On East Larkin Street at North Palestine Street (State Highway 19), on the left when traveling east on East Larkin Street.
As early as 1850, Henderson County officials realized the need for a county jail. The first jail was completed in 1856 or 1857. It became known as the log calaboose. A new jail was built in 1874 facing North Common Street. On November 1, 1897, a . . . — — Map (db m187047) HM
On South Palestine Street (State Highway 19) 0.2 miles north of East Cayuga Drive (Farm to Market Road 59), on the right when traveling north.
Founded 1850. Named for Athens, Greece.
Supply and military training headquarters during Civil War. Sent army about 1,000 men.
Center for manufacturing and agriculture. Home of annual Old Fiddlers' Contest and of Henderson County Junior . . . — — Map (db m186664) HM
On South Prairieville Street, on the right when traveling south.
After citizens petitioned for its closure, an unofficial burial ground in this area (large lot 13) closed in 1857. That same year, local residents buried prominent planter, Mason and school superintendent William J. Brantley here on one acre donated . . . — — Map (db m31734) HM
On East Corsicana Street (U.S. 175) 0.2 miles west of East College Street, on the right when traveling east.
Athens Lodge No. 165 A.F. & A.M., founded in 1854, was the first Masonic lodge to be organized in Henderson County. Henderson County had been created in 1846, and the third county seat, Athens, had been founded in 1850. The group emphasized . . . — — Map (db m219472) HM
Clint W. Murchison, Sr. was born April 11, 1895, in Tyler to John W. and Clara (Williams) Murchison. His grandfather, T.F. Murchison, was one of the earliest settlers to arrive in Athens and established the first bank in Henderson County in 1890. . . . — — Map (db m155140) HM
On East Tyler Street (State Highway 31), on the right when traveling east.
Henderson County was established in 1846, the year after Texas was annexed by the United States. In 1850, after previous reductions in the county's original size, the present boundaries were set by the Texas Legislature. The restructuring resulted . . . — — Map (db m186718) HM
A native of Athens, Georgia, Dulcinea Ann Holland came to Henderson County with her family in 1847. She married E. J. Thompson in 1851. According to local tradition, she named the town of Athens after her birthplace. Following the death of her . . . — — Map (db m31717) HM
On North Prairieville Street, on the right when traveling south.
An earlier building at this location housed the law offices of Senator J. J. Faulk and Judge W. L. Faulk. In the early 1890s the site was purchased by J. R. Gauntt, a local businessman. The son of pioneer area settlers, he operated a mercantile . . . — — Map (db m187050) HM
On South Carroll Street at East College Street, on the right when traveling north on South Carroll Street.
In 1855, brothers William, Matthias and Steven Madison
Richardson arrived in Henderson County from Pickens
County, Alabama. The next year, they joined with the families
of George D. Manion, W.H. Martin, Ben F. Jordan, Dr. Robert
Jordan, Dr. . . . — — Map (db m219466) HM
On West Tyler Street at North Prairieville Street, on the right when traveling east on West Tyler Street.
Thomas Murchison was born in Tennessee and grew up in Marshall, Mississippi before moving with his parents to Houston County, Texas around 1848. Murchison moved to Athens around 1855 and worked in a general store. Around 1858, Murchison began his . . . — — Map (db m232805) HM
On South Palestine Street (State Highway 19) 0.2 miles East Cayuga Drive (Farm to Market Road 59), on the right when traveling north.
Formed from Houston
and Nacogdoches counties.
Created April 27, 1846,
Organized August 4, 1846.
Named in honor of
James Pinckney Henderson
1808-1858
First governor of
the State of Texas
Buffalo, Centerville and Athens . . . — — Map (db m186666) HM
On South Palestine Street (State Highway 19) at Carey Circle, on the right when traveling south on South Palestine Street.
Front:
Henderson County C. S. A.
Voted 400 – 49 for secession. Sent about 1,000 into Confederate Army, with one detachment of 150 having only 13 live to return. Caldwell's farm, three miles northeast, and Fincastle, 19 miles . . . — — Map (db m26382) HM
On East Corsicana Street (Business U.S. 175), on the right when traveling west.
