Rutersville in Fayette County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Rutersville College

Photographed By James Hulse, October 4, 2021

1. Rutersville College Marker

Inscription. First institution of higher education
in Texas. Recommended in 1837
by Martin Ruter, D.D. Chartered as
a Methodist School in 1840.
Granted four leagues of land by
the Republic of Texas. After educating
more than 8oo students
it merged in 1856 into the
Texas Monument and Military
Institute.

Erected 1936 by State of Texas. (Marker Number 4396.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education. In addition, it is included in the Texas 1936 Centennial Markers and Monuments series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 29° 56.545′ N, 96° 47.744′ W. Marker is in Rutersville, Texas, in Fayette County. Marker is on Old College Road, half a mile south of State Highway 159, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located just off the road on private property but the owners allow access to the site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4331 Old College Road, La Grange TX 78945, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of First Methodist Annual Conference in Texas (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Rutersville College (within shouting distance of this marker); Rutersville

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Asa Hill of Rutersville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Oldenburg (approx. 2.9 miles away); Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1867 (approx. 4.8 miles away); James Seaton Lester (approx. 4.9 miles away); Fayette County, C.S.A. (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rutersville.

Also see . . . Rutersville College.

Rutersville College, once located in Rutersville, seven miles northeast of La Grange in central Fayette County, was the first chartered Protestant college in Texas. The institution, which flourished between 1840 and 1856, was the dream of Martin Ruter, a Methodist missionary from Pennsylvania and superintendent of the Methodist mission in Texas in the early days of the republic. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on October 7, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Rutersville College Marker is the marker on the left of the two markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 4, 2021

2. The Rutersville College Marker is the marker on the left of the two markers

The view of the markers from the road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 4, 2021

3. The view of the markers from the road

Rev. Martin Ruter image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Wikipedia, circa 1820s

4. Rev. Martin Ruter

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on January 15, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 7, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.