Huntsville in Walker County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Sam Houston Whittling Site
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 4, 2013
1. Sam Houston Whittling Site Marker
This corner was a favorite site where General Sam Houston sat in a special hide-bottom chair to whittle small objects and talk with customers at the General Mercantile Store owned by his friends Thomas and Sandford Gibbs. Early records of the company indicated that the Gibbs brothers extended credit to the Houston family for their household purchases. General Houston’s whittling knife and samples of his creations carved from white pine and other soft woods are located at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
Erected 1993 by Citizens of Huntsville in Recognition of the Sam Houston Bicentennial.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 30° 43.433′ N, 95° 33.08′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Texas, in Walker County. Marker is at the intersection of 11th Street (U.S. 190) and North Sam Houston Avenue (State Highway 75), on the right when traveling west on 11th Street. Stand-alone marker on a pole, located in front of the Old Gibbs Store, at the southwest corner of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1118 11th Street, Huntsville TX 77340, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Gibbs Store (a few steps from this marker); Site of First Masonic Lodge Building
this page online
More about this marker. Sam Houston Bicentennial Birthday Celebration Marker - 1993
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Sam Houston.
Sam Houston was an American soldier and politician. His victory at the Battle of San Jacinto secured the independence of Texas from Mexico in one of the shortest decisive battles in modern history. He was also the only governor within a future Confederate state to oppose secession (which led to the outbreak of the American Civil War) and to refuse an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, a decision that led to his removal from office by the Texas secession convention. (Submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Little-known Facts About Sam Houston.
Houston loved to deck himself out, sometimes even appearing at official government meetings in full Cherokee attire. Houston earned that right. He lived amongst the Cherokee on multiple occasions, had been adopted into the tribe, and fought (with little success, in the end) to preserve their rights. While with the Cherokee, Houston picked up the habit of whittling, make him a crafty artisan. (Submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Texas Treasures: Gibbs Brothers.
In the early years, the business operated in the form of a mercantile store. Supplies were scarce in frontier towns, and items such as coffee, rice, and nails were welcomed by residents in Huntsville and surrounding communities. (Submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 358 times since then and 26 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on December 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
