Near Pipe Creek in Bandera County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Welcome to Polly, Tx
J.P. Rodriguez Settlement 1858-1935
Photographed By James Hulse, January 3, 2022
1. Welcome to Polly, Tx Marker - Reverse side
Both sides of marker are the same text
Polly was able to bring many families to the area to help build the community including members of the Ayala, Clark, Caballero, Enrique, Gonzales, Herrera, Langford, Leal, Obiedo, Rodriguez, Trevino, Vargas and Ybarra families. These families farmed and ranched in this frontier valley.
Polly became a living legend as a scout, successful rancher, Texas Ranger, judge and minister throughout his life because he served his community and contributed to its goodwill. As such, he provided land and built Polly's School, Polly's Chapel, Polly's Fort and Polly's Cemetery for all to use. He also helped to provide a post office and general store to the community.
For many years, Polly's descendants, community residents and friends have helped to preserve historic buildings in Polly, Texas. Currently, the Polly Texas Pioneers Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to historical preservation, is actively conserving
this page online
Captions
Upper Left: Polly's Chapel
Middle Left: Polly's Cemetery
Lower Left: Polly's Schoolhouse
Erected by Polly Texas Pioneer Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Hispanic Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.
Location. 29° 46.192′ N, 98° 59.345′ W. Marker is near Pipe Creek, Texas, in Bandera County. Marker is at the intersection of Privilege Creek Road and Old School Road, on the left when traveling north on Privilege Creek Road. The marker is located at the intersection of the two roads next to the bridge on Privilege Creek. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2644 Privilege Creek Road, Pipe Creek TX 78063, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Polly Cemetery - 1890 (approx. ¼ mile away); Polly's Chapel 1882 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Polly's Chapel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Polly's Schoolhouse, 1892, (approx. 1.2 miles away);
Photographed By James Hulse, January 3, 2022
2. Welcome to Polly, Tx Marker
Also see . . . J.P. Rodriguez Settlement.
The J.P. Rodriguez Settlement is located in the central part of the state in Southeast Bandera County Texas which in the Balcones Escarpment, 92 deg longitude and 29.8 deg latitude. San Antonio, Texas is the nearest metropolitan city 31 miles southwest of it. The settlement is in the beautiful and lush Privilege Creek Valley; also know as Elm Valley, filled with running creeks, abundant oak and cedar and limestone outcroppings.
Prehistoric Indians and their 19th century descendants had always roamed these fertile valleys in search of the migrating buffalo. In addition, other plentiful game and predators have always been a part of this area. Also, the Indians relied on the constant waters of the Privilege Creek and Medina River to sustain their camps. Both ancestral hunting grounds and final Indian resting places are evident in this same area.
In the 1700’s, during the early days of Nueva España, Spanish explorers and soldiers came to this area to establish their forts and defenses. Their initial efforts were to contain the
Photographed By James Hulse, January 3, 2022
3. The view of the Welcome to Polly, Tx Marker from the road by the creek
By the early 1800’s most of the early towns of Texas had been founded by men and women know as Tejanos. Texas had its own capital, San Antonio de Bexar, its own laws, ranching economy and culture. By 1821, the Republic of Mexico was formed and Tejas continued until 1824 when it was joined with ‘Coahuila” and the new state of “Coahuila Y Texas” was formed. It is interesting to note, that for almost 150 years before the Republic of Texas was born many of the frontier families of the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, that bordered the Rio Grande, had sent their sons and daughters to help develop Texas. Source: Polly Texas Pioneer Association (Submitted on January 4, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photo from Polly’s Cemetery marker, January 3, 2022
4. Jose Policarpio "Polly" Rodriguez
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 432 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 4, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
