The earliest known permanent settlers in this area were Orrin L. and Susannah Winters and their extended family. By 1873, enough of a settlement existed to make application for a U.S. Post office. Postal officials rejected the first name selected . . . — — Map (db m180702) HM
Tennessee native Andrew Lee Brock (1830-1904) moved to Caldwell County in 1848, and he married Rebecca Montgomery Wayland. Two years later, Rebecca's father gave the couple a parcel of land on Boggy Creek as a wedding gift, and Brock built a log . . . — — Map (db m156052) HM
The harsh anti-Indian policies of President Mirabeau B. Lamar and Mexican efforts to weaken the Republic of Texas stirred Indian hostilities. Hatred increased after the Council House Fight in San Antonio, March 19, 1840, where 12 Comanche chiefs . . . — — Map (db m64063) HM
A part of De Witt’s Colony,
1825-1836. A part of Gonzales
County to 1848. First settlements
were on Plum Creek and the
San Marcos River
Created March 6, 1848
Organized August 7, 1848
Named in honor of
Mathew . . . — — Map (db m91552) HM
(Northwest Face of Memorial)
In Memory of
Our Soldiers
(Southeast Face of Memorial)
Tell it as you may
It never can be told,
Sing it as you may
It never can be sung
The story of the glory
Of the men who wore . . . — — Map (db m91554) WM
The first Caldwell County courthouse was erected on this site in 1848, when the county was organized and named for Mathew Caldwell, a Texas Ranger and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was replaced in 1858 by a 2-story limestone . . . — — Map (db m91553) HM
Organized in 1848, Caldwell County lost its original log jail in an 1858 fire, then kept prisoners in the Courthouse basement until 1873, when outlaws' activities called for a strong stone prison. In 1908 Caldwell contains voted 725 to 311 . . . — — Map (db m216865) HM
As part of a group of settlers, William A. Clark moved with his wife, Nancy (Copenhaver), and children to Caldwell County from Alabama in 1850. Clark purchased land in this vicinity in 1854. Early community residents met in homes and out of doors . . . — — Map (db m180763) HM
Oldest church in Caldwell County. Organized in 1848, with J. Isaac, pastor. Building erected in 1850; hand-hewn oak frame was morticed with pegs; lumber hauled from Port Lavaca. Land for church and adjoining cemetery was donated in 1857 by John H. . . . — — Map (db m204650) HM
Pioneer Lockhart physician, from Alabama. Studied medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Was Civil War surgeon, Texas Mounted Rifles and Cavalry, on Texas frontier and in Louisiana, Arkansas and Indian Territory.
Typical of Texas . . . — — Map (db m195675) HM
Built in 1899 and dedicated on July 6, 1900, this library was financed with funds bequeathed by Dr. Clark, who was a prominent physician of Lockhart and San Antonio. A native of New Orleans, he was a graduate of Tulane Medical School and studied . . . — — Map (db m111182) HM
Organized in 1853 by the Rev. Joseph Wood Dunn, this parish erected its own church building in 1855-56. Bishop G.W. Freeman, who dedicated the edifice in 1857, noted its fine acoustics. It was built of an early type of concrete fashioned from . . . — — Map (db m180767) HM
Organized in 1852 with seven members, this congregation constructed its first sanctuary in 1858. Located across the street from this site, it soon became too small for the growing membership. In 1898, this Gothic Revival building was designed and . . . — — Map (db m180768) HM
In 1849, Rev. N.P. Charlot appointed D.M. Morris and Col. John T. Storey as elders of First Presbyterian Church, which organized with ten members. Early services were held in members’ homes and the Masonic hall before church elders bought this site . . . — — Map (db m91555) HM
Born in Georgia, Isham Jones Good (1813-1866) came to Texas in 1835 with a group of volunteers to join the Texian forces in their war for independence from Mexico. As a member of the Georgia battalion, Good went to the aid of Col. James W. Fannin, . . . — — Map (db m149162) HM
Garland R. Lincecum, cousin of Alamo hero James Bowie, and his wife Emmaline left Mississippi and settled on land he had purchased here in 1847. Lincecum, who signed a petition with others to create Caldwell County in 1847, died in 1853 and was the . . . — — Map (db m149165) HM
