Decatur in Wise County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

A. H. Fortenberry

(1829 - 1868)

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 20, 2025

1. A. H. Fortenberry Marker

Inscription. In the 1850s, A. H. ("Sevier") Fortenberry and his second wife Jane (Odell) moved from Arkansas to the wilderness then existing in this section of Texas. Living as a farmer and stock raiser, Fortenberry joined neighbors in warding off Indian raids which endangered the settlements. On October 30, 1868, at a site 3/4 of a mile northwest of this marker, he was intercepted and killed by Indians while trying to join a defensive posse. He was buried in the Pollard Cemetery, Denton County. It is thought that he was the last fatality in the Indian Wars in this vicinity.

Erected 1977 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 52.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian.

Location. 33° 23.753′ N, 97° 23.09′ W. Marker is in Decatur, Texas, in Wise County. It is at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 51 and Fortenberry Road, on the right when traveling east on Road 51. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1137 Fortenberry Rd, Decatur TX 76234, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Slidell (approx. 2.7 miles away); Chisholm Trail in Denton County (approx. 4.8 miles away); Forester Ranch (approx. 5.2 miles away); Greenwood (approx. 5.2 miles away); Greenwood Masonic Lodge #779 (approx. 5.3 miles away); Plainview Cemetery

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(approx. 8.2 miles away); Townsite of Bolivar (approx. 8½ miles away); Bolivar Cemetery (approx. 8.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decatur.

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, November 20, 2024

2. A. H. Fortenberry Marker

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, November 20, 2024

3. A. H. Fortenberry Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, August 20, 2025

4. A. H. Fortenberry Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2024, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,315 times since then and 174 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 20, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2024, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. 4. submitted on August 20, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.