Liberty Hill in Williamson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Gabriel Mills
Photographed By Keith Peterson
1. Gabriel Mills Marker
Samuel Mather settled here in 1849, building a grist mill on the North San Gabriel in 1852. John G. Stewart opened a store near the mill. A small log cabin was in use by 1854 for church, school and lodge meetings. A post office was established in 1858, Mather being postmaster. W. L. Brizendine owned the mill by 1865, adding a cotton gin. Known as Mather's Mill, Brizendine Mill, or Gabriel Mills, the village thrived until Austin & Northwestern Railroad bypassed it (1881); then a decline began. The post office closed in 1905, and by the 1920s the town itself had disappeared.
Erected 1975 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9096.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 30° 46.836′ N, 97° 55.247′ W. Marker was in Liberty Hill, Texas, in Williamson County. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: CR-236 & CR-207, Liberty Hill TX 78642, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Smart-McCormick Home (approx. 1.7 miles away); Mahomet Cemetery (approx.
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Gabriel Mills. Williamson County Texas History website entry (Submitted on September 11, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Gabriel Mills. Handbook of Texas Online website entry (Submitted on December 4, 2007, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas.)
3. Mather Cabin from Gabriel Mills. Williamson County Texas History website entry (Submitted on September 11, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
4. Samuel E. Mather. Handbook of Texas website entry (Submitted on March 10, 2018, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas.)
Photographed By Keith Peterson, October 22, 2018
2. Missing Gabriel Mills Marker
Photographed By Richard Denney, April 2, 2015
3. Gabriel Mills Marker
Photographed By Richard Denney, April 2, 2015
4. Gabriel Mills Cemetery
A sign reads Bittick Cemetery, but Google maps and other sources (e.g. Zelade, Richard (1983), Hill Country: Discovering the Secrets of the Texas Hill County, Texas Monthly Press) call this Gabriel Mills Cemetery.
Photographed By Richard Denney, April 2, 2015
5. Gabriel Mills Hanging Tree
Just a few hundred feet from the Gabriel Mills Cemetery, sources (Zelade, 1983) say this centuries-old live oak was a hanging tree. Unfortunately the tree may be suffering the effects of oak wilt, or the severe drought of recent years.
Photographed By Richard Denney, April 2, 2015
6. Mather Family Cemetery
Nearby is the Mather Family Cemetery, descendants of Samuel Mather referenced on the marker.
Photographed By Richard Denney, April 2, 2015
7. Marker for Samuel Mather's Son, Andy Mather
As (Zelade, 1983) notes "Gabriel Mills' famous native son was the noted Indian fighter Andy Mather .. son of Samuel Mather". His grave is in the Mather Family Cemetery.
Photographed By Richard Denney, April 2, 2015
8. San Gabriel River
San Gabriel River, site of the mills for which Gabriel Mills is named.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2007, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,606 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on October 27, 2018, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on December 4, 2007, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on October 27, 2018, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 2, 2015, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
