On FM 858, 0.2 miles south of Texas Highway 64, on the left when traveling south.
In 1890 Van Zandt county had 81 schools but none for higher learning. In April 1890, Prof. James F. Davidson and J. W. Downs held a community meeting in the Old Clough School House in Ben Wheeler. They presented a plan, adopted unanimously, to . . . — — Map (db m74158) HM
On Farm to Market Road 279 at Farm to Market Road 858, on the left when traveling south on Route 279.
Just as Native Americans were attracted to this area because of the climate and resources, early settlers also utilized these resources. The area was originally named Clough after George W. Clough (1820-1884) who, in 1868, purchased the 640-acre . . . — — Map (db m73951) HM
Legislator Morgan Gurley Sanders was born near Ben Wheeler. He published newspapers, worked as journal clerk of the state senate and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas before winning a seat in the state legislature. His public service as a . . . — — Map (db m74159) 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 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
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) at South Capitol Street, on the right when traveling west on East Dallas Street.
On September 2, 1915, the Canton Herald announced plans for a new hotel. Its site along the Dixie Highway gave the hotel its name and a prime location to attract travelers and residents. The hotel’s square floor plan included two full floors . . . — — Map (db m187055) HM
On Groves Street at North Capitol Street, on the right when traveling west on Groves Street.
On the first Monday of each month in the early 1850s, Judges Oran M. Roberts and Bennett H. Martin held court in Canton, an event attended by townspeople and country folk alike.
With large numbers of people present, court day also became the . . . — — Map (db m187058) HM
On South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198) at West Tyler Street, on the right when traveling south on South Buffalo Street.
George Washington Tull, Sr. (1827-1917), better known as G. W. Tull, was one of the earliest and most successful merchants in Canton. His family migrated from Georgia, where G. W. was born, to Alabama, Mississippi, and then Tennessee. In 1852, G. W. . . . — — Map (db m187053) HM
On State Highway 19 north of State Highway 64, on the left when traveling north.
Located within the original 1850 town plat of Canton, this cemetery has served citizens of this area for well over a century. The oldest documented burial is that of Ann Calhoon (1807-1860). Among those buried here in marked and unmarked graves are . . . — — Map (db m28120) HM
On South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling south.
The Hilliard family has long been identified with the general trade business in Canton. Founded because of its central location, Canton became the seat of Van Zandt County in 1850. George McIntosh Hilliard came to Texas in the 1870s and migrated to . . . — — Map (db m187056) HM
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) at South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling east on East Dallas Street.
Isaac Van Zandt
1813-1847
Member of the Congress
of the Republic - 1841-1842
Charge D’Affaires to the
United States - 1842-1844
In 1845 - Member of the
Constitutional Convention
Frances C. Lipscomb Van Zandt
1816-1909 . . . — — Map (db m187282) HM
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) at South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling east on East Dallas Street.
Influential Texas politician Isaac Van Zandt was born on July 10, 1813. He lived in Tennessee and Mississippi until he moved to the Republic of Texas in 1838. After settling in Harrison County, Van Zandt served as congressman for Harrison County in . . . — — Map (db m187064) HM
On South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198) south of East Dallas Street (State Highway 64), on the left when traveling south.
John Henninger Reagan was born in 1818 to Timothy Richard and Elizabeth Reagan in Sevier County, Tennessee. He worked at his father's tannery and on the family farm, attending school sporadically, until leaving the state in 1838.
Reagan came in . . . — — Map (db m54002) HM
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) east of South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling east.
A South Carolina-born Alabama legislator, Oran M. Roberts came to San Augustine, Texas in 1841. He served in district and state judicial positions, including the first district court in Canton in 1850, and was president of the Secession Convention . . . — — Map (db m53959) HM
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) east of South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling east.
In 1894, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court approved construction of a new brick courthouse at this site. Built between 1894 and 1896, it replaced a frame courthouse that had served the county since shortly after the Civil War. The noted San . . . — — Map (db m53917) HM
On East Tyler Street at South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling east on East Tyler Street.
"The Canton Herald" has been in continuous operation since 1882. Ellis Campbell (1882-1945), publisher of the "Wills Point Chronicle," purchased the "Herald" in 1915. Campbell and his wife Mary Jane (Gilmore) built a family publishing business that . . . — — Map (db m187054) HM
On State Highway 64, 0.2 miles north of Veterans Memorial Parkway (State Highway 243), on the right when traveling north.
