On North Mason Street (State Highway 59) at East Tarrant Street, on the right when traveling north on North Mason Street.
The history of the City of Bowie has been molded by forward-thinking pioneers of business, education and industry in the late nineteenth century. Situated along many significant trade and travel routes that traversed the State of Texas, permanent . . . — — Map (db m245772) HM
On East Nelson Street north of Pelham Street, on the right when traveling north.
Early settler James W. Stallings donated the first portion of land for the establishment of a cemetery for area residents at this site in 1880. Two years later, the town of Bowie was platted near the cemetery site, along the route of the Fort Worth . . . — — Map (db m119325) HM
On Lindsey Street at East Tarrant Street on Lindsey Street.
On December 24, 1882, Baptist ministers H.M. Burroughs and W.A. Mason, a missionary from the Baptist General Convention, met with fourteen local Baptists to organize the first Baptist Church at Bowie with Burroughs as its first pastor. To celebrate . . . — — Map (db m245774) HM
On West Tarrant Street at North Mason Street (Texas Highway 59), on the right when traveling west on West Tarrant Street.
The oldest financial institution in Montague County, this bank was chartered on March 10, 1890, eight years after the town of Bowie was created on the line of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. Beginning with an initial capital of $50,000, it . . . — — Map (db m88890) HM
Near U.S. 81 south of Adkins Street when traveling south.
Vigorous, forthright and humane Chief Executive of Texas in years 1935-1939. Born in Bowie, one of nine children of Renne and Mary Henson Allred worked in youth as a soda pop bottler, shoeshine boy, newsboy. Attended local schools, Rice University, . . . — — Map (db m120183) HM
On Pelham Street (Farm to Market Road 3043) east of East Wise Street (U.S. 81), on the right when traveling east.
Before Bowie was incorporated in 1883, Confederate Captain John J. Carter purchased 160 acres in 1878. As early as 1879, veterans of the Confederate Army would meet on land owned by Captain Carter. The Carter Property was situated near the new . . . — — Map (db m245771) HM
On West Houston Street at Texas Highway 59, on the left when traveling west on West Houston Street.
German Lutheran immigrants who settled in this area in the late 19th century were added to the Rev. John C. Schulenberg's North Central Texas Mission itinerary in 1893. St. Peter Lutheran Church was organized in 1894. That year a small wood frame . . . — — Map (db m245776) HM
On Grand Street, on the right when traveling south.
The third structure to serve as Montague County Jail, this building was erected by the Southern Prison Company of San Antonio in 1927. The first floor contained living quarters for the jailer and his family, and six prison cells were maintained on . . . — — Map (db m187223) HM
On Catholic Cemetery Road, 0.5 miles east of 455, on the left when traveling east.
Settlers from mountain provinces of Northern Italy began arriving in Montague in the early 1880s. The families of Barretto Raimondi, Jack Fenoglio, Antonio Perona and Charlie Corado were among the earliest here. By the early 1900s, there were as . . . — — Map (db m118540) HM
The first known settlers in Montague County arrived in 1849. After the county was formed in 1857, the City of Montague was created a year later to serve as county seat. The town grew slowly at first, but by 1871 was developing rapidly and . . . — — Map (db m187221) HM
On Grand Street, on the right when traveling south.
Montague County was created in Dec. 1857 and organized in Aug. 1858. A log cabin and a frame store served as temporary courthouses. Fires destroyed a two-story frame building (1873) and a two-story stone courthouse (1884). In that same year, . . . — — Map (db m187222) HM
On State Highway 59 at Farm to Market Road 1806, on the right when traveling north on State Highway 59.
Montague County
1858-1958
Commemorating
All Pioneer Families
By their perseverance and
suffering they helped make Texas
a better place in which to live
We honor these known and those unknown
who gave their lives or were . . . — — Map (db m187224) HM
On State Highway 59 at Main Street, on the right when traveling north on State Highway 59.
In 1872 The Rev. John F. Denton, a Methodist missionary, preached in Montague. The next year four members under the leadership of The Rev. Joseph Clinton Weaver (1846-1924) began this fellowship. W.T. and E.A. Waybourn deeded two acres in 1878 on . . . — — Map (db m121573) HM
On West Pine Street (Farm to Market Road 1759) west of Grey Street, on the right when traveling west.
In 1880, the Bob Stone Camp began in Montague County as a means for Confederate veterans of the Civil War to gather. Named in honor of deceased Col. Bob Stone, the camp hosted annual summer reunions for veterans and their families in the area. By . . . — — Map (db m245778) HM
On Cooke Street at East Elm Street, on the right when traveling north on Cooke Street.
This sanctuary was constructed in 1894, six years after Central Christian Church was founded by The Rev. M.F. Smith. Built by craftsmen Roger Brothers and R. Chenowith, the Gothic Revival structure was one of the first of its style to appear in this . . . — — Map (db m119338) HM
On Cooke Street at East Maple Street, on the left when traveling north on Cooke Street.
