Downtown in Beaumont in Jefferson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
George O'Brien Millard
(February 22, 1847 - January 26, 1909)
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026
1. George O'Brien Millard Marker
Inscription.
George O'Brien Millard. (February 22, 1847 - January 26, 1909). Born in Berwick Bay, St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana, to Sidney Hosmore and Mary (O’Brien) Millard, George O’Brien Millard was a pioneer Beaumont civic leader and educator. George moved to Texas with his extended family after his father died in 1854. George followed his uncle Henry Millard to Beaumont in 1870 and found jobs with J.C. Craig’s General Store and Eagle Sawmill. Eventually, he opened his own business, the George Millard Hardware Company. In 1877, he married Amma Reeves (1850-1952), daughter of John and Barbara Reeves, and the couple had two children, Paul Horace (1880-1968) and Minnie Mae (1883-1969). , He was active in the Beaumont community, serving in 1882 as Commander of the Beaumont Fire Company #1, a volunteer-based firefighting organization. George was also a member of First Methodist Church and chaired their building committees in 1889 and 1906. George was known for excellent stewardship during the building process. George and Amma were among the founders of the Temperance League and Temperance Hall Company in 1889, undergoing building campaigns in 1889 and 1902. He also constructed the Millard Building in 1898 to house his hardware business, later also housing the Masonic Lodge and Salvation Army. Mayor Wheat appointed George to the school board in 1901. During his eight years as president, he presided over the vote to build Ogden and Junker Schools and two schools for the city’s African American community, South End School and North End School. After his untimely death, Beaumont teachers established a community fund to erect Pompeo Coppini’s statue of Millard, dedicating it January 1, 1912.
Born in Berwick Bay, St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana, to Sidney Hosmore and Mary (O’Brien) Millard, George O’Brien Millard was a pioneer Beaumont civic leader and educator. George moved to Texas with his extended family after his father died in 1854. George followed his uncle Henry Millard to Beaumont in 1870 and found jobs with J.C. Craig’s General Store and Eagle Sawmill. Eventually, he opened his own business, the George Millard Hardware Company. In 1877, he married Amma Reeves (1850-1952), daughter of John and Barbara Reeves, and the couple had two children, Paul Horace (1880-1968) and Minnie Mae (1883-1969).
He was active in the Beaumont community, serving in 1882 as Commander of the Beaumont Fire Company #1, a volunteer-based firefighting organization. George was also a member of First Methodist Church and chaired their building committees in 1889 and 1906. George was known for excellent stewardship during the building process. George and Amma were among the founders of the Temperance League and Temperance Hall Company in 1889, undergoing building campaigns in 1889 and 1902. He also constructed the Millard Building
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in 1898 to house his hardware business, later also housing the Masonic Lodge and Salvation Army. Mayor Wheat appointed George to the school board in 1901. During his eight years as president, he presided over the vote to build Ogden and Junker Schools and two schools for the city’s African American community, South End School and North End School. After his untimely death, Beaumont teachers established a community fund to erect Pompeo Coppini’s statue of Millard, dedicating it January 1, 1912.
Erected 2023 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23940.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1912.
Location. 30° 4.998′ N, 94° 5.885′ W. Marker is in Beaumont, Texas, in Jefferson County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Pearl Street (U.S. 90) and Bowie Street, on the right when traveling north on Pearl Street. The marker is located on the grounds of Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 Main St, Beaumont TX 77701, United States of America.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026
Regionally, this marker is in Texas’ Golden Triangle. It is also in the American South, on the Gulf Coast, 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.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, January 16, 2026
3. George O'Brien Millard statue
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 55 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 21, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
