Near Presidio in Presidio County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
El Fortin de San Jose
(The Little Fort of Saint Joseph)
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 22, 2012
1. El Fortin de San Jose Marker
Inscription.
El Fortin de San Jose. (The Little Fort of Saint Joseph). About 1773, the Spanish garrison at Presidio del Norte, present Ojinaga, Mexico, established El Fortin de San Jose in this vicinity to protect local farmers. The settlement retained the name after the post was abandoned about 1810. After Ben Leaton had acquired extensive property in the area in 1848, the community came to be called Fort Leaton. Ben Leaton's fortress is all that remains of the old settlement. Fort Leaton is neither the site of the original Presidio del Norte nor the Spanish mission Apostal Santiago, as stated erroneously by earlier markers at this location.
About 1773, the Spanish garrison at Presidio del Norte, present Ojinaga, Mexico, established El Fortin de San Jose in this vicinity to protect local farmers. The settlement retained the name after the post was abandoned about 1810. After Ben Leaton had acquired extensive property in the area in 1848, the community came to be called Fort Leaton. Ben Leaton's fortress is all that remains of the old settlement. Fort Leaton is neither the site of the original Presidio del Norte nor the Spanish mission Apostal Santiago, as stated erroneously by earlier markers at this location.
Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1416.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1773.
Location. 29° 32.561′ N, 104° 19.55′ W. Marker is near Presidio, Texas, in Presidio County. Marker can be reached from Farm to Market Road 170, 3˝ miles east of U.S. 67, on the right when traveling east. Marker is at Fort Leaton State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Presidio TX 79845, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Fort Leaton State Historic Site. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Submitted on November 6, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 22, 2012
2. El Fortin de San Jose Marker
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 22, 2012
3. El Fortin de San Jose
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 476 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 4, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.