F.W. Grassmeyer commissioned German-Texan stonemasons to construct this Italianate style commercial building between 1856 and 1859. The structure served as a hotel until 1893, when German immigrant Fritz Presun purchased it as a regional sales . . . — — Map (db m61301) HM
On December 28, 1896, twenty-five Czech-Texans gathered in the district courtroom of this courthouse to establish a new fraternal benefit insurance society, the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, more commonly known a the SPJST. The SPJST . . . — — Map (db m71597) HM
Built in 1886 for local merchant Amzi T. Bradshaw and his wife Sarah, this house was purchased in 1908 by their daughter Nellie and her husband John Killough. In 1924, the Killoughs extensively altered the Victorian-era wood frame residence by . . . — — Map (db m71629) HM
Commissioned by the Casino Association of La Grange, construction of the Casino Hall began in 1880. Designed by James Wahrenberger of Austin, the 10,000-square-foot structure was built by John T. Campbell for $12,000. It served the community as a . . . — — Map (db m183174) HM
John and William Lewis settled in the La Grange area in the 1830s and established a family cemetery here. The earliest marked grave is that of Carl Huebner in 1857. John and Ann Lewis donated 1.25 acres of land for the cemetery in 1879. All records . . . — — Map (db m183144) HM
Formed from Colorado and Bastrop Counties
Created December 14, 1837
Organized January 1, 1838
Named in Honor of
Marquis de la Fayette
1757-1834
Nobleman and Republican Friend of Washington and of the United States County Seat, La . . . — — Map (db m183276) HM
About 1890, the structural safety of Fayette County's third courthouse came into question, and plans began for the building of this structure to serve as the seat of justice for the county. The commissioners court hired San Antonio architect James . . . — — Map (db m53236) HM
When the Congress of the Republic of Texas established Fayette County in 1837, La Grange became its seat of government. A county jail was built in 1838 and used for ten years before it was sold. In 1853, the county purchased two lots in block 33 for . . . — — Map (db m183156) HM
No greater sacrifice can be made by the citizens of a democratic nation than to serve in its armed forces in times of war or in times of peace. Fayette County proudly honors and pays tribute to its citizens who accepted the call to arms and served . . . — — Map (db m211869) WM
Although voted 600 against to 580 for secession, began Confederate recruiting in June 1861. La Grange was headquarters for 22nd Brigade, Texas State Troops, Brig. Gen. Wm. G. Webb commanding, of which 18 companies (1,238 men ) and 72 officers were . . . — — Map (db m84614) HM
As the 19th century drew to a close, a Texas woman could often be found in her garden, which served many purposes. It might have contained herbs for cooking, medicinal, and household uses; a dyeing garden with plants such as agarita and indigo; and . . . — — Map (db m211866) HM
German native Dr. William A. Hermes moved to La Grange in 1855 to practice medicine. He opened Hermes Drug Store the following year with his partner, Dr. Eck. His two sons, August and William, Jr., earned pharmacy degrees and joined the family . . . — — Map (db m71627) HM
German immigrant Heinrich Kreische (1821-1882) purchased nearly 175 acres of property in Fayette County in 1849. A stonemason by trade, he built a house, barn and smokehouse here on the high south bluff above the Colorado River. In the 1860s, . . . — — Map (db m53216) HM
La Grange's Masonic Lodge organized in 1847, with John Murchison as the first Worshipful Master. Historically, Masons have supported many civic causes including education. The La Fayette Lodge laid the cornerstone for the Fayette County Courthouse . . . — — Map (db m84605) HM
This depot was completed in November 1897 by the M-K-T Railroad. It replaced the earlier depot that was on this site from 1887 until it burned in March 1897. The depot now houses the La Grange Depot Museum. — — Map (db m195093) HM
220 & 222 North Washington 164, 160, 152 & 148 West Colorado Winter 1888
As early as the 1840's a frame building stood on this site serving as a hotel under many different names including the Eagle Hotel, Carter Hotel, La Grange Hotel, . . . — — Map (db m183159) HM
In September 1848, the remains of Texans killed in the 1842 Dawson Massacre and the 1843 “Black Bean Death Lottery” were reburied at this site in a sandstone vault. The Kreische family did its best to care for the grave during their . . . — — Map (db m53218) HM
Used for burials by 1840, this site was deeded by J. S. Lester to trustees who conveyed it to La Grange after incorporation of the city on July 3, 1854.