According to local tradition, materials salvaged from Ross Institute, a former school for Lockhart's caucasian children, were used in 1923 to build this school for African American students. The Rosenwald Foundation of Chicago, which funded many . . . — — Map (db m180765) HM
The three-acre tract of land that was the Polish settlement of Polonia was deeded to Bishop John Neraz of the Catholic Diocese of San Antonio in 1894 by Joseph and Veronica Dzierzanowski. The community was founded one year after the death of Simon . . . — — Map (db m149956) HM
This community began in the early 1870s when a group of freedmen and their families, led by the Rev. John Henry Winn, relocated here from Webberville (approx. 20 mi. N). The original fourteen families purchased about 2,000 acres of land to establish . . . — — Map (db m149374) HM
At this site once stood the home of Susanna Dickinson Hannig (1814-1883), who came to Texas from Tennessee in 1831 with her husband Almeron Dickinson. He died at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. Susanna, with her daughter Angelina, was . . . — — Map (db m195674) HM
With cotton declining in the 1920s, Charles, who bought out Herman's share in 1922, shifted focus to the next wave of agricultural enterprises - livestock. With cattle, dairy, poultry and swine came a need for feed, so Charles and his sons Paul and . . . — — Map (db m204913) HM
Founded when Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad line intersected a main wagon road from south Texas to Austin. Many families of the Atlanta community (3 mi. SE) relocated here. Plum Creek Post Office, opened nearby in 1848, also moved here . . . — — Map (db m204678) HM
One of the great benefactors of Texas. Born in Brockton, Mass. Had business careers in shoe manufacture and rubber planting. On retirement, came here and in wildcat operation brought in Luling oil field, 1922. By 1926 had 215 producing wells. Gave . . . — — Map (db m159725) HM
Emory Bellard grew up one of 3 children here in Luling while his father was a geologist during Luling's oil boom in the 1920's. His legendary career as a high school football coach started in 1952 and it was during his High School coaching days that . . . — — Map (db m204709) HM
Luling's first church building. The Rt. Rev. Robert W.B. Elliott (1840-87), first bishop, Missionary District of Western Texas, enroute to his see city, held his original service in the district in a Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio railway . . . — — Map (db m204728) HM
1922 brought the discovery of oil, drought and a boll weevil infestation. Cattle ranches, dairy farms, and oil derricks gradually replaced cotton fields and gins closed one by one, but not Zedler's Mill. It survived by milling a bit of everything - . . . — — Map (db m204794) HM
Seventeen Charter Members, with encouragement from the Rev. G.W. Lane, District Missionary, organized this congregation on Dec. 3, 1875. Worship services were held outdoors and in the Masonic Lodge Hall until spring of 1876, when the first church . . . — — Map (db m159727) HM
Eula Nichols moved from a farm near Austin to Luling in 1891 to attend school. She persuaded the Rev. A.J. Bush to hold a revival service here in 1892. As a result, First Christian Church was organized with the Rev. G.S. Kimberly serving as . . . — — Map (db m204742) HM
After surveying Luling townsite in 1874, the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad deeded land for several church sites. In 1877 the Rev. Philip H. Hensley led 14 persons in organizing the Luling Presbyterian Church. Built in 1882, during the . . . — — Map (db m204727) HM
Doctor Sidney Joseph Francis (1867-1935) settled in Luling in 1889 after earning a medical degree from Tulane University. He purchased this site which included four town lots in October 1895. One month later he married Annie Davis Gregg, . . . — — Map (db m205533) HM
Cotton farmers brought in 1500 - 1800-pound wagon loads of cotton along with dirt and seeds. The cotton was sucked up into the mill where vacuums, a conveyer belt, gin stands, belts, shafts and a baler carried, cleaned and compressed the lint into . . . — — Map (db m204801) HM
Gears, shafts, wheels and belts captured and carried the force of the turbine's spinning shaft to power the millstones, gin stands, baler, elevators, augers and other moving parts of the mill.
