About 1858 the Abel Bowser family settled at a large bend in the Colorado River about 3 miles north of this site. The developing village, school and cemetery became known as Bowser Bend and by the late 1880s included a cotton gin and store. Due to . . . — — Map (db m238858) HM
Opened 1895 by noted educator Francis Marion Behrns. A 3-story native blue marble main hall and frame dormitory were built by interested local citizens. Courses included mathematics, natural sciences, Latin, oratory, commercial subjects, . . . — — Map (db m155536) HM
On March 31, 1891, T.H. and Priscilla Thomas conveyed one and one half acres of this land to the trustees of the Union Band Missionary Baptist Church. Three days later, Steve and Helen Jennings' infant son was laid to rest here, the earliest marked . . . — — Map (db m238731) HM
A site once famous for its horses and racetrack. Riley Harkey (1832-1920) and Israel Harkey (1835-1914) were Indian scouts in Texas in 1850-53. In 1855 they led their parents, Mathias and Catherine Harkey, to move here from Arkansas with other adult . . . — — Map (db m238849) HM
In 1910, Richland Springs businessman John Burleson contracted with Enoch Archer to construct this building to house his banking business. In addition to the bank, the building housed other businesses, including retail shops and medical offices. . . . — — Map (db m238851) HM
John Burleson (1870-1933) founded the Burleson Bank in 1910 to expand his business interests and provide financial services to the community of Richland Springs. In 1913 Burleson reorganized his institution as the First State Bank; in 1919, W.H. . . . — — Map (db m238852) HM
A private, or settler's fort, built 1858. Cabins of 4 families (30 people) formed a stockade for defense against Indians.
Daily a hunting party would go out for meat; other men stood guard.
Residents went home to farm in spring, but through . . . — — Map (db m238850) HM
After a series of tragic floods washed out earlier Colorado River crossings here, San Saba and Mills Counties jointly built this bridge, named for the Mills County community of Regency. The Austin Bridge Company of Dallas completed construction in . . . — — Map (db m212476) HM
Born in Pearl (Coryell Co.), Alma Ward graduated in Goldthwaite and attended college in Denton, earnings teaching certificate c. 1916. She married James L. Hamrick in 1919; the couple had two daughters. Alma taught in Eastland, McCulloch and San . . . — — Map (db m158102) HM
In the late 19th century, San Saba lacked direct access to developing railroad lines needed to reach expanding markets. The Beveridge Bridge, a single-lane suspension bridge, was constructed in 1896 to fill this need. The bridge was named
For Irish . . . — — Map (db m120432) HM
Cited by 42nd Texas Legislature and the public as a world leader in pecan industry. Spent lifetime upbreeding native San Saba pecans. Born in Dover, England. Came here in 1870s. Installed first San Saba water works. Some pecan varieties he . . . — — Map (db m238736) HM
Life and Work:
Risien was an English immigrant who arrived in San Saba in 1874. From 1880 to 1890, he and his family lived in a house that formerly stood in this immediate vicinity. He helped develop the San Saba community's first . . . — — Map (db m239001) HM
Elijah Estep (1828-1901), San Saba County's second tax assessor-collector, was born in Sangamon County, Illinois. He married Abigail Montgomery (1826-1868) and the couple was living in the community of Cherokee when San Saba County was founded. . . . — — Map (db m158119) HM
Prior to the establishment of the town of San Saba, a group of citizens formed a Baptist congregation which met in homes three miles east on Simpson Creek. Formed in 1856, the congregation was served by missionary preacher T. Howard (1817-1882). . . . — — Map (db m175293) HM
Organized 1856 in area so wild that church gave missionary a $50 revolver, $125 horse.