Fourteen townswomen on April 17, 1873, formed what was probably the first such organization . . . — — Map (db m84613) HM
This portion of Fayette County is named for William Rabb (1770-1831), a prosperous miller from Pennsylvania who came to Texas in 1821 with members of his family. Rabb claimed a site on the east side of the Colorado River he had selected during an . . . — — Map (db m61297) HM
Built about 1828 - used as a place of defense against the Indians and known as Moore's Fort in honor of its builder and owner, John Henry Moore, 1800-1880, noted Indian fighter and commander of the Texans at the Battle of Gonzales, October 2, 1835 - . . . — — Map (db m53228) HM
(obverse)
First ferry in present-day Fayette County. Established about 1824 at the crossing of the La Bahia Road by Jesse Burnam. After the Army of the Republic of Texas crossed on March 19, 1836, the ferry was destroyed by order of General . . . — — Map (db m53220) HM
Built in 1885 for parish formed in 1855. On lot donated by Shropshire family. In continuous use as only Episcopal Church in Fayette County. Original furnishings, handmade by rector and congregation, still in use.
Recorded Texas Historic . . . — — Map (db m183217) HM
A sundial is a "sun clock" and is the oldest instrument used to measure time. Its origins go back to ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, and Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and others later made improvements over thousands of years. It was the most important . . . — — Map (db m211864) HM
The Dawson Expedition
Under this historic oak on September 15, 1842, Capt. Nicholas Mosby Dawson organized his company of Fayette County mounted volunteers, who rushed to reinforce Col. Matthew Caldwell, after San Antonio was captured by . . . — — Map (db m53231) HM
Erected
by the State of Texas
to the
memory of her defenders
Captain N. H. Dawson
and his command.
Who fell at the battle of Salado Texas
Sept. 18th, 1842. . . . — — Map (db m80829) HM WM
On February 11, 1843, Captain Ewen Cameron led Texan prisoners from the Dawson and Mier expeditions in an escape from Hacienda Salado, 80 miles south of Saltillo, Coahuila. Dr. Richard Fox Brenham died attempting escape, one of five Texans killed. . . . — — Map (db m201814) HM
At Hacienda Salado, 80 miles south of Saltillo, Coahuila, on March 25, 1843, the 176 recaptured Texans who had escaped from the hacienda on February 11, 1843, were told that one-tenth of them would be executed on order from Santa Anna. The Texans . . . — — Map (db m184168) HM
Started 1841 as two rooms of local pine wood. Acquired 1855 and enlarged by S.S. Munger. Owned 1866-1961 by estate of N. W. Faison (1817-70), who joined 1842 Dawson expedition resisting Mexican invaders. Captured near San Antonio when many Dawson . . . — — Map (db m215137) HM
In 1848, a group of La Grange citizens retrieved the bodies of Dawson's men from Salado Creek. The same year the bones of the victims of the black bean episode were returned also, after being exhumed at Hacienda Salado by Major Walter P. Lane . . . — — Map (db m201812) HM
When Mexican General Adrian Woll attacked San Antonio on September 11, 1842, Nicholas Mosby Dawson and the men who joined him reacted so quickly to the alarm that a muster roll was not taken. Only eighteen men survived the Dawson Massacre, which . . . — — Map (db m201815) HM
Eighteen men survived the Dawson Massacre, which occurred near Salado Creek, within present San Antonio (not Salado, Texas, as stated on the tomb). The following is a corrected list of the survivors:
Three men escaped from the battle:
Thomas . . . — — Map (db m201813) HM
In 1844, Georgia native William Graham Webb (1824-1902) immigrated to Texas and settled in La Grange. Soon after his arrival in Texas, Webb enlisted as a private during the U.S. - Mexico War, where he joined Jack Coffee Hays' Regiment of the Texas . . . — — Map (db m183175) HM
From the time of the first European settlers in Texas, yellow fever was a serious concern. Transmitted through mosquitoes, epidemics in the summer months were prevalent in coastal cities all over North America in the nineteenth century. At the time, . . . — — Map (db m109026) HM
