Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge near Alamo in Hidalgo County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Thomas Walter Jones

(c. 1827 - 1853)

Photographed by Doug Green, March 20, 2009

1. Thomas Walter Jones Marker

Inscription. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War in 1848 and designated the main channel of the Rio Grande as the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. Major William Emory led the border survey (1849-53). Young Washington D.C. surveyor Thomas W. Jones joined Emory's survey effort at El Paso in 1850. While serving as assistant surveyor of the Lower Rio Grande survey party, Jones drowned nearby on July 23, 1853, and was buried here on Dr. Eli Merriman's Ranch.

Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5474.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Mexican-American. A significant historical date for this entry is July 23, 1853.

Location. 26° 3.87′ N, 98° 8.508′ W. Marker is near Alamo, Texas, in Hidalgo County. It is in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. It can be reached from the intersection of Owl Trail and Wildlife Drive. The marker is located in a small historic cemetery, Santa Ana Cemetery, that is inside the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. To get to the cemetery, from the Refuge visitor center (3325 Green Jay Road, Alamo, TX 78516) drive south on Wildlife Dr. about 1.5

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miles to the Owl Trail trailhead. The cemetery is a short walk (250 feet) west on Owl Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3325 Green Jay Rd, Alamo TX 78516, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

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: Santa Ana Land Grant (approx. 1.3 miles away); Eli Jackson Cemetery (approx. 3.2 miles away); Jackson Ranch Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Louisiana-Rio Grande Canal Company (approx. 4.1 miles away); Asadores Ranch (approx. 4.7 miles away); Handy Ranch (approx. 4.7 miles away); Run (approx. 4.7 miles away); Donna Public Schools (approx. 5.1 miles away).

Gateway to Santa Ana Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Doug Green, March 20, 2009

2. Gateway to Santa Ana Cemetery

Santa Ana Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Doug Green, March 20, 2009

3. Santa Ana Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2025, by Doug Green of Sugar Land, Texas. This page has been viewed 289 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 18, 2025, by Doug Green of Sugar Land, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.