Yoakum in Lavaca County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Chisholm Trail Memorial Park
In the Centennial Year of 1936, the theme of Yoakum’s Tom-Tom Festival that June was the “Old Trail Drivers and Cowboys of Yoakum 60 years ago”. Old trail drivers and cowboys gathered for this event at Seekamp’s Barn (Irvine St. at W. Morris St.), origin of photo, and later were present at this site for the dedicated of the Texas Centennial Granite Marker which stands due west. Those pictured are as follows: From left to right Frank Williams, John Connor, Leo Tucker, Jim Hickey, Jim North, Tom Stell, John Richardson, Tom Burkett, Bob Humphreys, Jim Humphreys, Jeff Vick, Anthony Hickey, John Schrimpcher, seated: John Steen, John Ridgeway, Frank Petit, John Day, John Airhart. The boy was John Vick’s grandson, J.H. Landry, and the man in the background by the flag was a Mr. Fuller, the cook.
In the years following the Civil War, Texas was completely devastated and bankrupt. The only thing they had of value were thousands of wild Longhorn cattle grazing in the plains of South Texas. A few stout hearted and brave individuals got the idea of collecting these cattle and driving them to a beef hungry market in the North, converting them into cash Texas so desperately needed. These cattle were known as “Texas Gold”, the economic savior of our state.
Between the years 1865 and the late 1880’s, thousands of Longhorn were gathered in this area and launched up what was commonly known as the Chisholm Trail to various destinations.
The Century of Yoakum and the
Texas Department of Transportation
Mitchell W. Harbus, Jr., Mayor
City of Yoakum
Bruce Bayless, District Engineer
Texas Department of Transportation
2003
Erected 2003.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.
Location. 29° 17.961′ N, 97° 9.456′ W. Marker is in Yoakum, Texas, in Lavaca County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 77 Alt and Ellen May Road, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 77 Alt. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yoakum TX 77995, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Trail Drivers of Southwest Texas (a few steps from this marker); Yoakum (a few steps from this marker); Yoakum National Bank (approx. 0.7 miles away); Municipal Power Plant (approx. one mile away); Asberry School (approx. 1½ miles away); First Methodist Church of Yoakum (approx. 1.7 miles away); St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away); von Hugo - von Clausewitz Family Cemetery (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yoakum.
Also see . . . Chisholm Trail on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 26, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 381 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 26, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.