Gause in Milam County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Town of Gause
Photographed by Brian Anderson, January 26, 2019
1. The Town of Gause Marker
Inscription.
The Town of Gause. . William J. Gause (1829-1914), born in Alabama, moved to Texas in 1849, to the Brazos region in 1856, and to this locality in 1872. Buying lumber in Montgomery, he gave his friend Dan Fowler half in return for hauling it here. The two built the first homes in this settlement. In 1873, Gause gave right of way and 100 acres of land to the International and Great Northern Railroad, and the town was platted. Gause Post Office opened in 1874, with James S. Reynolds as postmaster. The I. G. N. freighted out great quantities of cotton, and the town thrived. Cotton gins, stores, blacksmith shops, a lumber yard, a bank, hotels, livery stables, a newspaper and other businesses were established. Besides W. J. Gause, civic leaders included Dr. J. E. Brown, Richard Cox, Dr. James Dollar, Lafayette Ely, Bill Faubian, Dan Fowler, J. C. Lister, C. C. Moore, Dr. John Porter, Frank Thomas, and T. L. Watts. Churches were organized and a Masonic Lodge chartered. The county's first independent school was established in Gause., Good highways, mechanized farming, and decline of railroading halted commerce in the town of Gause. It survives, however, as a residential site chosen by descendants of the pioneers and by commuters to industrial plants and businesses in this vicinity.
William J. Gause (1829-1914), born in Alabama, moved to Texas in 1849, to the Brazos region in 1856, and to this locality in 1872. Buying lumber in Montgomery, he gave his friend Dan Fowler half in return for hauling it here. The two built the first homes in this settlement. In 1873, Gause gave right of way and 100 acres of land to the International & Great Northern Railroad, and the town was platted. Gause Post Office opened in 1874, with James S. Reynolds as postmaster. The I. G. N. freighted out great quantities of cotton, and the town thrived. Cotton gins, stores, blacksmith shops, a lumber yard, a bank, hotels, livery stables, a newspaper and other businesses were established. Besides W. J. Gause, civic leaders included Dr. J. E. Brown, Richard Cox, Dr. James Dollar, Lafayette Ely, Bill Faubian, Dan Fowler, J. C. Lister, C. C. Moore, Dr. John Porter, Frank Thomas, and T. L. Watts. Churches were organized and a Masonic Lodge chartered. The county's first independent school was established in Gause.
Good highways, mechanized farming, and decline of railroading halted commerce in the town of Gause. It survives, however, as a residential site chosen by descendants of the pioneers and by commuters to industrial plants and businesses in this vicinity.
Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7953.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.
Location. 30° 47.08′ N, 96° 43.341′ W. Marker is in Gause, Texas, in Milam County. It is on U.S. 190 east of Farm to Market Road 2095, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gause TX 77857, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region. It is also
Click or scan to see this page online
in the American South. 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.
Also see . . . Gause, TX - The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) (Submitted on January 30, 2019, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, March 28, 2023
2. The Town of Gause Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2019, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,775 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on January 30, 2019, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. 2. submitted on March 29, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas.
