Cotton Gin in Freestone County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Ghost Town of Cotton Gin
Photographed By James Hulse, February 25, 2021
1. Ghost Town of Cotton Gin Marker
Settled prior to 1848, when Dr. J.S. Wills established a mule-drawn Gin here. Post Office was founded in 1851, the year county was organized. Dr. Wills gave a block of land for courthouse, but voters declined to make Cotton Gin the county seat.
Town had 3 churches, a good school, a newspaper, a Masonic Lodge, stores and saloons.
In the 1870's when Houston & Texas Central Railroad built a few miles to the west, business interests left here. Cotton Gin illustrates fate of hundreds of early Texas towns, by-passed by railroads, highways and industry.
Erected 1967 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 9870.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.
Location. 31° 40.84′ N, 96° 21.596′ W. Marker is in Cotton Gin, Texas, in Freestone County. Marker is on County Highway 930, 0.2 miles east of Farm to Market Road 1366, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Teague TX 75860, 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. Cotton Gin Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Oak Island Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (approx. one mile away);
this page online
Also see . . . Cotton Gin, TX.
Cotton Gin, on Farm Road 1366 twelve miles west of Fairfield in western Freestone County, was established in 1848 near the site of a mule-powered cotton gin built by Dr. James S. Wills. Wills constructed the first store in the community and served as postmaster when the post office was established in 1851. Source: The Handbook of Texas(Submitted on March 5, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, February 25, 2021
2. Ghost Town of Cotton Gin Marker
Photographed By James Hulse, February 25, 2021
3. The view of the Ghost Town of Cotton Gin Marker from the road
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 404 times since then and 100 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 5, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
