Marlin in Falls County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Journey of Faith: The 1867 South Carolina to Texas Migration
Photographed by Sharon Styles, July 12, 2026
1. Journey of Faith: The 1867 South Carolina to Texas Migration Marker
This monument memorializes the brave African American families who migrated to Texas in search of better lives. In January 1867 a courageous group of 435 newly emancipated men, women and children left Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina with hopes for a brighter future in Texas. These formerly enslaved individuals traveled to Charleston, South Carolina and boarded the steamship Adele on January 26, 1867. The pioneers arrived in Galveston, Texas on February 7, 1867 whereupon they journeyed inland by train and additional modes of transportation to Marlin, Falls County, Texas.
The majority of the Freedmen remained in Falls County and the surrounding counties of Limestone, Robertson, Bell, Milam and McLennan. Several families settled in nearby Montgomery and Bastrop counties as well. These daring trailblazers laid the foundations for vibrant African American communities across Central Texas. Through genealogical and DNA research their descendants traced the family ties between Texas and South Carolina, preserving a powerful legacy of unity, resilience and faith.
Will McCullough Rose McCullough Malvina McCullough Squire Washington Perry Evans John McCullough Martha McCullough Ben Limon Parris Kinder Nanny Kinder Mariah Kinder Anderson Kinder Violet Kinder Robert Kinder Benny Kinder Joe Kinder Oliver Kinder Sallie Kinder Else Kinder George Kinder Ephraim Fulton Phillis Fulton Jemima Fulton Fortune Jenkins Phoebe Jenkins Dora Jenkins Joseph Kinder James Kinder Frederick Kinder James Wilson Lavina Wilson Sarina Wilson Stacia Wilson DrusillaWilson Thomas Pendergrass Rose Pendergrass Hennie Pendergrass Alford Pendergrass Nancy Pendergrass Bob Pendergrass Nero Fulton Rose Laferage Norah Laferage Nannie Leferage
this page online
Photographed by Alex Montoya, July 11, 2026
2. Rev. David A. Hill, Sharon J. Styles, Toni A. Kirk and Angela Shaw Ross
Marlin Monument Committee Members, direct descendants of Freedmen, at the unveiling ceremony.
(rear)
Cain Cooper John Cooper Adam Cooper Jannie Cooper Phoebe Gaskin Norris Gaskin Paul McCutchen Louisa McCutchen George McCutchen Celia McCutchen August
Photographed by Sharon Styles, July 12, 2026
3. Side and back view of memorial.
Photographed by Alex Montoya, July 11, 2026
4. 36th Engineer Brigade Color Guard from Fort Hood, Texas
Color Guard honored the three Civil War veterans who served in the United States Colored Troops (USCT)
Photographed by Alex Montoya, July 11, 2026
5. Ret. Col. Billy McGowan Sr, Angela Shaw Ross and Albert Manigo
Descendants of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) Civil War soldiers receiving flags in their honor from the Color Guard
Photographed by Alex Montoya, July 11, 2026
6. A Manigo, Mayor Byrd, Col McGowan, T Kirk, J Hamlin, S Styles, A Ross, D Hill, D Taylor,Judge Elliot
Descendants, Committee Members and Dignitaries unveil the memorial
Black Pearls of Genealogy Honoring Stories of Endurance and Achievement Lost to Time
Erected 2026.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is February 7, 1867.
Location. 31° 18.403′ N, 96° 53.906′ W. Marker is in Marlin, Texas, in Falls County. It is at the intersection of Bridge Street and Ward Street, on the right when traveling west on Bridge Street. The marker is located on the grounds of the Falls County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 125 Bridge Street,
Photographed by Alex Montoya, July 11, 2026
7. Guests viewing memorial and mingling after the unveiling
On the grounds of the Falls County Courthouse
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, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Falls County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Falls County World War II Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Marlin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Allen House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Hilton Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hot Mineral Water (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Marlin (approx. Ό mile away); The First Presbyterian Church of Marlin (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marlin.
Regarding Journey of Faith: The 1867 South Carolina to Texas Migration. In early 1867 a group of 435 Freedmen left Kingstree, Williamsburg County, South Carolina and migrated to Marlin, Falls County, Texas, in search of better lives. The simple reasons for this migration were money and dignity. The deeper motivations were complex, rooted in economic hardship, systemic racism and a yearning for true freedom.
