Near City Cemetery Road west of South Pacific Street.
Louisiana native John Creighton Buchanan moved to East Texas and established a legal practice in Quitman. He became the first Wood County Attorney in 1876, the year before he married Sarah Rosalie "Rosa" Patten (1855-1941). He represented Rains, . . . — — Map (db m139070) HM
On Texas Route 37, on the right when traveling north.
Created
February 5, 1850
Organized
August 5, 1850
Named in Honor of
George T. Wood
1815-1856
Member of the Congress of the
Republic of Texas
An officer in the Mexican War
Governor of Texas 1847-1849
Quitman, . . . — — Map (db m138680) HM
On South Main Street (Texas Route 37) at East Goode Street ( Route 154), on the right when traveling south on South Main Street.
Texas statesman whose nationally-acclaimed public career began at this site. The third son of Gen. Joseph L. and Lucanda (McMath) Hogg was born near Rusk. Orphaned during troubled Civil War era, he began at age 14 to earn his own way as a farmhand, . . . — — Map (db m139230) HM
On Farm to Market Road 779 at Farm to Market Road 1799, on the right when traveling east on Road 779.
Reuben Leon Simmons and his wife Fairness (Clark) served as educators in public schools for a combined 83 years. Reuben Leon Simmons was born in 1894 in the Forest Home community (Wood Co). After the death of his father, Simmons and his family moved . . . — — Map (db m290262) HM
On Robinson Way, on the right when traveling south.
Born in Georgia, where he fought in Indian Wars, was a merchant, and member of State Legislature. In 1839, he moved with family to Texas, settling in this area. He was a member of 6th Congress of the Republic of Texas, 1841-1842; a delegate to the . . . — — Map (db m128922) HM
On East Kilpatrick Steet at North Newsom Street, on the right when traveling east on East Kilpatrick Steet.
Born in Mississippi, "Bill" McDonald moved with his family to Rusk County, Texas, about 1866. During Reconstruction, McDonald was tried for treason after a conflict with Union authorities but was acquitted. He established W. J. McDonald and Co., one . . . — — Map (db m139048) HM
On Commerce Street east of South Johnson Street, on the right when traveling east.
Since its establishment in 1873, the community of Mineola has been tied historically to the railroad and transportation industries. The Texas & Pacific Railroad planned to connect Longview and Dallas by rail, and began building west in 1872. . . . — — Map (db m138978) HM
On East 4th Street (Loop State Road 62) west of Euclid Street, on the left when traveling west.
James Stephen Hogg was born in 1851 to Lucanda (McMath) and Joseph L. Hogg on the family's plantation near Rusk. After a political career in Wood County as justice of the peace, judge and prosecutor, he became Texas Attorney General in 1887. In . . . — — Map (db m289546) HM
On Texas Route 154 near County Road 4764, on the right when traveling north.
In the vicinity of Old Tarrant, south of here, the Civil War refugee family of Mrs. Amanda Stone, of Louisiana, was shown great kindness when rescued by Hopkins countians after a road accident. The Stones saw the Texans share the little they had, . . . — — Map (db m119382) HM
On Commerce Street west of South Johnson Street, on the left when traveling west.
A native of Upson County, Georgia, Cadwell Walton Raines (1839-1906) contributed to Texas history as a Methodist preacher, schoolteacher, attorney, newspaper publisher, county official, historian and state librarian. He first came to this state in . . . — — Map (db m138988) HM
Near City Cemetery Road west of South Pacific Street (U.S. 69).
Born in Kentucky, Richard Malcolm Smith came to Texas in his youth. He found work as a journalist with the Galveston News and the Brazos Pilot. Smith attended his first Democratic state convention in 1878. He became a lawyer in 1885. . . . — — Map (db m139072) HM
On North Main Street (Texas Route 37) at East Goode Street ( Route 154), on the right when traveling south on North Main Street.
The Texas legislature created Wood County in 1850 with Quitman as the county seat. The county first used a log courthouse on the south side of the square before building a two-story frame structure, which burned in 1878. The county’s third . . . — — Map (db m139235) HM
Near Lamar Street south of Cemetery Road, on the left when traveling south.
