Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Gault Homestead
Included as part of a 320-acre land grant awarded to J.P. Whelin in payment for his service to the Republic of Texas Army, this property has had a long and varied history. Soon after he was granted the land, Whelin sold it to Nathaniel C. Raymond, who in turn sold it to John M. Gault two years later.
Gault built a log cabin on the Whelin grant in the 1850s, and he and his family established a farm. In 1855 they purchased adjoining land from Captain Nelson Merrill and soon thereafter built a larger home on that tract of land.
Gault died about 1865 and was buried in Merrilltown Cemetery. The homestead property remained in his family until 1892, when it was sold to William and Edna Graves. They maintained the Gault homestead as tenant property for a number of years, during which the original cabin was enlarged with a board-and-batten addition. R.C. Cox acquired the property in 1929, and his family lived in the cabin through the following decade.
After a succession of owners, the Gault homestead became part of a modern housing development in the 1980s. It remains as a reminder of the Merrilltown community and of the county’s early rural heritage.
Erected 1990 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14322.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.
Location. 30° 26.526′ N, 97° 40.772′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. Marker can be reached from Klattenhoff Drive north of Surrender Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Katherine Fleischer Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2106 Klattenhoff Drive, Austin TX 78728, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Merrilltown Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Bratton Cemetery (approx. 2.6 miles away); Waters Park (approx. 2.6 miles away); St. Stephen’s Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 2.7 miles away); St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 3 miles away); Pflugerville Schools (approx. 3.2 miles away); Fortress Home (approx. 3.3 miles away); Walnut Creek Baptist Church (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Also see . . . Wells Branch Homestead. Provides information on the park and tours of the historic property. (Submitted on August 3, 2020, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2009. This page has been viewed 1,907 times since then and 90 times this year. Last updated on October 29, 2020, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 26, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 3. submitted on March 18, 2020, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 4. submitted on February 10, 2011, by Arguendo & Dixi of Austin, Texas. 5, 6. submitted on August 3, 2020, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.