Marker Title: Fort Parker
Address: Off FM 1245, in Fort Parker Historical Park
City: Groesbeck
County: Limestone
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: Fort Parker Historical Park, off SH 1245 on
park rd. 35, N of Groesbeck.
Marker Text: Built 1834 for protection from Indians. Named for
leaders who bought first Predestinarian Baptist church body to Texas:
Elder Daniel Parker; his father, Elder John; bothers Jas. W., Benjamin,
Silas, John. Also here were Kellogg, Frost, Nixon, Duty and Plummer
families on May 18, 1836, raiding Comanches killed Benjamin, John and
Silas Parker, Samuel and Robert Frost and others; captured Elizabeth
Kellogg, Rachel Plummer and son James, and Sila's children, John and
Cynthia Ann in captivity, Cynthia Ann married Chief Peta Nacona; her
son, Quanah, was last Comanche Chief. With her baby, Prairie Flower,
in 1860 she was captured by Texas Rangers. She, the baby and Quanah
are buried at Fort Sill.
Marker Title: Fort Parker Memorial Park
Address: Off FM 1245, in Fort Parker Historical Park
City: Groesbeck
County: Limestone
Year Marker Erected: 1964
Marker Location: Off FM 1245, on park rd. 35, Fort Parker
Historical Park, N of Groesbeck.
Marker Title: Limestone County Courthouse
Address: 200 W. State St.
City: Groesbeck
County: Limestone
Year Marker Erected: 1998
Marker Text: Limestone County was established in 1846.
Springfield served as the first county seat, but geographic boundary
changes and the burning of the Springfield Courthouse led to the designation
of Groesbeck as the county seat in December 1873. Three more official
courthouses served the county before the early 1920s. The county employed
the midwest engineering company of Amarillo to draw up plans for a new
structure in 1923. The William Rice Construction Company, also of Amarillo,
received a contract for $300,000 to erect this structure. Rice had been
the contractor for both the Lipscomb and Lynn County courthouses. A
fine example of a classical revival building with beaux arts influences,
the 1924 Limestone County Courthouse is a variation on the most common
themes of early 20th century courthouses. Then-modern construction methods,
such as reinforced concrete structural systems covered in brick and
terra cotta, were employed. The elevations -- classical columns flanking
the windows, upper floors adorned with balustrades and elaborate cornucopia
moldings -- indicate that the edifice is intended to be viewed from
all sides. The Limestone County Courthouse functions as the heart of
Limestone County and it continues to be used for daily county governmental
business. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1998
Museum Name: Limestone County Historical Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 592
City: Groesbeck
Zip Code: 76642
Street Address: 210 W. Navasota
Area Code: 817
Phone: 729-5064
County: Limestone
Museum Name: Old Fort Parker State Historic Site
Mailing Address: Rt. 3 Box 746
City: Groesbeck
Zip Code: 76642
Street Address: State Park Rd. 35
Area Code: 254
Phone: 729-5253
County: Limestone
Marker Title: Old Springfield
Address: SH 14, S of Mexia
City: Mexia
County: Limestone
Year Marker Erected: 1966
Marker Location: On SH 14, 500 ft south of Fort Parker
State Park entrance on west side of road.
Marker Text: Named for the large spring on townsite donated
Jan. 6, 1838, by Moses Herrin, who gave 4 lots to any person agreeing
to settle in the town. 12 families later in 1838 were forced out by
Indian hostility. Post office was established in 1846. When Limestone
County was created April 11, 1846, Springfield-- its only town of any
size-- became county seat. First courthouse was built 1848 near Navasota
River; new 2-story brick courthouse in 1856 on the hill. Home of Springfield
District of Methodist Church from which stemmed the Northwest Texas
Conference. Also had active Baptist and Disciples of Christ churches.
Springfield College was established, but closed during the Civil War.
The Navasota Stock Raisers Association was organized here. When Houston
& Texas Central Railroad was built some miles to the East in 1870,
population dwindled. In 1873 there were 2 great fires in the town--
one burning the courthouse. Surviving buildings were moved away. Groesbeck
became the county seat. The old cemetery and Springfield Lake, both
in Fort Parker State Park, retain the historic name of the once important
town. Lake Springfield provides recreation, irrigation and municipal
water. 1966
Marker Title: Tehuacana
Address: Westminster Rd.
City: Tehuacana
County: Limestone
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: On Campus of Westminster College, Westminster
Rd., Tehuacana.
Marker Text: Located at one of highest points (altitude
661 ft.) between Dallas and Houston. First noted in history by Philip
Nolan's trading expedition, 1797. Home in early days of Tehuacana Indians,
a Wichita tribe, who engaged in farming and peaceful pursuits until
they were destroyed in early 1830s by Cherokees. Town is on Mexican
land grant obtained 1835 by John Boyd, member First Congress Republic
of Texas. In 1847 Boyd became first postmaster, and in 1849 nominated
Tehuacana for capital of State of Texas. However, Austin won in election
held in 1850. Tehuacana Academy, a Presbyterian school locally organized
and supported, operated ten years. It was organized and supported, operated
ten years. It was closed during Civil War, but furnished incentive (with
help of Boyd) for founding in 1869 of Trinity University. Boyd's gift
of 1,520 acres of land for college use includes preset campus, where
Trinity (now in San Antonio) operated until 1902. School plant was deeded
to Methodist Protestant Church, which relocated here Westminster College,
one of first junior colleges (1916) in Texas. The Congregational Methodist
Church bought the property in 1953 and now operates Westminster College
and Bible Institute on the historic campus.
Marker Title: Leonard Williams
Address: No access, S of Mt. Calm
City: Mt. Calm
County: Limestone
Year Marker Erected: 1956
Marker Location: Private land (no access); Old P.H. Cemetery
north side of McDanald Rd., at Limestone Hill County Line.
Marker Text: Served in the Army of Texas; participated
in the storming of Bexar; a trader and interpreter among Indian tribes.
Erected by the State of Texas 1956.
In July of 1835, Coleman's Rangers attacked a force of over one hundred Tawakonis in Limestone County. Coleman later wrote, "We had a severe battle. One fourth of my men was killed and wounded. We took their encampment by charge and the battle ended." They arrived back at Parker's Fort on July 11th. |
