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

Duke Community

Photographed By James Hulse, February 29, 2020

1. Duke Community Marker

Inscription.

In 1824, Old Three-Hundred settlers David Fitzgerald, Thomas Barnett and Moses Shipman received land grants in this area. Fitzgerald fought at Anahuac in 1832; Barnett signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. This location on the northeastern high bluff of Clear Lake, an ample supply of water for steam engines, led to the construction of railroads here by the mid-1800s. Duke was terminus of the Sugar Land Railway for loading sugarcane. The area developed as a major shipping point with a store, hotel, livestock pen, and sugar mills. It was named for Duke Hessey, the storekeeper. Duke had a post office from 1883 to 1922; the first Postmaster was J.R. Fenn. Today, Duke Cemetery is the only remnant of this once-thriving community.
Marker is property of the State of Texas

Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15315.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.

Location. 29° 30.718′ N, 95° 28.229′ W. Marker is in Arcola, Texas, in Fort Bend County. Marker is on State Highway 6, one mile west of Farm to Market Road 521, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rosharon TX 77583, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Daniel Perry (here, next to this marker); The Fitzgerald and Fenn Families (here, next to this marker); DeWalt Cemetery (approx. 4½ miles away); St. John Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 6.3 miles away); Stafford Municipal School District (approx. 7.6 miles away); Holy Family Catholic Church (approx. 8.3 miles away); Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado (approx. 8.7 miles away); Court Hardware Company (approx. 8.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arcola.

Photographed By James Hulse, February 29, 2020

2. Duke Community Marker

The marker is in this group of three markers.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 295 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on June 5, 2023, by Madeleine Schimmer of Richmond, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.