According to oral tradition, this cemetery originated when two sheep herders camping in the area died and were buried here. The oldest marked grave, that of area resident William R. Yankee, dates to 1882. Frank and Mary Crowder bought this land in . . . — — Map (db m238860) HM
This area's first Colorado River bridge was built in 1903 between Mills and San Saba counties to serve area ranchers and farmers. The bridge fell into the river on May 9, 1924, killing Raymond Burns Jernigan (b. June 28, 1914), his horse, and . . . — — Map (db m238862) HM
In 1875, Reverend Noah Turner Byars, a former blacksmith who served with Sam Houston during the Texas Revolution, founded this church and served as interim minister. Rev. Byars ordained David Isaac Haralson, the first permanent pastor. Byars also . . . — — Map (db m89960) HM
The Center City Cemetery began with the burials in 1874 of Julia M. Bishop and M.E. Hughes, the adult and infant daughters of W.C. and Caroline Hughes, early settlers of this area. Judge L.E. Patterson purchased 2.5 acres containing the Hughes . . . — — Map (db m89943) HM
Settled in 1854 by the families of William Jenkins and David Morris (1811-89), this community was called “Hughes Store” after W.C. Hughes and his wife opened a store here in the 1870s. They platted a townsite in 1876, hoping to attract the railroad . . . — — Map (db m89944) HM
In the early 1870s, shortly after the founding of Center City (first known as Hughes Store), a circuit riding preacher ministered in the area. Charter members officially formed a Methodist church in 1878. Members first met in the community’s Masonic . . . — — Map (db m89959) HM
In Memory of
Jeff Davis Camp
No. 117 U.C.V.
Organized in 1887
CSA
1861 - 1865
J.B. Abney Co B 9 Ga I • J.W. Allen Co F 19 Ark C • J.H. Allen Slaughters Tex C • Henry Avery Co B 30 Tex C • C.J. Ball Co E 22 Tex I • C.W. . . . — — Map (db m238634) WM
When the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad reached this area in 1885, company officials platted the town of Goldthwaite and built a reservoir to supply water for steam locomotives. A 25-foot-high dam near this site stored water from several . . . — — Map (db m89839) HM
Goldthwaite Methodists trace their history to the mid 1850s when circuit-riding preachers began traveling to the area to minister to barely permanent settlers. The pioneers gathered for services in private homes, out of doors or in a one-room . . . — — Map (db m158059) HM
In 1888, three local men bought land for use as a cemetery; the first burial was that of Houston Roberts. The Odd Fellows Lodge bought the grounds in 1894, adding land over the years. Watson Whittaker was killed during an 1898 train robbery and made . . . — — Map (db m89840) HM
Formed from Brown, Comanche
Hamilton and Lampasas Counties
Created March 15, 1887
Organized August 30, 1887
Named in honor of
John T. Mills
1817 - 1871
Judge of the Third and Seventh
Judicial Districts in the
Republic of . . . — — Map (db m89810) HM
Mills County was formed in 1887, and citizens built a county jail in Goldthwaite the following year. In 1889, Goldthwaite was chosen county seat, and Oscar Ruffini designed the first courthouse; it served at this site from 1890 through 1912, when . . . — — Map (db m89812) HM
Mills County experienced much growth from 1887 to 1917 after the establishment of the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway in the region. As Goldthwaite became the county seat and center, locals saw the need for a bank. On June 4, 1888, D.H. Trent . . . — — Map (db m89836) HM
This Tablet is Placed Here
by the
Goldthwaite Garden Club
In Memory of Those of
Mills County
Who Paid the Supreme Sacrifice
in World War II
Baker, Wayne • Black, Norman O. • Carroll, O.B. • Clements, Bentley • Collier, James L. . . . — — Map (db m89842) WM
Mary (Robins) and J. W. Jones built a dam of live oak logs and sandstone on the Colorado River about 8 miles south of this site between 1876 and 1879. The dam provided power to Jones' grist mill and cotton gin. The community became known as Jones . . . — — Map (db m155735) HM
Rising to an altitude of 1,712 feet, San Saba Peak is an oblong promontory with rimrock edges on the north and west sides. The Spanish Governor of Texas, Don Juan Antonio Bustillo y Cevallos, named the ancient landmark in 1732. Tales of lost silver . . . — — Map (db m20365) HM
In 1885 William H. Thompson (1842-1896) started a weekly newspaper, “The Mountaineer”, which closed but was reestablished in 1894. He sold it in 1896 to R.M. Thompson, his nephew, who renamed it “The Goldthwaite Eagle”. At . . . — — Map (db m89838) HM
Mr. Peyton died from poison fumes in digging this well
Ben Cox was also overcome
Deed H. Mayer rescued Mr. Cox and brought up Mr. Peyton’s body
August 1887
In memory of these three men — — Map (db m89813) HM
This area's first Colorado River bridge was at Regency, on Mills-San Saba County line. Built 1903, it served ranchers and farmers for going to market, but fell in 1924, killing a boy, a horse, and some cattle. Its successor was demolished by a 1936 . . . — — Map (db m217375) HM
Settlers Moses and Lydia Jackson set out one morning in October of 1858 with four of their seven children to spend the day with friends. As they neared their destination they encountered a small party of Indians, possibly Comanches. Louisa and I.J. . . . — — Map (db m238947) HM
One of the earliest permanent settlers of Brown and Mills counties, North Carolinian John Williams migrated to this area in 1855 and helped start the local cattle industry. Williams Ranch settlement grew up around his homestead, and Herd Pen Branch . . . — — Map (db m238961) HM
Charles Mullins, for whom this town was later named, came here with cattle in 1857. By tradition, a Methodist circuit rider preached at his home. The date of the church’s founding is uncertain. Worship was held in Mullin schoolhouse for years. In . . . — — Map (db m89694) HM
Pioneers migrated to western Mills County to take advantage of the area's rich soil and ample water supply. The community of Regency (originally Hannah Valley) received a post office in 1889. Today, few vestiges of Regency remain. Other, area . . . — — Map (db m238864) HM
Near this site is the Chesser Valley, named for early settler John Dan Chesser, whose home became the focal point of a small rural community by the same name. Missouri native John Dan Chesser (1842-1914) moved to Texas with his family in 1854 and . . . — — Map (db m238948) HM
Once a prominent frontier town, Williams Ranch grew up around the homestead of cattleman John Williams (1804-1871), who came to this area in 1855. The community flourished during the Civil War (1861-1865) because of trade with Mexico and by 1874 had . . . — — Map (db m89693) HM
This historic cemetery overlooks the natural springs that were once the frontier settlement known as Williams Ranch on land granted to William W. Williams in 1852. In 1855, John Williams and wife Annie Epley Williams moved to this area and founded . . . — — Map (db m238960) HM
In the 1870s and 1880s many settlers of German ancestry began arriving in this area. In 1889, under the leadership of the Rev. R. Seils, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized. Early worship services were held in the Bismark schoolhouse . . . — — Map (db m158050) HM
Thomas Edgar Hamilton (1878-1933) moved with his family to Mills County in the early 1890s. In 1898, he wed Nettie Ethaline Sargent (1879-1950), and the couple had four children. They made their home in Star, where he worked in a nearby family . . . — — Map (db m217376) HM