Born in Virginia in 1802, Nathan Johnson spent his boyhood years near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In 1824 he was licensed to preach and served as a Methodist missionary to the Cherokee Indians and others in the Tennessee Conference. Johnson brought his . . . — — Map (db m119476) HM
On Quitman Street at North Texas Street (Farm to Market Road 2795), on the right when traveling west on Quitman Street.
The community of Emory was once called Springville, part of Wood County. In 1870, the Texas Legislature created Rains County from portions of four other counties. Named for early Texas patriot Emory Rains, the county chose Springville as its center . . . — — Map (db m139154) HM
On South Johnson Street at Commerce Street, on the left when traveling south on South Johnson Street.
Mineola's saloon era began with its founding in 1873 at the junction of the Texas and Pacific and the Houston Great Northern Railroads. Saloons catered to Mineola’s many transient workers; the town had at least 14 different saloons during the era, . . . — — Map (db m138981) HM
On West Front Street at South Stone Street, on the left when traveling west on West Front Street. Reported damaged.
Extensive settlement in this area began after the end of the Texas Revolution in 1836. The Texas legislature created Wood County in 1850, influencing further settlement. The community of Sodom developed here by 1871, when the Rev. John Branham . . . — — Map (db m237137) HM
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) east of South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the left when traveling east.
Born in Georgia, Raines came to Texas in 1858. After serving in Gen. R. M. Gano's Texas Cavalry Regiment in the Civil War, he was a teacher in New Braunfels and a lawyer in Canton. Van Zandt County Judge from 1876 to 1878, he played a major role in . . . — — Map (db m54081) HM
On Farm to Market Road 779 at Farm to Market Road 1799, on the right when traveling east on Road 779.
Harold Clark Simmons was born May 13, 1931 in Alba, Texas. He was the Second son of Reuben Leon and Fairess Clark Simmons. His father, Reuben Leon Simmons was superintendent of the Golden School District at the time of his birth. Harold Simmons . . . — — Map (db m290265) HM
On North Sycamore Street at West Buchanan Street, on the right when traveling north on North Sycamore Street.
Wood County natives Lorenzo Dow Callaway (1869-1918) and Elizabeth Williams (1874-1949) married in 1892 and had five children. Lorenzo joined his father, James Anderson Callaway, in his mercantile business, and had other varied interests including . . . — — Map (db m139051) HM
On West Bermuda Street (Texas Route 154) at South Main Street ( Route 37), on the right when traveling west on West Bermuda Street.
It was not until 1884 that Wood County had public schools. From the date the first settler, Martin Varner, arrived in 1841, the County only had "pay" or "subscription" schools.
On April 24, 1871, the State of Texas approved "section five of an . . . — — Map (db m139535) HM
On South Main Street south of Governor Hogg Parkway, on the right when traveling south.
Built in 1860s; bought Jan. 8, 1873, by James Stephen Hogg (1851-1906), who in 1874 married Sarah Ann Stinson of Wood County. When the couple honeymooned in this cottage, young Hogg was editor-publisher of "Quitman News" and justice of the peace -- . . . — — Map (db m139222) HM
Near Alexander Road 0.4 miles north of North Street, on the left when traveling north.
A native of Missouri, Ambrose Fitzgerald settled near here in 1846 on land that was then part of Nacogdoches County. Since this area was included in the creation of later counties, he was able to serve as the first clerk for Van Zandt and Wood . . . — — Map (db m139157) HM
On Church Street (State Highway 150) at Byrd Avenue (Farm to Market Road 1514), on the right when traveling north on Church Street.
Born in Georgia and married there in 1837 to Martha Evans Gindrat (1809-63), a widow with 3 children, George T. Wood came to Texas with his family in 1839 and settled along the Trinity River near Point Blank. Wood studied law and was elected to the . . . — — Map (db m118970) HM
On West Broad Street (U.S. 80) west of North Line Street, on the right when traveling west.
James Stephen Hogg lived in Wood County from 1868 to 1882, formative years of his political career. When he became Governor, he appointed several Wood County friends to public offices. They included: Sarah Rosalie Patten Buchanan, who became a . . . — — Map (db m139023) HM
On Farm to Market Road 564 north of County Road 2201, on the left when traveling north.
