Whitney in Hill County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Carver Homestead

Photographed by James Hulse, January 11, 2025

1. Carver Homestead Marker

Inscription. In 1838, Mary Beacham received a headright land grant of one league and one labor (about 4600 acres), including this property making her first in a line of notable women associated with the site. Following multiple ownership transfers, Eliphas Spencer, acquired the land and built a two-room log cabin in Dec. 1845. Eliphas later transferred title to his wife Catherine, whom he married in 1847. The Spencers raised their only child, Emmeline, in the house. Fort Graham (active 1849-54, six miles NW) afforded some protection for the frontier house, Eliphas died in 1860. Surviving letters between Catherine and distant family speak of economic, health and communication problems, and of scarce and expensive commodities.

Colmon Carver, who visited the house in 1860, hauled supplies including salt, coffee and flour for the Confederate government during the Civil War. Carver returned and married Emmeline in 1868. In 1875, the Spencer cabin was incorporated as a kitchen into a larger Victorian-style home, four years later, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad platted the town of Whitney on land west of the Carver property. Catherine lived with her daughter and son-in-law until her death in 1882. The Carvers owned thousands of acres all across Texas. Colmon Carver died in 1911. Emmeline and her son Charles hired John E. Bruyere of Waco to add a second story in 1912 creating a Neoclassical style house with full-height entry porch and lower full-length porch, Emmeline Carver died in 1936, later owners included former Whitney Mayor Fred Basham and his wife, Jennye Mae. After a 1971 tornado destroyed chimneys and 18 windows, the Bashams made repairs and added a small rear addition. The historic homestead includes a carriage house, slave quarters, henhouse, and outhouse, all of frame construction, and a smokehouse/pantry

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of native limestone. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2011

Erected 2011 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16729.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1845.

Location. 31° 57.454′ N, 97° 18.348′ W. Marker is in Whitney, Texas, in Hill County. It is on Jefferson Avenue (State Road 22) 0.1 miles west of Lehmann Farm Road, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located at the front of the house by the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1127 Jefferson Ave, Whitney TX 76692, 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Boesch House (approx. 0.9 miles away);

The Carver Homestead and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 11, 2025

2. The Carver Homestead and Marker

Bethlehem Cemetery (approx. one mile away); King Memorial United Methodist Church (approx. one mile away); Whitney Messenger (approx. one mile away); Whitney (approx. one mile away); Whitney Memorial Park (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 1.6 miles away); Towash (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Whitney.

The view of the Carver Homestead and Marker from across the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 11, 2025

3. The view of the Carver Homestead and Marker from across the street

Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 527 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 12, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.