
City: Jacksboro vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: from Jacksboro, take US 281 about 12 miles north to
roadside park.
Marker Text: Marked by "Seven Blue Hills" in distance. To
right is Spy Knob -- a lookout during pioneer days. Noted atrocity site:
In 1857, the Cambren and Mason families, settlers, were victims of white
renegades and Indians. On May 18, 1871, on western rim, teamsters of
Warren Wagon Train were killed soon after General W.T. Sherman of the
U.S. Army had traveled safely through this valley. On July 12, 1874,
the escort part of Major John B. Jones, Commander of the Frontier Battalion,
Texas Rangers, was ambushed here, with two men killed. In later years,
this has been peaceful farm-ranch area. (1970)
Marker Title: Site of Loving Ranch House
City: Jermyn vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: from Jermyn, take SH 114 west about 3 miles to ranch
site.
Marker Text: Built 1872 by J.C. Loving, the son of pioneer trail driver
Oliver Loving. J.C. Loving was an organizer and first secretary of
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Organization's first
office was at the ranch, which was later operated by Loving's son, Oliver
II. (1968)
Marker Title: Officers' Quarters
City: Jacksboro
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: Fort Richardson State Historical Park.
Marker Text: Built in 1867 of lumber cut from cottonwoods growing in
nearby river bottoms. One of 5 original officers' quarters. Outlasted
fort's barracks and stables, which were built of small vertical timbers
(pickets). Style typical of 19th century army posts in the west. Only
one left standing the United States. Among men quartered here was General
Ranald S. MacKenzie, who sent Indians back to reservations, 1871-74.
Restored by City of Jacksboro. Maintained by Girl Scouts. Recorded Texas
Historic Landmark, 1964
Marker Title: Squaw Mountain Community
City: Jacksboro vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1998
Marker Location: 17 mi. N of Jacksboro on US 281; 2 mi. E on FM 2190.
Marker Text: Legend tells of a mountaintop skirmish between Native Americans
and Texas Rangers in 1875. A woman was accidentally killed; the Rangers
buried her on the mountain and named the place for her. In 1877 pioneers
began to settle here, and in 1892 a post office and a stagecoach relay
station were established. At its peak the Squaw Mountain community included
two cotton gins and a thresher, a general store, blacksmith shop, school,
and church. By 1917 a flowing water well and two coal mines had been
discovered. In 1997 only the Squaw Mountain church and a few scattered
buildings remained. (1998)
Marker Title: Winn Hill Cemetery
City: Jacksboro vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1991
Marker Location: from Jacksboro, take US 281 to "Y", continue
on SH 114 .5 mile; then south on county road for 2.5 miles, turn west
onto county road about 2.75 miles to cemetery.
Marker Text: Located on the historic Butterfield Stage/Overland Mail
Route which traversed this area from 1858-61, this graveyard is named
for William H. Wynne, who was killed by Indians in this vicinity in
1863. The Winn Hill community grew up around a rural school in the 1870s.
The settlement soon included homes and a church, and by the 1880s this
cemetery had been established. The earliest documented burial is that
of Callie A. Beauchamp, who died in 1884. The county purchased the cemetery
property in 1904. It is the last physical reminder of the Winn Hill
community. (1991)
Marker Title: Wizard Wells
City: Jacksboro vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1980
Marker Location: 10 miles east of Jacksboro via US 380 and FM 1156,
in Wizard Wells.
Marker Text: The Kiowa Indians first visited this location and used
the mineral waters for medical purposes. George Washington Vineyard
settled here in the 1870s, taking up a claim originally established
by David Rowland. Vineyard dug this well for his home but the mineral-tasting
water was not used. He suffered from sore eyes and from ulcers on his
legs but was cured by bathing in and drinking the water. The news spread
and visitors suffering from arthritis, rheumatism, stomach disorders,
and skin diseases began coming to the well. Those seeking treatments
often camped along Bean's Creek in their wagons. Soon three hotels and
several bath houses opened to serve the increased visitor population.
The town of Vineyard was laid out in 1882 and J.H. Grisham opened the
first general store. The town later included several churches, a newspaper,
school; sawmill, blacksmith shop, and post office. In 1898 the Rock
Island Railroad bypassed Vineyard and Sebree community was started (2
miles south). Visitors arriving by train took a hack to the resort.
H.F. Stamper and his sons, Clint and H.F. Jr., petitioned the Legislature
in 1915 and the name of Vineyard became "Wizard Wells". Sebree
was changed to Vineyard. (1980)
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