Jefferson in Marion County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Vernon Dalhart

(April 6, 1881 - September 15, 1948)

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 25, 2018

1. Vernon Dalhart Marker

Inscription. Born in Jefferson, Vernon Dalhart (Marion Try Slaughter II) began his career here at Kahn Saloon, starred later in operas in New York, and recorded for Edison's talking machine. His rendition of "The Prisoner's Song" (1924) was the first folk ballad to sell over a million records, and led to the rise of country music as an American art form. Dalhart is said to have made over 3,500 records, many under assumed names. Nostalgia for Jefferson echoed in his "Caroline," "Bully of the Town," and other hits. Within ten years he earned and lost a fortune, later living in obscurity.

Incise in base: Marker sponsored by the Hoblitzelle Foundation.

Erected 1981 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8027.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 32° 45.374′ N, 94° 20.707′ W. Marker is in Jefferson, Texas, in Marion County. It is at the intersection of West Austin Street and North Vale Street, on the right when traveling west on West Austin Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 123 W Austin St, Jefferson TX 75657, 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

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walking distance of this marker: Kahn Saloon (here, next to this marker); Old Livery Stable (a few steps from this marker); Brown Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Murphy Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Jefferson C.S.A. (within shouting distance of this marker); Jay Gould Railroad Car (within shouting distance of this marker); Excelsior House (within shouting distance of this marker); Marion County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jefferson.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry on Vernon Dalhart. (Submitted on July 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Vernon Dalhart Marker is the one on the right. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 25, 2018

2. Vernon Dalhart Marker is the one on the right.

Mural on side of the Kahn Saloon. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 25, 2018

3. Mural on side of the Kahn Saloon.

American singer and songwriter Vernon Dalhart. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pd-us

4. American singer and songwriter Vernon Dalhart.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 462 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on November 30, 2025, by Joe Lotz of Flower Mound, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.