Melrose in Nacogdoches County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Pioneer Texas Oil Man

Lyne Taliaferro Barret

— (1832-1913) —

Pioneer Texas Oil Man Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ken Barnes

1. Pioneer Texas Oil Man Marker

Inscription.

Born in Virginia. Came with parents to Texas, 1842. Married Angelina Thomas. Had 9 children.

Drilled the first oil well in Texas, 1866. If efforts to drill early in 1859 had succeeded, he would have completed first oil well in the United States.

Low demand and scarce capital halted his oil operations. He spent rest of his life as a farmer and community leader.

Erected 1966 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 9251.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. 31° 33.888′ N, 94° 28.95′ W. Marker is in Melrose, Texas, in Nacogdoches County. It is on El Camino Real (State Highway 21). Located approximately 8 miles east of Nacogdoches, Texas on State Highway 21 in the community of Melrose, within the "Lower Melrose Cemetery." The cemetery is about 50 yards north of the highway, behind the Melrose Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nacogdoches TX 75961, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of "El Atascoso" (approx. 1.9 miles away); Cove Springs Cemetery (approx. 3.4 miles away); John Balch (approx. 3.4 miles away); Fairview Church Cemetery (approx. 6.2 miles away); Home of Peter Ellis Bean (approx. 6½ miles away); a different marker also named Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 7.3 miles away); a different marker also named Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melrose.

Lyne Taliaferro Barret Grave Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ken Barnes

2. Lyne Taliaferro Barret Grave Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 2, 2025

3. Pioneer Texas Oil Man Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 2, 2025

4. Pioneer Texas Oil Man Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2010, by Ken Barnes of Nacogdoches, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,305 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on March 15, 2012, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2010, by Ken Barnes of Nacogdoches, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on December 3, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.