On this site, first frame church, 1882. Present building, 1914-1917. San Saba Marble. Said to be only all-marble Methodist church in U.S. Recorded . . . — — Map (db m175290) HM
Details:
Archival research indicates that the mortared cut stone wall fragments, sluices and foundations of other former structures seen down slope in the bed of Mill Creek are the remains of the community of San Saba's first waterworks. . . . — — Map (db m239004) HM
Abraham (Abe) Lincoln Galloway, son of Lovina and Henry C. Galloway, early San Saba ranchers, was born March 3, 1901 in San Saba County. He died August 17, 1961 and was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Abe, well known for his skills with hogs, . . . — — Map (db m186716) HM
This burial ground was apparently already in use in 1874 when A.J. and Ellen Crawford deeded it to trustees D.A. Harris, A.J. Wells, James Wayland, F. Brookerson and W.L. Adams as part of a five-acre site to be used for a school and place of . . . — — Map (db m175310) HM
Heights used from pre-settlement days to 1870s by Comanches and others to send messages over long distances. Smoke once rose from here (Five Mill Hill); Chapel Hill, 2 mi. south; and old community of Sloan in west San Saba County. Tribes wintered . . . — — Map (db m212083) HM
James “Jim” Louis Baker (1829-1903) and Eleanor “Ellen” Prather Austin Baker (1839-1909) married in Travis County on June 15, 1859. Jim’s family moved to Texas from Tennessee during the time of the Republic, and Ellen’s . . . — — Map (db m155533) HM
After living for a time in Arkansas, John H. "Shorty" Brown (1817-1896), his wife Jane Ann, and some of their children came here. Brown helped found San Saba in 1854 and became a civic leader. Although San Saba County provided a graveyard, Brown . . . — — Map (db m175298) HM
Details:
The slightly elevated spot under the giant oak tree is a burned rock midden (mound) feature dating to use of this area by prehistoric Native American people. The burned rock midden is thought to have formed as the prehistoric . . . — — Map (db m239038) HM
Details:
Mill Creek is fed by a spring located to the south, and it flows through the existing Mill Pond Park into LCRA's San Saba River Nature Park. The creek empties into the San Saba River at the northeast end of the LCRA park. The . . . — — Map (db m239005) HM
Structure of great value to community in early days. Erected about 1875 by John H. ("Shorty") Brown (1817-96), one of founders of San Saba, in 1850s. This building housed machinery of gristmill (which ground corn meal, for bread) and a cotton gin. . . . — — Map (db m158088) HM
On northeastern border of the Edwards Plateau, created from Bexar County, Feb. 1, and organized May 3, of 1856. Named for San Saba river. County seat of same name.
Area first explored in 1732 by Juan Antonio Bustillo y Zevallos. . . . — — Map (db m240817) HM
San Saba Cemetery, previously The Odd Fellows Cemetery, is located on 17 acres of land about 800 yards north of old town San Saba. On April 18, 1883 the San Saba chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) purchased 10 acres of this . . . — — Map (db m155532) HM
San Saba County was organized in 1856, and in 1860 the commissioners court issued a block of land to each religious body; the Christian Church was one of these. The congregation traded their land for another block upon which they built a small . . . — — Map (db m175292) HM
In 1856, the Texas Legislature created and organized San Saba County. A two-story frame courthouse (1857-1878) and later a stone courthouse (1878-1910) on this site served the county and provided space for public gatherings. In 1910, the City of . . . — — Map (db m158121) HM
County's oldest existing public building. Erected in 1884, the structure cost $13,000 and the lot $500. Jail was built of blue limestone in Italianate Texas style. A 12-foot high board fence (built after an 1886 jailbreak) has been replaced. . . . — — Map (db m158084) HM
In Rememberence of Those Who Served in Our US Armed Forces 11 November 2003
President Modesto Jimenez
Vice President Bill White
2nd President Donald Harrell
3rd President Alonzo Calderon
Secretary/Treasurer Rhonda Harrell . . . — — Map (db m239727) WM
The history of San Saba is closely tied with the story of Freemasonry in the area, as many of those who helped organize San Saba County were Masons. Local Freemasons were already gathering as a group when the first county courthouse was erected in . . . — — Map (db m175300) HM
San Saba Masonic Lodge No. 612 arose out of a long history of Freemasonry in San Saba County. This lodge, chartered on December 11, 1885, was the successor to Lodge No. 225 that was disbanded in 1882 as a result of financial troubles and a . . . — — Map (db m175299) HM
A member of the party of young Texans who captured the escaping Mexican General Santa Anna after Battle of San Jacinto, during the Texas War for Independence.
Migrated from Alabama in 1828. Served in Texas army at Gonzales and Bexar (San . . . — — Map (db m155534) HM
John W. Barnett and family with sons-in-law, Burrell L. and Tom P.C. Hamrick, settled large tract of land here. Founded community of Simpson Creek. Were first in area to farm as well as to irrigate crops. Were active in local commerce. Helped . . . — — Map (db m175306) HM
Episcopal church services in San Saba date from the early years of settlement. Before the Texas Legislature created and organized San Saba County in 1856, Rev. John Fletcher Fish, a U.S. Army Chaplain from San Antonio, held Episcopal services in the . . . — — Map (db m238848) HM
Removed from major roads and railways, early San Saba County residents had limited access to law enforcement and government. Beginning in the mid-1850s, citizens in and around the county formed vigilante mobs to dispatch justice. Although . . . — — Map (db m158122) HM
The United Confederate Veterans (UCV) began in 1889 and grew in popularity following the death and burial of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis a few months later. Camps formed across the South, and annual reunions allowed Confederate . . . — — Map (db m215181) HM
Dedicated to the Veterans of San Saba County
To the Veterans who died in service as well as those who returned home
To strengthen our ties to the best in our past and to help discover the best in our future
To the families . . . — — Map (db m239728) WM
Details:
"In the year 1883, the writer of this article obtained permission to erect a dam, some 300 yards below the present one, making a five feet fall from this source, and originated the first water works. For eighteen years a water wheel . . . — — Map (db m239007) HM
A legendary Indian site, popular into the 1900s, Wedding Oak sheltered many marriage services. Three occurred in one day, Dec. 24, 1911. — — Map (db m175294) HM
