Vernon in Wilbarger County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Early Wilbarger County

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, February 23, 2025

1. Early Wilbarger County Marker

Inscription. Organized 1858 and named in honor of Mathias and Josiah P. Wilbarger, early Texas settlers.
Josiah, a surveyor, had become famous as the man who lived 12 years after being scalped by Comanches, 1833, near Austin. He had saved his life by putting a wool sock on his head; he was rescued next day by neighbors.
An adobe house built 1878 by Jonathan and C. F. Doan, the first Wilbarger County settlers, marks the Red River crossing of the famous Western Cattle Trail.
Vernon (formerly Eagle Flat) became county seat in 1881. The first railroad reached town, 1886.

Erected 1968 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 1361.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 34° 9.179′ N, 99° 17.053′ W. Marker is in Vernon, Texas, in Wilbarger County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 183) and Wilbarger Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Located on the Wilbarger County Courthouse lawn. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 Wilbarger Street, Vernon TX 76384, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

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 Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Napoleon 12 Pounder Bronze Field Gun Model 1857 (here, next

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to this marker); Wilbarger County WWI Memorial (here, next to this marker); Vernon Texas Confederate Monument (here, next to this marker); Wilbarger County Centennial Time Capsule (here, next to this marker); Wilbarger County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Vernon Drugstore (within shouting distance of this marker); Thaddeus Edgar Johnson (approx. 0.2 miles away); W. D. Berry Home (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vernon.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on Wilbarger County. (Submitted on August 10, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Marker in front of County Courthouse and Confederate & WWI statues. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 22, 2016

2. Marker in front of County Courthouse and Confederate & WWI statues.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 22, 2016

3. Early Wilbarger County Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 973 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on August 10, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.