Near Ben Wheeler in Van Zandt County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Mars Community
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, September 7, 2026
1. Mars Community Marker
A settlement known as Mars flourished at this crossroads from the 1880s until about 1930. The intersection of the Tyler-Porter's Bluff Road (now FM 2339) and the Canton-Athens Road (now FM 773) provided a likely site for a community to develop.
Early settlers in the area included John Ammons and his son-in-law, Henry Washington Brown, who arrived in 1869 and purchased 320 acres of land. By 1871, Ammons had deeded two of his acres to the Pleasant Ridge Church and School for constructing a church building and schoolhouse.
Wheat was the original crop that area farmers grew, but cotton soon replaced it as the primary crop. H. W. Brown built a cotton gin and grist mill for the community, and a blacksmith shop and two mercantile stores soon followed. Subsequent cotton gin operators included T. J. Bristow, E. P. Miller, W. R. Dyer and W. W. McWilliams. According to local tradition, the mercantile operations were run by H. W. Brown, Thomas Hobbs, T. O Wells, W. A. "Algie" Harville, Sr., and J. W. Barefoot.
In 1891, a post office was established to serve the settlement. Originally called Acme, the station's name was
this page online
Erected 2001 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12769.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 32° 21.426′ N, 95° 43.563′ W. Marker is near Ben Wheeler, Texas, in Van Zandt County. It is on Farm to Market Road 773 0.1 miles south of Farm to Market Road 2339, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18923 FM773, Ben Wheeler TX 75754, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American 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
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, September 7, 2026
2. Mars Community Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tidmore Cemetery (approx. 2.6 miles away); Adren Anglin (approx. 2.7 miles away); Asbury Cemetery (approx. 2.7 miles away); Allen Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); Liberty Cemetery (approx. 3.7 miles away); Red Hill Cemetery (approx. 5.4 miles away); Arthur C. Horton, M.D. (approx. 5.4 miles away); Lexie Dean Robertson (approx. 5˝ miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on September 8, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2. submitted on September 9, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