The Texas Legislature created Henderson County in 1846. For the next few years, county commissioners met at various locations, including private homes and the communities of Buffalo and Centerville. Samuel Huffer later determined the center of the . . . — — Map (db m186715) HM
On South Palestine Street (State Highway 19) 0.2 miles north of East Cayuga Drive (Farm to Market Road 59), on the right when traveling north.
Prehistoric Caddoan Indians utilized the abundant deposits of rich clays in this region to make their fine pottery vessels. The modern pottery industry in Henderson County began in 1857, when Levi S. Cogburn (1812-1866), one of a . . . — — Map (db m186709) HM
On South Palestine Street (State Highway 19) 0.2 miles north of East Cayuga Drive (Farm to Market Road 59), on the right when traveling north.
Introduced in the United States in the early eighteenth century, black-eyed peas, also known as cowpeas, served primarily as animal feed on farms. The hardships of the Civil War, including the scarcity of food in the south, led to increased human . . . — — Map (db m187049) HM
On East Tyler Street at North Prairieville Street, on the left when traveling west on East Tyler Street.
Athens native Joseph William (J.W.) Brownlow (1924-2001) was born to Ed and Annie Lou Brownlow and raised in the Walnut Creek and Oakland communities. He spent 31 years in law enforcement, including 26 years as Henderson County Sheriff. J.W. met . . . — — Map (db m245062) HM
On East Larkin Street at North Palestine Street (State Highway 19), on the left when traveling east on East Larkin Street.
Completing his work as a steel rigger in 1929 employed by Otis Elevator Company on the Texas Power & Light Company in Trinidad, Texas, Jess Sweeten was offered a job as a deputy constable in Henderson County. Bob King was appointed to find a new . . . — — Map (db m187048) HM
North Carolina-born John Matthews McDonald (1827-1883) came to Texas in 1848 and lived first at Larissa, Cherokee Co. and then Mound Prairie, Anderson Co., where his brother Murdoch earlier settled. Two years later, he moved to the young town of . . . — — Map (db m31730) HM
Alderman on Athens' first city council (1901). La Rue (Town 13 mi. SE) was named for him.
Educator, merchant, civic leader, banker, humanitarian, prohibitionist, democrat, historian. Married March 16, 1892, Stella Elvira Parsons. They had . . . — — Map (db m31726) HM
On South Palestine Street (State Highway 19) 0.2 miles East Cayuga Drive (Farm to Market Road 59), on the right when traveling north.
Established 1882 (at site 1.5 mi. NE) by local planter H. M. Morrison, to make building brick. Total original machinery consisted of this press and plunger. Press was hand-operated. A mule-drawn swivel ran the plunger, mixing clay . . . — — Map (db m186712) HM
On Pace Ranch Road, 0.5 miles south of County Highway 4622, on the left when traveling south.
David Allen Owen came to Texas with his first wife, Mary (Langsdon), who died enroute, and their 5 children. They traveled with family members and others from Randolph County, Alabama to Henderson County, Texas in 1851. Owen served as chief . . . — — Map (db m155485) HM
Constituted in Randolph County, Ala. Nov. 23, 1850; opened services here, a Baptist Branch, Jan. 1851, during resting of 150 Pilgrims in covered wagon caravan led by Samuel Tine Owen, a brother, John Bunyan Owen, and brother-in-law, K.K. Knight. . . . — — Map (db m128109) HM
Near Larue Street east of Dean Street, on the right when traveling east.
Born in Athens on April 25, 1891, Sid Williams Richardson became known as the "Billionaire Bachelor." When he was 16, Sid traveled to Louisiana, to purchase cattle with money he saved. A natural trader and negotiator, Richardson sold the calves . . . — — Map (db m155141) HM
On West Corsicana Street (Business U.S. 175) 0.1 miles west of North Pinkerton Street, on the right when traveling west.
As the geographic center of the newly redrawn Henderson county lines, Athens became the county seat in 1850. Charles H. and Lillian (Barksdale) Hawn arrived with a load of lumber on the first train to stop in Athens in 1881. Charles Hawn quickly . . . — — Map (db m232810) HM
Known as first white child born in Terrell; daughter of Confederate army surgeon, Dr. Homer Lee Parsons (M.D., Yale University) and wife, Margaret C. R. R. Parsons.
In role of wife and mother "Mammy La Rue" was beloved of family and . . . — — Map (db m31728) HM
On South Prairieville Street near West College Street, on the left when traveling south.
