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Saint Jo in Montague County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
 

Town of Saint Jo

 
 
Town of Saint Jo Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016
1. Town of Saint Jo Marker
Inscription. One of oldest towns in Montague County. Founded in 1850s, during great California Gold Rush, by E.S. and Ithane Singletary (Brothers) and John Hughes, who hoped to find gold here. The community they started became known as "Head of Elm" for its location at headwaters of Elm Fork of Trinity River. In 1858 Head of Elm ran--and lost--race for county seat. A post office opened here (at site of marker) in 1859, with John Womble, another pioneer, as postmaster. An early store and saloon were owned by Dominick Burns.

Next spurt of growth for town came with locating of Chisholm Cattle Trail through here about 1868. In 1871 village had a post office, blacksmith shop, and five stores. In 1872 I.H. Boggess (owner of the famous Stonewall Saloon) and Joe Howell bought 640 acres of land and laid out townsite, which Boggess named "Joe", for Howell. One story says he decided to add "Saint" because Joe was a staunch non-drinker; another version claims he added it to make the name longer.

In 1874 citizens built an all-faiths church and in 1876 a newspaper was established. Saint Jo was organized as a town in 1880; incorporated in 1886. Population has remained about 1,000 since that time and economy is still based on farming and ranching.
 
Erected 1964 by State Historical Survey Committee.
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(Marker Number 5538.)
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AgricultureCommunicationsIndustry & CommerceRoads & VehiclesSettlements & SettlersWaterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.
 
Location. 33° 41.813′ N, 97° 31.14′ W. Marker is in Saint Jo, Texas, in Montague County. Marker is at the intersection of East Boggess Street and South Line Street, on the left when traveling east on East Boggess Street. Located at the entrance to Boggess Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: East Boggess Street, Saint Jo TX 76265, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Stonewall Saloon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Head of Elm (approx. ¼ mile away); The Phillips House (approx. half a mile away); Muenster (approx. 8.6 miles away); Montague Catholic Cemetery (approx. 11 miles away); Montague Cemetery (approx. 11.6 miles away); 1927 Montague County Jail (approx. 11.8 miles away); Montague County Courthouse (approx. 11.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Jo.
 
Also see . . .  Texas State Historical Association article about Saint Jo. (Submitted on August 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
 
Town of Saint Jo Marker in Boggess Park. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016
2. Town of Saint Jo Marker in Boggess Park.
Town of Saint Jo Library. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016
3. Town of Saint Jo Library.
Bank & stores along Public Square in Saint Jo. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016
4. Bank & stores along Public Square in Saint Jo.
Historic Stonewall Saloon on Public Square. image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016
5. Historic Stonewall Saloon on Public Square.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

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Mar. 19, 2024