Texas City in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Settlement Community
During Reconstruction former slaves founded a community known as the Settlement on land platted by Judge William J. Jones for purchase by freedmen. Prior to this, a number of cattlemen moved to this area with their slaves. During the Civil War, George Washington Butler was placed in charge of a containment camp and used slave labor from there to drive cattle for the Confederate Army. After the war ended, Butler continued in the cattle industry, hiring freedmen as Cowboys. Some of them lived in the community first known as Highland Tank.
The first settlers were Kneeland and Slyvia Britton,and Albert and Priscilla (Britton) Phillips. Calvin Bell, Thomas Britton and David Hobgood were area Cowboys and pioneers of the community. By 1870 the Rev. Israel S. Campbell helped begin a church; residents built a sanctuary and school the following year in a community called Campbellville for the Reverend. Pioneering families, however called it Settlement shortened from “Our Settlement,” declaring the importance of freedom and owning land.
The African American community prospered throughout the late 1800s. Many male residents worked on Butler Ranch or as farmers. Also, unique for the time, the community had a high literacy rate. By the early 1900s residents worked in railroad occupations and later in industry. In 1911, an interurban line came through the community, and Highland Station opened; the Settlement was known as Highlands and La Marque until it was incorporated into the city limits of Texas City in the 1950s. The community began to decline in the 1960s, when many young people left to work in an integrated society. However, rodeos and trail rides have been held as reminders of this once flourishing and self-sufficient community founded by African American Cowboys.
Erected 2007 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13958.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 29° 22.938′ N, 94° 58.634′ W. Marker is in Texas City, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker is at the intersection of South Bell Drive and Jackson Lane, on the right when traveling south on South Bell Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 117 S Bell Dr, Texas City TX 77591, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 1887 Frank Sr. and Flavilla Bell House (here, next to this marker); 1926 Frank, Jr. and Ollie Caldwell Bell House (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1867 Settlement Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Phillips Memorial Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Phillips Memorial Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); La Marque (approx. 0.7 miles away); Frank Bell Jr. (approx. one mile away); Paul's Union Church (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Texas City.
Also see . . .
1. Texas City: The 1867 Settlement Historic District. Texas Time Travel website entry (Submitted on February 13, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
2. The Settlement. Coast Monthly website entry (Submitted on February 13, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2014, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. This page has been viewed 735 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on February 12, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on September 27, 2014, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2014, by Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock, Texas. 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 17, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.