South Mountain in Coryell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Coryell County

Photographed by James Hulse, March 2, 2023

1. Coryell County Marker

Inscription. Formed from Bell County
Created February 4, 1854
Organized March 4, 1854
Named in Honor of

James Coryell

Born in Tennessee in 1796
Member of the Bowie Expedition
tο the old San Saba Silver
Mines in 1831
A Texas Ranger
Killed by Indians near
Fort Milam May 27, 1837

County Seat Fort Gates 1854
Gatesville, since

Erected 1936 by State of Texas. (Marker Number 1070.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Texas 1936 Centennial Markers and Monuments series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 4, 1854.

Location. 31° 25.395′ N, 97° 36.964′ W. Marker is in South Mountain, Texas, in Coryell County. It is on U.S. 84 half a mile west of Farm to Market Road 1829, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located in the center of a small roadside park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9921 US-84, Gatesville TX 76528, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

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,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Hood Communities

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(approx. 5.9 miles away); First Baptist Church of Oglesby (approx. 6.2 miles away); First Methodist Church of Oglesby (approx. 6.3 miles away); Cotton Belt Depot (approx. 6.8 miles away); Jesse Graham (approx. 6.9 miles away); Restland Cemetery Memorial (approx. 7 miles away); Dr. John Calhoun Bates (approx. 7 miles away); First Baptist Church of Gatesville (approx. 7.7 miles away).

Also see . . . Coryell, James (1803–1837). Texas State Historical Association

On May 27, 1837, Coryell and two other Rangers, Ezra Webb and Michael Castleman, were raiding a bee tree a short distance from the fort when they were attacked by Caddo Indians. His companions escaped, but Coryell, who was in poor health and unable to run, was shot and scalped. A party of men from the fort returned to the site of the attack and found Coryell wounded and bloodied, but still alive. He died two days later and was buried nearby. The exact location of the grave was not recorded and was eventually lost.

(Submitted on March 4, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed by James Hulse, March 2, 2023

2. Coryell County Marker

The view of the Coryell County Marker in the roadside park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 2, 2023

3. The view of the Coryell County Marker in the roadside park

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 389 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 4, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.