Tatum in Rusk County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Town of Tatum

Photographed by James Hulse, March 16, 2025

1. Town of Tatum Marker

Inscription. Wealthy Alabama native Albert Tatum (1810-1870) settled here at Trammel's Trace and Grand Bluff Road crossing in the 1840s. Slave labor built Tatum's plantation home, a social center for the area. His wife Mary gave land and a station in 1882 for Longview & Sabine Valley Railroad, later part of the Santa Fe system. In 1892 Tatum's son Paul (1848-1914), known as "Uncle Fox", donated land and laid out the townsite. Farming and lumbering became the main industries. The formation in 1971 of Martin's Creek Lake and an electrical generating plant brought rapid growth.

Erected 1980 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11074.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 32° 18.982′ N, 94° 31.031′ W. Marker is in Tatum, Texas, in Rusk County. It is at the intersection of Hill Street (State Road 149) and W Beauregard Street, on the left when traveling north on Hill Street. The marker is located at SH 149 in front of People's State Bank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 180 Hill St, Tatum TX 75691, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

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,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Trammel's Trace (approx. 0.3 miles away); Tatum Cemetery

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Grant Cemetary (approx. 3.8 miles away); Martin Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Harmony Hill Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Beckville United Methodist Church (approx. 6.1 miles away); First Baptist Church of Beckville (approx. 6.2 miles away); Sugar Hill Cemetery (approx. 7½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tatum.

The view of the Town of Tatum Marker along the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 16, 2025

2. The view of the Town of Tatum Marker along the highway

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.