Breckenridge in Stephens County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Walter Prescott Webb's Formative Years

Photographed By Kayla Harper, February 3, 2019

1. Walter Prescott Webb's Formative Years Marker

Inscription. Noted historian Walter Prescott Webb (1888-1963) came with his family to Stephens County at the age of four. Over the next seventeen years, Webb received an education in frontier life that formed the basis of his intellectual development and his theories on the role of the Great Plains in American History.

Webb's father, Casner, was a rural schoolteacher and farmer. As he moved to different teaching assignments, the family moved with him. W. P. Webb thus was exposed to the physical geographical variety within the county that was so important to his western thesis. His neighbors were prime sources of frontier lore.

Although Webb's public school experience were infrequent. It was during these formative years in Stephens County that he developed his love of books and his desire to attend college. Also during this time, Webb was contacted by William Hinds of New York, who was to become his benefactor and a great source of encouragement for the young scholar.

In 1906 Walter P. Webb received his teaching certificate and spent the next three years as a rural educator. In 1909, at the age of 21, Webb left his home in Stephens County to pursue his college education at the University of Texas in Austin.

Erected 1985 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5711.)

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 32° 45.335′ N, 98° 54.273′ W. Marker is in Breckenridge, Texas, in Stephens County. Marker is on W. Walker Street near N. Court Street, on the right when traveling west. Immediately in front of the new Stephens County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W Walker Street, Breckenridge TX 76424, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Stephens County Courthouse (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Stephens County Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); Camp Breckenridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Breckenridge Stephens Walker (within shouting distance of this marker); Old First National Bank Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Baptist Church of Breckenridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); B.T. Brown House (approx. 1.1 miles away); Picketville (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Breckenridge.

Photographed By Kayla Harper, February 3, 2019

2. Walter Prescott Webb's Formative Years Marker

Photographed By Kayla Harper, February 3, 2019

3. Walter Prescott Webb's Formative Years Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2019, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 9, 2019, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.