"The Athens Review" was established as a weekly newspaper by J. B. Bishop and George M. Johnson, editors and owners, on Dec. 24, 1885. The earliest newspaper in Henderson County, "The Athens Bulletin," had been founded by printer J. H. Cox and . . . — — Map (db m31689) HM
On State Highway 175 at Richardson Road, on the right when traveling west on State Highway 175.
Born in South Carolina, William Richadson moved to Pickens County, Alabama in 1830. There he married Mary "Polly" Kilpatrick (1813-1889) on Feb. 13, 1834. Children born to them were John K., James J., Sara F., Margaret C., Martha E., William A., . . . — — Map (db m37035) HM
On State Highway 31 at Stuart Street, on the left when traveling west on State Highway 31.
After migrating from Norway in 1845, Ole Reierson bought the land that included this cemetery site (1.1 mi. ESE). He chose the spot for his burial and carved several of the plain brown gravestones before he died in 1852. The . . . — — Map (db m31633) HM
On County Road 3405, on the right when traveling south.
Rock Hill Cemetery has served this area since the late 1800s. It is located on land granted to pioneer Alexander J. Clayton, who migrated here from Alabama with his wife, Martha (Carver), and his children in 1854. Clayton, who was born in North . . . — — Map (db m31618) HM
On State Highway 31 at Stuart Street, on the left when traveling west on State Highway 31.
First Norwegian colony in Texas. Founded in 1845 by Johan Reinert Reierson (1810-1864) and Ole Reierson, of Holt, Norway.
In "Christianssandsposten", J.R. Reierson urged Norwegians to find "a rich life" by migrating to Texas. His associate . . . — — Map (db m31634) HM
On State Highway 31, on the right when traveling west.
Driven from Eastern states by white settlers, Cherokee Indians migrated to the East Texas area, becoming established by 1820. In 1822, they unsuccessfully sought title to their land from Mexico.
The years following were ones of an . . . — — Map (db m91604) HM
On State Highway 31, 0.2 miles west of Parker Street (County Road 3302), on the left when traveling west.
In 1830, John Crane applied to be a part of Joseph Vehlein's colony. Reportedly from Virginia, he was a veteran of the War of 1812. He moved his wife and seven children to what is now Walker County, Texas, in 1834. There, he organized men and became . . . — — Map (db m31567) HM
On County Road 317 west of County Road 314, on the right when traveling east.
Julius Rosenwald was a Jewish American philanthropist. He believed the most serious problem of the United States was the plight of Black Americans. Dr. Booker T. Washington, though having been a slave, rose to become the nationally respected . . . — — Map (db m229538) HM
Occupied since 1903 by Charles Richard and Nannie Jane Spear Yarborough and 3 generations of descendants. Birthplace in 1903 of United States Senator Ralph Webster Yarborough.
In this house Charles R. Yarborough, as Justice of the Peace, performed . . . — — Map (db m202005) HM
On North Walker Street near West Allen Street, on the left.
In 1894, the Reverend Monroe F. Jackson came to Malakoff and founded this congregation. He named it Good Hope Baptist Church. The same year, church trustees Sam Robinson, Monroe Porter, and Governor Wilson acquired land at this site for a church . . . — — Map (db m61228) HM
On South College Street near East Mitcham Street, on the left when traveling south.
Organized in 1852 by the Rev. Hezekiah Mitcham (1800-1865), this fellowship began with six charter members who first held services in various locations throughout the county. In 1854 the small congregation erected one of the first Methodist church . . . — — Map (db m61226) HM
On State Highway 31 west of Farm to Market Road 274, on the right when traveling east.
A sandstone image of a human head - carved by prehistoric men - was found near here in 1929 by workmen of Texas Clay Products Company. It was dug from gravel pit now under Cedar Creek Lake.
The carving weighed 98 pounds, was 16 by 14 inches, . . . — — Map (db m30027) HM
On State Highway 31 west of Farm to Market Road 764 (State Highway 274), on the right when traveling east.
Three main tributaries - the West, Elm, and East forks - feed the Trinity from headwaters in North Texas. Discovery of prehistoric Malakoff Man carved stone heads near this site in the 20th century revealed that humans inhabited the Trinity valley . . . — — Map (db m30029) HM