Organized in the summer of 1889 by the Rev. J.W. Holman and thirteen charter members, the Nocona Baptist Church first met in a local schoolhouse. The Rev. S.E. West served as first pastor. A sanctuary was completed in 1897, and in 1903 the name was . . . — — Map (db m245777) HM
On U.S. 82, 0.3 miles Hillcrest Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Side 1
With this marker the curtain of time
has been removed. The trails and mail routes
made across the county by traders,
prospectors, soldiers, homesteaders,
stagecoach drivers, surveyors, freighters and
drovers with their . . . — — Map (db m245637) HM
On Farm to Market Road 103, 3.2 miles east of Farm to Market Road 2849, on the right when traveling east.
Pennsylvania oil man George Williams, backed by Cad McCall, drilled for oil intermittently, 1918-22, beginning at Eagle Point (4.5 mi. SE). Leasing by individuals and major companies--including Phil Lesh, A.E. Humphrey, and the Texas Co.--kept rigs . . . — — Map (db m245780) HM
On U.S. 82 east of Hillcrest Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Front
Red River Station
C.S.A.
Established 9 miles northwest 1861 as Civil War outpost near major buffalo and Indian crossing local soldiers, determined to guard edge of settlement against Indian . . . — — Map (db m96689) HM
On 4th Street (Farm to Market Road 103 Spur) at Myrtle Street, on the right when traveling east on 4th Street.
Col. Diego Ortiz Parilla, a commandant of Presidio San Saba (near the later site of Menard) had grave Indian problems in 1759. Priests and others were killed in Comanche attacks on Mission San Saba. Comanches and their friends were allied to . . . — — Map (db m119479) HM
On 4th Street (Farm to Market Road 103 Spur) at Myrtle Street, on the right when traveling east on 4th Street.
The town of Spanish Fort occupies the site of an ancient Taovayas Indian village.
Scene of first severe defeat in Texas of Spanish troops by Indians in 1759.
Named Fort Teodoro in 1778 by De Mezieres in honor of Teodoro De Croix, . . . — — Map (db m119481) HM
Near Farm to Market Road 103 at Russell Road, on the left when traveling west.
The Tri-County Baptist Association, comprised of churches in Montague, Clay, and Wise Counties, voted to establish a church near Spanish Fort in 1895. Red River Baptist Church was formally organized that year following a revival service held under a . . . — — Map (db m245781) HM
On U.S. 82, 0.7 miles east of U.S. 81, on the right when traveling east.
Lying on a direct line of travel from the United States to Mexico, California, and points west, the area now Montague County was once a network of trails.
One of the first area roads forged by white men was the Chihuahua Traders' Trail of . . . — — Map (db m187220) HM
On U.S. 81, 1 mile south of Dutton Road, on the right when traveling south.
From the immemorial man has searched for a land where streets were paved with gold. As early as the 16th Century he was in Texas, lured by Indian reports of "Seven Cities of Gold." They never were found. But they provided the basis for legends of . . . — — Map (db m187219) HM
On South Broad Street at East Howell Street, on the left when traveling south on South Broad Street.
Head of Elm
(Saint Jo)
Historic Camp Site
for
1849 Capt. Randolph B. Marcy
on Government Survey Trip
1854 Capt. John Pope
Surveying Proposed Federal R.R.
1855 U.S. 2nd Cavalry
Under Col. Albert Sidney Johnson en . . . — — Map (db m245743) HM
On Farm to Market Road 677 at East Cheek Street, on the left when traveling north on Road 677.
This cemetery is the oldest of three graveyards established in Saint Jo (formerly called Head of Elm). Local tradition claims that area settlers Enoch Willett, his daughter Mary, James Box, Aaron Anderson, and James Harris were killed in Indian . . . — — Map (db m245783) HM
Near State Highway 677, 0.1 miles south of Davenport Road, on the left when traveling south.
Located in the bend of the Red River in northeast Montague County, Illinois Bend received an official title in 1877. By the 1890s, Illinois Bend was a thriving community where cotton farming swelled the population. Many churches and schools were . . . — — Map (db m87099) HM
On South Main Street at East Howell Street, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street.
Built 1873 as saloon and trail drivers' rest stop. After county prohibition, 1897, housed offices and bank. Named after Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson.
Town's first permanent building, originally of native stone. Stuccoed in 1930's; wooden facade . . . — — Map (db m212485) HM
On U.S. 82, 0.1 miles east of Derby Street, on the right when traveling west.
In 1873, James Hoback (J.H.) and Margaret Day Phillips moved from Illinois to Texas by wagon train with their children. J.H. was instrumental in the early social, religious and economic development of Saint Jo. He owned and operated a general store . . . — — Map (db m128693) HM
On East Boggess Street at South Line Street, on the left when traveling east on East Boggess Street.
One of oldest towns in Montague County. Founded in 1850s, during great California Gold Rush, by E.S. and Ithane Singletary (Brothers) and John Hughes, who hoped to find gold here. The community they started became known as "Head of Elm" for its . . . — — Map (db m96760) HM
