Odessa in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of Homestead of William C. Sublett
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 12, 2017
1. Site of Homestead of William C. Sublett Marker
After his wife died in 1874, he went to the Texas frontier to hunt Buffalo, taking his three young children with him. In 1881-1882 he supplied game to Texas & Pacific Railroad construction crews. (such hunting was important to development of west Texas and to transcontinental railroad construction).
Settling later in Odessa, Sublett built near this site a dugout-and-tent home, and homesteaded a 160 acre claim. To support his family, he hauled wood and "water-witched" to locate wells for settlers.
In the 1880's he attracted notice by using gold nuggets to trade for supplies. In explanation, he said an Apache Indian had directed him to a mine in the Guadalupe Mountains, about 150 miles west of here. Periodically he disappeared and returned with gold, but efforts to follow him to the mine always failed. He once took his young son there, but the boy could not find the way later. In 1889, Sublett sold his Ector County property. He died Jan. 6, 1892, in Barstow, without disclosing the location of his mine. However,
this page online
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1967
Erected 1967 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 4813.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is January 6, 1892.
Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 31° 51.436′ N, 102° 20.655′ W. Marker was in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. It was on North Grandview Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 222 North Grandview Avenue, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in West Texas. It was also in the American Southwest. Globally, it was in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 12, 2017
2. Site of Homestead of William C. Sublett Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Ector County Newspapers (was approx. 1½ miles away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. The building it was at has been torn down and the marker is no longer there.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 12, 2017
3. Site of Homestead of William C. Sublett Marker
Photographed by Bryce Rushing, February 7, 2026
4. Former Site of the Marker
The concrete pad you see in this photo is the remains of the building that was behind the marker. The marker has been removed.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 22, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on February 8, 2026, by Bryce Rushing of Kermit, Texas.
