Markham in Matagorda County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company

Oil Well Pumping Rig

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2018

1. J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company Marker

Inscription.
In 1920, near Clemville, Texas, J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company put this pumping rig into operation on a new oil well at a location west of present El Dorado Road. In 1927 the well went dry, and the pumping rig was not used again.

In 1980 J.G. “Pappy” Stone donated this example of an early oil well pumping rig to A.W. “Al” Hurta, Matagorda County Commissioner, Precinct No. 4. The same year it was moved to this location and restored as a reminder of the county’s oil production in the early years of this century.

Erected 1980 by Matagorda County & J.G. “Pappy” Stone.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 28° 57.646′ N, 96° 3.931′ W. Marker is in Markham, Texas, in Matagorda County. It is on Broadway (Farm to Market Road 1468) south of 4th Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is a metal plaque, mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject oil rig, and located in the Markham Community Center Park between 3rd and 4th streets on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in this post office area: Markham TX 77456, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Japanese Farmers in Matagorda County (a few steps from this marker); Markham (within shouting distance of this marker); Markham United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Elliott's Ferry (approx. 4½ miles away); Dr. Henry Hofmann Loos (approx. 4.7 miles away); Clemville (approx. 5.1 miles away); Site of Hilliard High School (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Markham.

Also see . . .
1. James Smither Abercrombie. James Smither Abercrombie, oilman, Houston civic leader, and philanthropist,

J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company Marker (<i>tall view; marker is mounted on bandwheel support</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2018

2. J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company Marker (tall view; marker is mounted on bandwheel support)

was born in Huntsville, Texas, on July 7, 1891. In 1918 he used his savings and a loan to buy a used drilling rig to drill on his own in the Burkburnett oilfield, north of Wichita Falls. In 1920, he bought, with Harry Cameron, the Cameron-Davant Company, a business that sold oil-drilling supplies and parts for rigs and wells. Jim Abercrombie became the unsalaried president of Cameron Iron Works, and before his thirtieth birthday he was the president of the expanding James S. Abercrombie Company, an independent drilling operation with five rigs. (Submitted on June 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Old Stuff from the Oil Fields. The big wheels on those old pump jacks are "band wheels", which connect the pumpjack to an engine of one sort or another - steam in the old days, and oil or electric these days. A giant belt, in other words the "band", enables the engine to rotate the axis of the band wheel. A pivot arm called a "pitman" runs from the outer edge of the band wheel to the back end of the walking beam, and as the wheel rotates this pivot arm causes the beam to rock back and forth, thus moving

1920 Abercrombie Mineral Company Oil Pumping Rig image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2018

3. 1920 Abercrombie Mineral Company Oil Pumping Rig

the sucker rods up and down. (Submitted on June 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 840 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.