Near Crockett in Houston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Original Site of the Joseph R. Rice Log Cabin
Photographed By Brian Anderson, July 28, 2018
1. Original Site of the Joseph R. Rice Log Cabin Marker
Inscription.
Original Site of the Joseph R. Rice Log Cabin. . Joseph Redmond Rice (1805-1866) and his wife, Willie Masters Rice (1809-1881), natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, built a one-room log cabin on this site in 1828. Rice's brothers and his father-in-law, Jacob Masters, probably helped with the building. The men cut logs in the woods, and Willie Rice drove a team that snaked them to the clearing for the house raising. Menaced by hostile Indians, the Rices fled to Louisiana, but returned in the 1830s. Over ensuing years, they enlarged the cabin and increased their family to eleven children. Their dwelling became known in the Republic of Texas as a place to lodge or take meals on the San Antonio Road, between the towns of Nacogdoches and Crockett. After Joseph and Willie Rice died, descendants lived in the log house until 1919, when a grandson shifted it some 300 feet and built a new frame house on the original site. The historic house was then used to store grain and shelter farm implements and the family automobile., The Rice Homesite was commemorated in 1936 by the Texas Centennial Commission, and in 1973 the old log house was given to the State. Relocated in Tejas Mission Park (16 mi. NE.), it has been restored and is on exhibition as a relic of frontier days.
Joseph Redmond Rice (1805-1866) and his wife, Willie Masters Rice (1809-1881), natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, built a one-room log cabin on this site in 1828. Rice's brothers and his father-in-law, Jacob Masters, probably helped with the building. The men cut logs in the woods, and Willie Rice drove a team that snaked them to the clearing for the house raising. Menaced by hostile Indians, the Rices fled to Louisiana, but returned in the 1830s. Over ensuing years, they enlarged the cabin and increased their family to eleven children. Their dwelling became known in the Republic of Texas as a place to lodge or take meals on the San Antonio Road, between the towns of Nacogdoches and Crockett. After Joseph and Willie Rice died, descendants lived in the log house until 1919, when a grandson shifted it some 300 feet and built a new frame house on the original site. The historic house was then used to store grain and shelter farm implements and the family automobile.
The Rice Homesite was commemorated in 1936 by the Texas Centennial Commission, and in 1973 the old log house was given to the State. Relocated in Tejas Mission Park (16 mi. NE.), it has been restored and is on exhibition as a relic of frontier days.
Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7039.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1828.
Location. 31° 21.479′ N, 95° 23.868′ W. Marker is near Crockett, Texas, in Houston County. Marker is on State Highway 21, 0.7 miles east of Farm to Market Road 3187, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crockett TX 75835, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed By Brian Anderson, July 28, 2018
2. Original Site of the Joseph R. Rice Log Cabin Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. This page has been viewed 503 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 9, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