Following the Civil War (1861-1865) formerly enslaved African Americans in Kingstree worked for wages, often for the same families who had enslaved them. However, these wages were meager and inadequate for survival. Discontent grew and on December 19, 1866 The Kingstree Star newspaper reported a looming strike by Freedmen demanding higher wages. On January 10, 1867, The Charleston Daily Courier described the reluctant exodus of Freedmen from South Carolina as necessary due to the previous years experience which left many without food, clothing or shelter after months of hard labor. While some employers increased wages, many did not. This pushed Freedmen to seek better living conditions in other states.
The December 1866 death of Henry D. Shaw, one of the region's largest former enslavers, may have weakened the economic ties that kept some of the Freedmen in Kingstree and contributed to their decision to leave the area. In addition, racial oppression persisted. South Carolinas Black Codes restricted the rights of African Americans, limiting their movement, labor options and access to justice. A tragic and horrific event added to the unrest. On January 7, 1867, a fire at the Kingstree jail killed 22 African American prisoners, including three women, while the sole white inmate walked away unharmed. This blatant racial injustice further highlighted the dangers of staying.
Amid this turmoil, James Sanford Jones and Cornelius Summers arrived from Marlin, Falls County, Texas, looking for laborers. Texas, known for its vast land and desire to never end slavery, faced a labor shortage after emancipation on June 19, 1865. Plantation owners like Jones, whose father, Churchill Jones, had been one of the largest slaveholders in Texas, needed workers. It is uncertain whether Jones and Summers knew of the issues in Kingstree or if they were directed there by the Freedmens Bureau. Regardless, with economic unrest and racial inequity escalating, Kingstree was a prime location to recruit Freedmen.
On December 23, 1866, Jones and Summers met with Sub Assistant Commissioner A.E. Niles of the Freedmens Bureau in Kingstree, South Carolina, requesting transportation for 400500 Freedmen to Texas. After negotiations were complete, 435 individuals left Kingstree, traveled to Charleston, South Carolina and boarded the steamship Adele on January 26, 1867. They arrived in Galveston, Texas on February 7, 1867 before continuing by train and eventually wagon or foot to Marlin, Texas.
The majority of the Freedmen remained in Falls County or nearby counties of Robertson, Limestone, Milam, Bell and McLennan. Some went to work in Montgomery County on Jones family land while others proceeded to Bastrop County. It appears Jones and Summers contracted enough Freedmen to accommodate several Central Texas landowners in need of laborers.
In short, the migration was both an escape as well as a journey of hope and faith. Crushed by poverty, injustice and racism the 435 Freedmen of Kingstree seized an opportunity to reclaim agency over their lives by seeking a future in a land, while far from perfect, offered a new beginning.
A particularly noteworthy detail is that of the three veterans who served in the Civil War. Anthony Shaw, James Manigault [Manigo], and Squire Washington self-emancipated by escaping their bondage and joining the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to fight for their freedom as well as the freedom of all who were enslaved. Manigault [Manigo] and Shaw made their homes and raised families in Falls County while Washington settled in Bastrop County.
On August 9, 2023, Sharon Johnson Styles sent a request for assistance in locating transportation records for her great-grandfather, Harvey Shaw, to the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy responded to the request and shared the inquiry with her Freedmens Bureau Friday group. Karen Taylor searched the records and found the transportation document. Dr. Murphy revealed the discovery to her group and the descendants via Zoom on August 18, 2023. On May 17, 2025 the first memorial, representing the beginning of the journey, was unveiled at the train station in Kingstree, South Carolina. Angela Shaw Ross, Sharon Johnson Styles, Toni A. Kirk and Rev. David A. Hill participated in the Kingstree ceremony to honor their direct ancestors. These four formed the Marlin Monument Committee in June 2025 and worked to have the sister memorial placed in Marlin, Texas, representing the end of the Freedmens journey of faith.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2026, by Sharon Styles of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 74 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on August 7, 2026, by Sharon Styles of Sacramento, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 13, 2026, by Sharon Styles of Sacramento, California. 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 15, 2026, by Sharon Styles of Sacramento, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