Captions
Lower Left: In 1885 . . . — — Map (db m205210) HM
Do you know the history of your home town? Chances are that a grist mill played a key role. Ancient Rome valued bread so highly that bakers were freemen; all other craftsmen were slaves. Much has changed since then, but bread remains a staple in . . . — — Map (db m205208) HM
The Hall Community in this area was named for pioneer settlers John and Sarah Hall, who moved here about 1860 from Mississippi. A rural settlement gradually built up in the area, and in 1882 landowner J.R. Bishop deeded two acres to the community . . . — — Map (db m204636) HM
"Biz" Mackey played and coached semi-pro baseball and professional baseball for nearly 34 years from 1916-1950. The 18 year old Luling native began playing baseball in 1916 for the Prairie League's Luling Oilers, and started his pro career two years . . . — — Map (db m204722) HM
Once known as the "toughest town in Texas," Luling was established in 1874. Since it was originally founded as a railroad town as well as a rowdy center for cattle drivers along the paths of Chisholm Trail, Luling was not highly recognized until a . . . — — Map (db m204723) HM
Led by the Rev. B.F. Dixon of the San Marcos Baptist Association, members of the McNeil Creek community met on June 30, 1888, to organize a local congregation. The name chosen was McNeil Creek Baptist Church, and the congregation began to hold . . . — — Map (db m204652) HM
This cemetery was founded on land deeded to the Soda Springs Methodist Church about 1867 by early settler Margret Hinds. The first recorded burial was that of Henrietta Gant in 1868. The cemetery was first known as Soda Springs Methodist Cemetery . . . — — Map (db m204664) HM
In the late 1920s Charles Zedler and his sons built this mill to make feed for beef and dairy cattle, swine and poultry. Although exact locations are not known for all parts of the mill, storage bins and a milling separator were on the 2nd floor, . . . — — Map (db m204903) HM
With an ever-increasing demand for cotton clothes in the late 19th century, textile mills from America to Europe needed cotton thread to feed their looms. Meriwether and partners quickly added a cotton gin to the grist mill after the railroad . . . — — Map (db m205205) HM
"Skip" Rutherford, a native of Luling might not have been a man of many words, but what came from his mouth was "solid oak" according to former colleagues of the 4 Star General. His fascination with airplanes led him to enter the Air Force in 1961 . . . — — Map (db m204702) HM
Julius Rosenwald created the Rosenwald Fund in 1917 to endow new African American schools. Luling's Rosenwald school opened in 1925 to replace the Luling Colored School which began operation in 1874. The Rosenwald School employed four teachers for . . . — — Map (db m204666) HM
James Logan was born and raised in the Luling area and joined the Texas National Guard in 1936 at the age of 15. By the time his infantry division was landing at Salerno, Italy in 1943 during WWII, he was serving as Sergeant. On the morning of . . . — — Map (db m204721) HM
Born in Germany, Fritz Zedler (1840-1932) came to Texas in 1852. He moved to Luling in 1884 and began operation of Zedler's Mill, soon a thriving business. This house, built in 1900 from Zedler's own plans, testifies to his pride and prosperity. The . . . — — Map (db m204744) HM
What started as a grist mill quickly became a focal point of life in Luling. The gin sparked the town's first industry, the saw mill cut lumber for construction, and the grist mill churned out cornmeal. The steady stream of farmers, merchants, . . . — — Map (db m204792) HM
From mortar and pestle to massive millstones, humans have been grinding grain for millennia. More than 7000 years ago brute strength turned the stones. Draft animals replaced muscle power and wind and water replaced animals, but millstones still . . . — — Map (db m205203) HM
201 South Laurel Avenue Originally the Post Office Grocery & Market 1990-2014 The Law Office of Charles C. Wright
Dedicated September 18, 2014 — — Map (db m206573) HM
'Head' is the force generated by falling water. The further it falls, the more force it generates, which is why Meriwether dammed the San Marcos River to increase the fall of water.
