Richmond in Fort Bend County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

H. Schumacher Oil Works

Photographed By Brian Anderson, November 17, 2018

1. H. Schumacher Oil Works Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Henry Schumacher (1832-1901), a native of Germany, opened one of the first cottonseed oil mills in this region in 1873, assembling the machinery with only the aid of an old encyclopedia. The oil works produced cottonseed oil, meal, and cake, and processed about 1500 tons of seed per year.

Schumacher was honored for his contributions to the cottonseed oil industry about 1883 with a dinner at the White House given by President Chester A. Arthur.

The first mill burned in 1910, but was soon rebuilt, complete with modern machinery. The oil works ceased operation in 1954.

These bricks came from the old building

Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8615.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #21 Chester A. Arthur series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 29° 35.134′ N, 95° 45.808′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Texas, in Fort Bend

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County. Marker is on an unnamed cemetery road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located within Morton Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 North 2nd Street, Richmond TX 77469, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William Morton (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Jefferson Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Walter Moses Burton (within shouting distance of this marker); Morton Cemetery Veterans Flag Pole (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Morton Cemetery (about 400 feet away); John McNabb (about 400 feet away); Morton Cemetery 1822 (about 500 feet away); Site of the Home of Randal Jones (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. The Texas Historical Commission Atlas has no record of a marker by this name either in Richmond or Fort Bend County. However there is a marker (#8615) with the same name and text listed as existing in Navasota, Grimes County (approximately 70 miles north of Richmond, and where the H. Schumacher Oil Works was located). The Atlas states that the Navasota marker has been reported missing so it seems likely that this marker was relocated from Navasota to Richmond at some point.

Photographed By Brian Anderson, November 17, 2018

2. H. Schumacher Oil Works Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.