Near Eagle Lake in Wharton County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman

Photographed by Gregory Walker

1. Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman Marker

Inscription. Joseph (c. 1787-1831) and Rachel Rabb (1790-1872) Newman were married in 1806 in Ohio. Following Joseph's service in the War of 1812 in Illinois, they lived in Arkansas Territory on the Red River before moving into Texas in 1820. In 1823, they left the Red River area to join Rachel's parents, William and Mary Smalley Rabb, as members of Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" colony.

As pioneers in this colony, the Newmans received land grant no. 59 from Mexico - a league and a labor of land in what became Wharton County, including this site. An early census listed Joseph Newman as a farmer and stock raiser. They had ten children - Mary, William, Louisa, Minerva, Sarah (known in Texas history as Sally Scull), Elizabeth, Thomas, Ali, Joseph, Jr., and Andrew - and experienced firsthand the austerity of the Texas frontier.

Upon Joseph's death in February 1831, he was buried at a now-unknown location on his league of land. Four years after Joseph's death, Rachel gave her interest in the Newman lands to her children, but continued living on her original homesite. She also inherited Rabb property in Matagorda County from her parents. By 1854, the entire Newman League had been sold out of the family. Rachel moved to DeWitt County, where she married again. She is buried in the Salt Creek Cemetery on the DeWitt-Karnes County line.

Joseph

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and Rachel Newman's children lived on to serve their state and country in a variety of ways. As Texas pioneers, the Newmans helped settle a new land and built a foundation for those who came after them.

Erected 2002 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12787.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 29° 26.257′ N, 96° 16.209′ W. Marker is near Eagle Lake, Texas, in Wharton County. It is on Farm to Market Road 102 south of Farm to Market Road 263, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eagle Lake TX 77434, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Egypt (approx. 3.2 miles away); William Jones Elliot Heard and Egypt Plantation (approx. 3.2 miles away); Frazarville (approx. 4.3 miles away); Camp Zion Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 5.2 miles away); Nada (approx. 7.1 miles away); Nada Post Office (approx. 7.3 miles away); Sgt. William Foster Memorial (approx. 7.6 miles away); Norman L. Lanier Memorial (approx. 7.6 miles away).

Location of Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker

2. Location of Joseph and Rachel Rabb Newman Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2016, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,560 times since then and 144 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 30, 2016, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.