On February 8, 1878, the 17 members of this lodge were set to work under dispensation of the Grand Master of Texas. Mineola Lodge was chartered at the annual communication in Houston on December 15, 1879, with a membership of 48. J.R. Rutherford . . . — — Map (db m255869) HM
On County Road 1388 0.4 miles east of Farm to Market Road 2225, on the left when traveling east.
In 1900 a group of Indiana families, led by John M. Hart and Roland Alexander, migrated to this area of Texas. They arrived to find the land, which had been promoted as abundant in timber and rich soil, to be unfertile and susceptible to flooding. . . . — — Map (db m139160) HM
On Summit Street, on the right when traveling north.
Civil War
Brown, Wilson, W. Co. F, 21st Ohio Infantry, Private, Army. Born; December 25, 1837 in Logan County, Ohio. Entered service in Wood County, Ohio. Died; December 25th, 1916, in Toledo, Ohio. Buried at New Belleville Ridge Cemetery, . . . — — Map (db m160385) WM
On Farm to Market Road 3056 0.3 miles north of Route 2689, on the right when traveling north.
Came to Texas before 1820, and, in partnership with Henry Jones, operated a trading post in the Red River settlement of Jonesboro. He was a member of the "Old Three Hundred" who settled Stephen F. Austin's first colony. Varner first homesteaded . . . — — Map (db m296294) HM
On East Kilpatrick Street at Wigley Street, on the left when traveling east on East Kilpatrick Street.
Angus and Lena Beaird began construction of this house in 1918; it was completed in the early 1920s. The Beairds sold the house in 1928 to Howard and Vivian Lott, who were leaders in the development of Mineola and Wood County. The house exhibits . . . — — Map (db m139049) HM
On South Main Street south of Governor Hogg Parkway, on the right when traveling south.
A native of Alabama, J. H. Jones (d. 1923) came to Texas in 1877. After teaching school for several years, he was elected clerk of Wood County in 1886. He later became a successful merchant in Quitman. In 1902 Jones donated property at this site to . . . — — Map (db m139221) HM
On Governor Hogg Parkway 0.2 miles west of South Main Street (State Route 37), on the right when traveling south.
Constructed in 1869 of virgin pine and oak by James A. Stinson, a widower who came to Texas in 1868 from Georgia after having served as a colonel in the Confederate Army. He brought with him his daughter Sallie. He bought extensive timber and farm . . . — — Map (db m307859) HM
On West Bermuda Street (Texas Route 154) at South Main Street ( Route 37) on West Bermuda Street.
Ambrose Fitzgerald was born March 17, 1827 in Tennessee and came to Texas in 1846. On his arrival he settled on a 640 acre land grant in the Mercer Colony about 7 miles south of the present Lone Oak. In 1846 this land grant was a part of Nacogdoches . . . — — Map (db m139560) HM
Near Bolivar Street at East Houston Street, on the left when traveling north.
In memory of Peter Whetstone and Dicey Whetstone, pioneer settlers in Harrison County. Donors in 1843 of the site of the City of Marshall, a part of the Peter Whetstone headright granted in 1838 by the Republic of Texas. — — Map (db m258030) HM
On East Lane Street east of Sissy Spacek Drive, on the left when traveling east.
One of the earliest churches in Wood County. Organized Nov. 16, 1850, by pioneer settlers in a meeting moderated by a Cumberland Presbyterian, the Rev. Simon W. Weaver. Charter members included: Ursula Benton; M. M. and Mary Bigham; James, Robert, . . . — — Map (db m139241) HM
On Groves Street at North Capitol Street, on the right when traveling west on Groves Street.
The Texas Legislature created Van Zandt County in 1848. It originally included nearly 2,000 square miles of territory. Jordan's Saline, now Grand Saline, was near the county's geographic location and became the first seat of government. Two years . . . — — Map (db m187057) HM
Thin black lines indicate changes in relevance. Between each pair of lines entries are ordered geographically but all have the same relevance.
* Inflectional forms of words are their plurals, singulars, and possessives as well as gramatical tenses and similar variations.
