Bell County school districts were formed in 1854. The earliest record of public education for area African American students dates from 1882 when Mrs. Aleck McGee was hired "to teach the colored school." Professor Thomas Breckenridge Harris . . . — — Map (db m286918) HM
Settlement began on Lampasas River, 1847. Created Jan. 22, organized Aug. 1, 1850. Named for Peter Hansbrough Bell (1812-1898), native of Virginia; veteran of Battle of San Jacinto; served in Somervell expedition to stop Mexico's Raids into Texas; . . . — — Map (db m218643) HM
Using arched passageways, round-arch and pedimented windows, a clock tower with columned gallery, and a rusticated limestone finish, Jasper N. Preston & Son of Austin designed the 1885 Bell County Courthouse in the Renaissance Revival style. Ben D. . . . — — Map (db m149423) HM
Three Bell County courthouses have stood on this site part of the 120 acres given by Matilda F. Connell Allen for the location of the county seat.
Prior to erection of a courthouse, early official business of the county (created and . . . — — Map (db m201984) HM
The Belton Farmers Co-op Gin, built in 1927 along Nolan Creek, is a rare example of a surviving brick cotton gin in Central Texas. It was built by an association of local cotton farmers to replace an earlier gin that had burned down on the site in . . . — — Map (db m149427) HM
In 1867, Martha White McWhirter experienced a religious vision during which she felt she had been sanctified by God. She began to share her experience with other Belton women, and soon formed a small community of women who, desiring to leave their . . . — — Map (db m150602) HM
Captain Henry T. Waskow (1918-1943) of Belton was a company commander in the 36th Division. He joined the Texas National Guard, Company I, 143rd Infantry, 36th Division in 1935 and was called into active service in 1940. Beloved by his men, Waskow . . . — — Map (db m212167) HM
Completed in 1904, this brick library building was funded by a personal contribution from the noted New York industrialist and benefactor Andrew S. Carnegie. Ben D. Lee, builder of the Bell County Courthouse, served as contractor. Designed by the . . . — — Map (db m152196) HM
Built in the early 1890s, this house was deeded by prominent Belton businessman Peter Hammersmith to his son, John Peter, as a wedding gift in 1895. The property was sold to Sophie Clark, widow of a Rogers lumberman, in 1899. During World War II, . . . — — Map (db m286833) HM
Henry Mansfield Cook opened his first store in Centerville, Texas, in 1869, and in 1874 established the firm of H.M. Cook & Company with his son-in-law, Thomas W. Cochran. The firm moved to Buffalo, Texas, in 1876. Their mercantile business stocked . . . — — Map (db m150613) HM
The Confederate tradition in Bell County goes back to the War between the States itself. The citizens of Bell County were very pro-Southern in their opinions. Voters in Bell County overwhelming voted for Texas to leave the Union. In a state wide . . . — — Map (db m152300) HM
W.R. and Ida (Rogers) Miller, rich from good cotton years at turn of the century, built this late Victorian house in 1902. In its architecture, Queen Anne features are mingled with Shingle style then popular in the eastern U.S. The design included . . . — — Map (db m286834) HM
Cotton broker William Ray Miller (1868-1954) and his wife Ida (Rogers) built this structure in 1902 and lived here with their large family about six years. Mrs. Miller was from Galveston, and had graduated from Baylor College (now Mary . . . — — Map (db m286835) HM
Noted lawmaker, judge, lay preacher, served in the legislatures of his native Kentucky and of Alabama. Represented Alabama in U.S. Congress, 1829-1831.
Came to Texas 1839. Was Associate Justice Supreme Court, Republic of Texas, 1840-1846. Judge . . . — — Map (db m152063) HM
In 1854, four years after the county was organized, a 2-story structure of logs was built on this site, to serve as the first Bell County jail. That log jail was replaced in 1873 by this building of native limestone.
In 1874, vigilantes from . . . — — Map (db m193835) HM
The First Baptist Church of Belton was organized in the summer of 1853 under the leadership of the Rev. Solomon G. O'Bryan and the Rev. David Fisher. There were eight charter members, and the congregation met in a small frame building on Pearl . . . — — Map (db m152233) HM
On October 21, 1860, the Rev. Levi Tenney established a Presbyterian congregation in Belton with eight founding members. After meeting in several locations during its early years, property was purchased west of the intersection of Second Ave. and . . . — — Map (db m286926) HM
Built in 1912 at the Santa Fe rail yards in Temple, this planing mill was part of a complex of buildings that housed repair facilities for the railroad. Workers at the mill manufactured replacement parts for wooden elements of the Santa Fe's boxcars . . . — — Map (db m29380) HM
State Senator, Confederate veteran, lawyer, teacher at Salado College. Birthplace of Harris' grandson, famous World War II General, Walton Harris Walker. Home was built in 1866 of limestone quarried nearby. Mortar contains . . . — — Map (db m286857) HM
San Jacinto Veteran born in Tennessee, 1814, died in 1858. His wife Amanda Isbell. Born April 8, 1819, died September 1, 1880. — — Map (db m286837) HM WM
A Kentucky-born slave who was brought to Texas as a child, Jeff Hamilton became San Houston's personal servant, companion of his young sons, and a trusted member of his household. Hamilton served Houston while he was governor, 1859-1861, and until . . . — — Map (db m151036) HM
Born a slave in Kentucky, Jeff Hamilton was still a child when Sam Houston rescued him from purchase by a cruel master at a slave auction. Hamilton was Houston's personal servant during his term as governor, 1859-1861, and was at his bedside when he . . . — — Map (db m152118) HM
During World War II, Temple native Keifer Marshall, Jr. (1925-) served in the United States Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Division, 9th Regiment, F Company, 2nd Battalion, as a rifleman. During February and March of 1945, Marshall saw heavy combat on the . . . — — Map (db m212164) HM
A stockade and blockhouse of the Republic of Texas. Built in November, 1836, by a unit of some 20 Rangers under Lt. George B. Erath (soldier-statesman for whom Erath County was named).