A portion of the original
Mercer Grant created from
Henderson County in 1848
Named in honor of the illustrious
statesman Isaac Van Zandt
Born in Tennessee, July 10, 1813
Delegate to the Annexation
Convention in 1845
Died in . . . — — Map (db m187059) HM
On East Dallas Street (State Highway 64) east of South Buffalo Street (State Highway 198), on the right when traveling east.
Built in 1937 with Public Works Administration funds, this is the sixth building to serve as the Van Zandt County Courthouse. According to local lore, the Commissioners Court decreed that a modern courthouse should be erected in order to provide . . . — — Map (db m54055) HM
On South Trade Days Boulevard (State Highway 19) 0.4 miles south of Veterans Memorial Parkway (State Highway 243), on the right when traveling south.
In the early days of Van Zandt County, families, churches and charitable organizations took care of people in need. After the civil war, the high number of indigents forced an addendum to the state constitution making care for the poor the . . . — — Map (db m187051) HM
On Farm to Market Road 2339, 0.5 miles west of Farm to Market Road 4712, on the right when traveling west.
The first recorded burial on this site was that of Asbury Lowery (1836-1855). The new burial ground was named in his memory. In 1863, Prairie Flower (1858-1863), the young daughter of celebrated Comanche Indian captive Cynthia Ann Parker and . . . — — Map (db m105485) HM
On this site the
Cherokee Chief Bowles was killed on July 16, 1839 while leading 800 Indians of various tribes in battle against 500 Texans. The last engagement between Cherokees and whites in Texas. — — Map (db m91605) HM
Oral tradition links this church to the original County Line Baptist Church of 1851, the earliest recorded attempt of area African American families to create a community of worship. County Line Colored Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1872 . . . — — Map (db m31867) HM
On Farm to Market Road 279, on the left when traveling west.
As was the case in so many small Texas towns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the cotton gin in Edom was a major element in the economy. First opened at this site in 1918 by Ro Dike, who moved his ginning operation here from Davidson (3 . . . — — Map (db m28115) HM
On Farm to Market Road 2339, 0.3 miles west of Farm to Market Road 4306, on the right when traveling west.
Pioneer L.H. Hobbs arrived in this area in about 1850 and was instrumental in the establishment of the community. He owned 320 acres of land, including this site. Hobbs allowed the King family to bury their two-year-old daughter here, marking the . . . — — Map (db m105614) HM
Near Interstate 20 at milepost 538, on the right when traveling east.
Main engagement of Cherokee War; fought July 15 and 16, 1839, between 800 Indians (including Delawares and Shawnees) and 500 troops of the Republic of Texas.
An extraordinary fact is that David G. Burnet, vice president of the Republic; Albert . . . — — Map (db m87080) HM
Near Interstate 20 at milepost 538, on the right when traveling west.
A man whose public service was of highest order. Born on a farm near this site in Van Zandt County. Educated at Cumberland University (Tennessee) and Tyler Commercial College, was County Attorney and County Judge of Smith County. As chairman of . . . — — Map (db m84511) HM
Near Interstate 20 at milepost 538, on the right when traveling west.
Pioneer nickname appropriate to this area’s many freedoms–particularly from want and fear. (Food was obtained with little effort; and although the Indians fought white men here as late as 1842, the settlers by 1847 slept in the open with no . . . — — Map (db m84510) HM
On East James Street at North 4th Street (Farm to Market Road 47), on the right when traveling east on East James Street.
In the early 1920s, an atmosphere of gratefulness for the end of World War I was prevalent throughout the country. In Wills Point, a sense of optimism and interest in urban development led to the formation of a chamber of commerce on December 5, . . . — — Map (db m119621) HM
On East James Street at North 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west on East James Street.
The First Baptist Church of Wills Point was founded in 1873, with Dr. J. L. Matthews, a doctor of medicine, serving as the first pastor. In 1876 the 30-member congregation erected a building, which is said to have been destroyed in a tornado the . . . — — Map (db m119610) HM
On East James Street at North 4th Street (Farm to Market Road 47), on the right when traveling east on East James Street.
German brothers B. W. and Isaac Edward “Ike” Rose came to nearby Cedar Grove in 1873 and the same year moved to Wills Point, where they opened Rose Dry Goods Store. In 1884, Ike moved to Dallas and was a successful entrepreneur. B. W. . . . — — Map (db m119620) HM