Beginning in 1894, the Zedlers sold excess power to Luling. . . . — — Map (db m205211) HM
From about 1880 to the early 1920s, residents of Wattsville, Hall and other nearby towns used a cotton gin located here. Brothers Zechariah John and Thomas Watts settled the area ca. 1855, building the gin and also a general store and blacksmith . . . — — Map (db m204644) HM
Heritage Circle was created by the Luling Main Street organization as a platform to recognize several extraordinary people from Luling who achieved nationwide acclaim for their outstanding contributions. A partnership with the annual "Night in Old . . . — — Map (db m204707) HM
On August 9, 1922 the trajectory of Luling changed forever when oil was discovered 6 miles northwest of town on a 126 acre plot of land named "El Rancho", which was owned by Mexican immigrant Rafael Rios, Sr. The Rafael Rios #1 discovery well opened . . . — — Map (db m204668) HM
The arrival of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad in 1874 led to the sudden appearance of Luling, Texas, which quickly grew to 800 - 1000 residents. The demand for cornmeal prompted John and Jim Meriwether and Leonidas Hardiman to . . . — — Map (db m204789) HM
The Rev. William Johnson (1822 - 89), Farmer and Baptist Minister who came to Texas in 1833, built this shotgun style cabin near Tenney Creek (11 Mi NE of Luling) in 1870s. Family included five children. His son W.E. (Billie) became a Physician in . . . — — Map (db m159705) HM
John and James Meriwether and Leonidas Hardeman in 1874 built gristmill and sawmill at this site, with a stone dam across the San Marcos River. Bob Innes, John Orchard, J.K. Walker, and Fritz Zedler, as Luling Water Power Co., bought mills in 1884, . . . — — Map (db m76908) HM
In 1885 the Rev. C. Kreuzenstein conducted the first formal German Lutheran worship service in this area. On June 3, 1886, a congregation was organized with 20 charter families. In 1924, during the pastorate of the Rev. Hans Erich Krause . . . — — Map (db m149951) HM
Members of the Jennings and Humphreys families settled in the Martindale area in the 1850s. They established a cemetery on land bought by Joseph Humphreys in 1855. Set aside on this raised area, the burial ground initially served family members who . . . — — Map (db m149944) HM
This congregation was organized June 19, 1852, in the home of John Fleming near this site. Elders George Daniels and Reuben W. Ellis from the Plum Creek Primitive Baptist Church were called to serve as pastors by the charter members: James . . . — — Map (db m180705) HM
This graveyard, known as Fleming Memorial Cemetery or Fleming Colored Cemetery, has served the area's African American community for more than 100 years. John M. Fleming originally buried his deceased slaves here and eventually deeded it to . . . — — Map (db m180709) HM
Tennessee native Abraham Roberts wed Cynthia Jeffrey in Alabama in 1828. The couple arrived in Seguin, Texas, ten years later with their family. In 1840, Roberts purchased land on Tinney's Creek in what was then Gonzales County. He and other area . . . — — Map (db m180707) HM
Sidon H. Harris and his family arrived in Texas in 1851, and moved to this vicinity in 1856. Harris and his wife, Amanda, bought two parcels of land, and this family cemetery was begun when Sidon died in 1861. Two Harris children were buried here in . . . — — Map (db m149822) HM
Kings Highway Camino Real Old San Antonio Road
Marked by The Daughters of The American Revolution and The State of Texas A.D. 1918 — — Map (db m222734) HM
Kings Highway Camino Real Old San Antonio Road
Marked by The Daughters of The American Revolution and The State of Texas A.D. 1918 — — Map (db m222736) HM
In 1853, five years after the organization of Caldwell County, a Methodist Church was organized in the Prairie Lea community. Heads of the four charter families were George Francis and Pendleton Rector, veterans of the Battle of San Jacinto; early . . . — — Map (db m159730) HM
Discovery well of Luling Field, a major Texas oil area. Wildcatter E.B. Davis drilled on land owned by R. Rios. Well came in Aug. 10, 1922, after 3 dry holes had been drilled in same area. Magnolia (now Mobil) Oil Co. bought field 1926. By 1969, . . . — — Map (db m201846) HM
