Clarendon in Donley County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Stockton P. Donley

County Named for Texas Confederate

— 1821 — 1871 —

Stockton P. Donley Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 22, 2016

1. Stockton P. Donley Marker

Inscription. County named for Texas Confederate Stockton P. Donley 1821 - 1871 Came to Texas from Kentucky 1846. Dist. Attorney 1853. Enlisted private 7th Tex. Infantry 1861, made Lieutenant. Captured with regiment after bitter fight at Seige Fort Donelson Tenn. 1862. Prisoner war 9 months Camp Douglas Ill. When exchanged health so broken assigned post duty. Elected to State Supreme Court 1866. Because of Confederate service was removed 1867 by U.S. military order.

A memorial to Texans
who served the Confederacy

Erected 1963 by the State of Texas. (Marker Number 5127.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Political Subdivisions • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1821.

Location. 34° 56.252′ N, 100° 53.4′ W. Marker is in Clarendon, Texas, in Donley County. It is at the intersection of Sully Street and East 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south on Sully Street. Located on the lawn of the Donley County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Sully Street, Clarendon TX 79226, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Texas Panhandle.

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 Dust Bowl,

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: Donley County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Funeral Business in Clarendon

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Church of St. John Baptist (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); First United Methodist Church of Clarendon (about 700 feet away); The Clarendon News (approx. 0.2 miles away); S. W. Lowe House (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Mary's Catholic Church (approx. half a mile away); Donley County (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clarendon.

Another marker is no longer nearby. St. Stephen's Baptist Church (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding Stockton P. Donley. Stockton Donley of Tyler, was born in Howard county Missouri on May 28, 1821. He was educated in Kentucky and admitted to the bar in that state and then moved in 1846, to Rusk, Texas. In 1853 he was elected & re-elected district attorney. In 1860 he moved to Tyler and entered practice. In 1861 he enlisted as a private soldier in Col. Greggs’ regiment. He was soon promoted to a lieutenancy and displayed conspicuous gallantry at the siege of Fort Donelson.

In 1866 he was elected to a seat on the supreme

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, April 25, 2026

2. Stockton P. Donley Marker

bench of the state by the largest number of votes that had ever been cast in Texas for that office. He was removed from the position, in 1868, as an obstructionist by the military power. He resumed his law practice in co-partnership with Gov. O. M. Roberts, and later with Judge John Henry. Judge Donley died on February 17, 1871.

Also see . . . Texas State Historical Association article about Stockton Donley. (Submitted on August 13, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Stockton P. Donley Marker near the namesake Donley County Courthouse. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 22, 2016

3. Stockton P. Donley Marker near the namesake Donley County Courthouse.

Donley County Courthouse added to National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1978. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 22, 2016

4. Donley County Courthouse added to National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1978.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 812 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 13, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on April 26, 2026, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on August 13, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.