Alanson Asbury (A.A.) Head (1843-1925) and his wife, Susanna Alabama Bethany (1843-1924) built a 2-story residence here about 1877. Over the years A.A. and Susanna, known as Uncle Ben and Aunt Sukie, terraced about 300 acres here on which they . . . — — Map (db m299732) HM
Early settler David Mitchell established a trading post near here in the late 1840s, about the time colonists of W. S. Peters' empresario grant began to settle the area. Colonist William Balch, who settled on an area land grant in 1852, was later . . . — — Map (db m180145) HM
Two early area families established cemeteries at this site in the 1870s. During that time, the Campbell and Sansom families purchased land in this vicinity. The first documented burial is that of seven-month-old Ula Sansom (d. 1876), who was buried . . . — — Map (db m180142) HM
Chartered in 1869, the Alvarado Masonic Lodge began under leadership of A.J. Chambers, J.C. Weaver and Joel Higgins. From its earliest years it offered strong support of local education. The first lodge building provided classroom space, and the . . . — — Map (db m220277) HM
William Balch (1804-1870) migrated to Texas from Illinois in 1848 with his wife and family to receive land from the Robertson land district. In 1851 Balch and his sons and grandson arrived in Alvarado to mark their land claim of 320 acres about . . . — — Map (db m180144) HM
This graveyard was established in 1856 adjacent to the Balch Cemetery for the African American population following the death of a slave girl killed by a black bear. The girl had come to Alvarado with George Sigler and his family, whose farm was . . . — — Map (db m220275) HM
A small group of settlers from Alabama arrived in the Alvarado area, near Chambers Creek, in 1857. Among them were the Frost, Newby, Murphree and Head families. The family of Sampson and Betty Ann Blakely Head settled about a mile north of this . . . — — Map (db m299731) HM
Nancy and Aquilla Cahill came to Texas in 1859 and settled in this area. The community which grew up around their farm was known as Cahill. In 1893, land for a Methodist church and cemetery was deeded by Sarah E. Snodgrass in memory of her father, . . . — — Map (db m299749) HM
Dr. John Duke (1827-1884), his wife Martha (1836-1888), and their family moved to Johnson County in 1854. they established a farm in the area later called the Willow Springs community. When their ten-year-old daughter Zilla died in 1870, they . . . — — Map (db m146721) HM
Settlers came to Alvarado in the 1850s, and area Baptists are believed to have gathered for several years before formally organizing a church on October 6, 1861. Members first met at the community's Union building, shared by a school and three other . . . — — Map (db m220279) HM
Held early services in hall put up by Wm. Balch, who in 1851 founded Alvarado. First church, built 1866, burned 1885. This Victorian building with spire and lancet windows, 1886-1887. Annexes 1940, 1950, 1960. Still has original bell. . . . — — Map (db m220276) HM
One of the largest events of its kind in Texas, the Johnson County Pioneers and Old Settlers Reunion traces its beginnings to 1892, when local farmer and newspaper correspondent John James (1852-1927) proposed the idea to some of his neighbors. . . . — — Map (db m180141) HM
Near this site in 1869, Alvarado citizens ended the lives of outlaws Benjamin Bickerstaff and Josiah Thompson. A former Confederate veteran and prisoner of war, Bickerstaff was wanted for the murder of an African American man in Louisiana shortly . . . — — Map (db m180146) HM
AlvaradoIn 1854, E.M. Heath petitioned for the formation of Johnson County. That year, William Balch gave this site for a school, church and union meeting-house. Residents constructed a one-room log building for a school and meeting space for . . . — — Map (db m299734) HM
John Ezell (1857–1933) and his family moved from Alabama to Texas in 1867 and settled on a farm near here. The growth of cotton crops increased in Johnson County by the 1890s, and the need for more cotton gins became acute. In 1896, Ezell built a . . . — — Map (db m299748) HM
William Balch (1804-1870) claimed land around this site as a member of the Peters Colony in 1849. When he returned with his family in 1851, they found a group of Caddo Indians camping on one side of the springs. The Balch family built their cabin on . . . — — Map (db m220280) HM