By Christmas they had erected 7 or 8 cabins, a blockhouse and . . . — — Map (db m29378) HM
This memorial, an important symbol for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, has historic ties to the earliest days of the school in Belton. Founded in 1845 at Independence, Texas, as the female department of Baylor University, the school moved here . . . — — Map (db m286786) HM
Baylor University (including the "Female Department" later to become Mary Hardin-Baylor) had operated at Independence for 15 years before 1861. In the Civil War it suffered the setbacks of Texas education in general. This was despite leadership of . . . — — Map (db m152004) HM
Widow of William Hardin
before her marriage to
Dr. O.P. Kelton
Many of the Mexican officers
and men were placed in the
care of Judge and Mrs. Hardin
after the victory at San Jacinto
and were mercifully treated by them.
Born August . . . — — Map (db m152194) HM
German immigrant Fred Muehlhause, Sr. (1868-1947) arrived in Texas in 1885. He married Louise Albrecht in 1892, and later that year the couple moved to a home located adjacent to this homesite. Muehlhause worked as a craftsman shoemaker and . . . — — Map (db m193834) HM
Texas revolutionary veteran and local merchant Norman Austin made important contributions to his adopted state. Born in Skaneateles, New York, he was the fifth son of a large family and traveled widely throughout his life. He farmed in Michigan and . . . — — Map (db m152240) HM
Honor ☆ Service ☆ Commitment
These are just a few of the core values of men and women who make up our Nation's armed services. Throughout the ages, these individuals swore an oath to protect and defend our Constitution and the . . . — — Map (db m212165) WM
(right side)
Fought at San Jacinto April 21, 1836. Assistant Inspector General and Inspector General of the Texas Army 1837-1839. Captain of Texas Rangers and Lieutenant Colonel of Mounted Volunteers in the Mexican War 1845-1846. Colonel . . . — — Map (db m258922) HM
The School of Nursing was founded in 1904 by Dr. Arthur C. Scott and Dr. Raleigh White, Jr., as a part of their Temple Sanitarium to provide professional training for nurses. Initially a small local student body was instructed by the doctors and . . . — — Map (db m152016) HM
A large building erected here 1850, by Mrs. Sarah Lawler (1807-1890). In this structure, little more than a shed, Mrs. Lawler boarded workmen who were surveying and building Nolanville (later renamed Belton), county seat of newly-created Bell . . . — — Map (db m305381) HM
On this site of the Old Post Office on
July 14, 1857, Sam Houston, Commander
of the Texian Army and Hero of San Jacinto
spoke while running for governor.
After being past president of the Republic
of Texas and senator he served as governor . . . — — Map (db m152381) HM
A Scotsman, Robert Naismith (1859-1938), founded the Central Manufacturing Co. in a two-story building on this lot in 1893. Using equipment originally powered by steam, he supplied and repaired machine parts for the Belton area. The company also did . . . — — Map (db m149431) HM
South Belton cemetery is located on Kinney Hill on the south side of Nolan Creek. Bell County and Belton were formed in early 1850. The cemetery was established soon after. The oldest remaining marked death date is May 21, 1851, when Elizabeth . . . — — Map (db m152297) HM
A distinctive Victorian house, associated with one of the historic private schools of Bell County. Charles H. Wedemeyer (1857-1938), a former teacher and administrator of Baylor University, Crane College, and Waco University, moved here with his . . . — — Map (db m286907) HM
A native of Tennessee, William W. Reed came to Texas with his parents, Michael and Martha Reed, in 1833 and joined Robertson's colony in 1834. His land grant was situated near his parents' land on the south bank of the Little River. The family . . . — — Map (db m150627) HM
A native of South Carolina, Wilson Van Dyke served as a member of the Somervell Expedition, which was organized in 1842 to expel the Mexican Army from Texas. Under command of Col. W.S. Fisher, he crossed the Rio Grande and was captured. A survivor . . . — — Map (db m29382) HM
Founded in 1898 as a literary society with twenty-five members, the Woman's Wednesday Club is the oldest active club of its kind in Bell County. Initially meeting in the Central Hotel in downtown Belton, the club members were devoted to the study of . . . — — Map (db m152232) HM
