In an effort to establish a western trade route and expand Texas jurisdiction, Republic of Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar sent an expedition of merchants, along with a military escort, to Santa Fe in 1841. The group left Brushy Creek north of . . . — — Map (db m155171) HM
Cotton farmers began settling in this area in 1903. A water well was dug in 1906, attracting more farmers and increasing crop production. Because the nearest cotton gin was ten miles away in Turkey, three partners (M.E. Tomson, J.H. Clack, and L.A. . . . — — Map (db m100058) HM
(Right Panel)
A Land of Plenty
People have occupied this rugged country for around 12,000 years. During the late Pleistocene age, small bands of nomadic hunters known as Paleo-Indians were attracted to the Caprock escarpment. Here they . . . — — Map (db m200456) HM
Stone tool fragments were discovered in 1965 and 1972 on the shores of Lake Theo, named for former landowner Theodore Geisler. Archeological testing in 1974 revealed a campsite and bison butchering and processing area dating back to the age of . . . — — Map (db m155170) HM
(Right Panel)
Thundering Hooves
The Texas Panhandle Plains were once home to the Southern Plains Bison Herd. According to famous cattleman Charles Goodnight, this great herd never roamed farther north than the Arkansas River or south . . . — — Map (db m200469) HM
Comanches traded with Comancheros
SW in the Valley of Tears between
Los Lingos and Cottonwood Creeks
Arrow Sculptor: Charles A Smith
— — Map (db m151468) HM
Comanche guides led early explorers Pedro Vial, Jose Mares & Francisco Armangual through this area 1787-1808
Arrow sculptor: Charles A. Smith — — Map (db m155175) HM
This burial ground has served Quitaque since the 1920s. Quitaque’s name may have come from Quitica Indians who came through this area on a 1683-84 expedition with Juan Mendoza and Juan Sabeata; it may mean “the land at the end of the . . . — — Map (db m100016) HM
Before this area was covered by Mackenzie Reservior, evidence of human occupancy was found at 77 recorded archeological sites. The earliest artifacts date back 10,000 years to a bison kill. Prehistoric occupancy is indicated by burial sites, shallow . . . — — Map (db m99858) HM
Formed from Bexar Territory
Created August 21, 1876
Organized March 15, 1892
Named for Andrew Briscoe
1810-1849
Defender of Texan liberty
at the Battle of Concepcion,
the Capture of Bexar and the
Battle of San Jacinto.
Chief . . . — — Map (db m99865) HM
Built 1894 of handcut stone hauled here by horse-drawn wagons from Tule Canyon. Early day sheriff's families rented it as residence. Lower floor was used by Red Cross workers, for sewing, during World War I. This jail stands as the lasting . . . — — Map (db m201822) HM
In the fall of 1891, six months before the official founding of the town of Silverton, a group of citizens met together to form a non-denominational community Sunday school. Early meetings were held in a mercantile store and the county courthouse. . . . — — Map (db m99861) HM
Organized as a Sunday school in 1891, the First Methodist Church of Silverton has grown along with the community. The first pastor was the Rev. W.B. Ford, who conducted services here once a month while also serving other communities in the area. . . . — — Map (db m99862) HM
Francis School (Common School District No. 3) organized in 1898 for citizens of southwest Briscoe County. The school was named for J.L. Francis, who offered his land and took on much of the building expenses. Around 1915, the school was moved to a . . . — — Map (db m150752) HM
The Milo Community began in the late 19th century on the prairie between Palo Duro and Tule Canyons. Named for the favored area crop, the settlement had a store, post office, school, and scattered family dugouts and homes in the 1890s. When John . . . — — Map (db m99859) HM
In 1892, when Briscoe County was organized, won election as first sheriff; also later served single terms, 1913-1914 and 1921-1922.
First official act was arrest of two horse thieves from New Mexico; in last term he and two deputies waged a gun . . . — — Map (db m201823) HM
This Queen Anne style home, which features a wrap around porch, was built in 1904 by Civil War veteran, Pleasant Lafayette Crawford (1837-1912). After Crawford moved here from Arkansas in the late 1880's, he bought ranch land and opened a mercantile . . . — — Map (db m99864) HM
The first two post offices in the area were established at Celtic and Luther on May 2, 1891, eleven months before formal organization of Briscoe County. Celtic was named by pioneer E.R. Thomas, who operated the post office and a store in his home . . . — — Map (db m99857) HM
In 1913, G.C. Holt moved his wife and eight children to the Briscoe-Floyd county line. Because of the distance to the nearest school, Holt and neighbor E.M. Lawson organized the Holt school district, commissioned on September 7, 1920 with two . . . — — Map (db m150753) HM
Since the railroad was 60 miles from this sparsely populated prairie, the establishment of Reeves post office opened a communication link for the early pioneers. Begun July 13, 1899, in the front room of postmaster Joseph H. Reeves' two-story . . . — — Map (db m150755) HM
Briscoe County pioneer William E. Schott (1870-1941) was born in Ohio and moved to North Texas in 1885. Still legally a minor, he came to this area in 1890 and filed a claim for the first of his later extensive landholdings. In 1891 he overcame . . . — — Map (db m151696) HM
Born in Missouri. Served in Texas Rangers, 1860-61, and in Civil War, 1862-65. He was a Corporal in last Confederate Army surrendered east of the Mississippi. After the war, he lived in McLennan, Coryell, and Briscoe Counties. Married twice, he . . . — — Map (db m201824) HM
