On Old Decatur Road, 1.1 miles west of Farm to Market Road 730, on the right when traveling north.
On November 10, 1837, a company of eighteen Republic of Texas soldiers led by Lt. A.B. Benthuysen engaged in a battle with approximately 150 Indians near this site. Ten Texas soldiers were killed in the battle, and the Indian casualties were . . . — — Map (db m108546) HM
On Business U.S. 287 north of West Mulberry Street, on the right when traveling north.
Through Decatur passed the Butterfield Overland Mail Line connecting St. Louis and San Francisco with semi-weekly stage and mail service, 1858-1861. The length of the route, 2,795 miles and the superior service maintained made this a pioneer . . . — — Map (db m105419) HM
On North Trinity Street (Farm to Market Road 730) south of East Walnut Street, on the right when traveling south.
Captain George W. Stevens was born in Lowndes County, Alabama, on July 12, 1830. He lived in Arkansas briefly where he married Martha McDonald in 1852. The couple moved to the Wise County area in 1855 and Stevens became a leader in the efforts to . . . — — Map (db m108526) HM
On U.S. 380 at North County Line Road, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 380.
Near this site ran one of the many "feeder" branches of the famous Chisholm Trail, best-known of all the cattle trails that once linked the vast grasslands of Texas with the meat-hungry markets of the north.
The original trail, which . . . — — Map (db m108532) HM
On North Trinity Street (Farm to Market Road 730), on the right when traveling south.
A leading public man in Texas, 1896-1939. Born in Wise County to early (1854) settlers. After two years at Texas A. & M., read law and began practice in 1886. Served 1888-92 as Decatur City Attorney; 1892-96 as County Attorney; 1896-1901 and . . . — — Map (db m108521) HM
On West Walnut Street at North State Street, on the right when traveling east on West Walnut Street.
Absalom Bishop (1804-1883) began his military service as a Captain of Militia in the Seminole War in Florida. He later attained the rank of Colonel. Bishop lived in several states before arriving in Hopkins County, Texas, in 1852, and then in what . . . — — Map (db m108529) HM
On West Charles Street at South Trinity Street, on the left when traveling west on West Charles Street.
World’s first institution to be planned (in 1898) as a junior college. This hall was built in 1892 for an earlier school.
(plaque)
Entered in the National Register of Historic Places — — Map (db m108536) HM
On South Miller Street north of East Pecan Street, on the left when traveling north.
Organized in 1862, this congregation is the oldest in Decatur. The Reverend J. R. Bellamy conducted the first services in a vacant store on the south side of the town square. Other churches were not started in the community until after the Civil . . . — — Map (db m184095) HM
The tumultuous years of the Great Depression were much the same in Decatur as in other small towns throughout the United States. Massive unemployment, bank closures, school closures and loss of farms and homes prompted President Franklin D. . . . — — Map (db m198795) HM
On U.S. 380 at Renshaw-Beal Road (County Highway 2311), on the right when traveling east on U.S. 380.
Born in Illinois, William Renshaw studied medicine and set up practice in Sparta, Tennessee. His wife Sarah received from the Mexican government a grant of land in Texas, where her father Samuel Worthington lost his life in a colonization attempt . . . — — Map (db m201914) HM
On Business Highway 380 at North Arthur Street on Highway 380Business .
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Wise and several surrounding counties had few African American citizens. Yet regulations at the time required separate facilities for African Americans. Most African American families in Decatur lived in a . . . — — Map (db m220247) HM
On South Church Street at East Hale Avenue, on the right when traveling north on South Church Street.
Oldest original church building in Decatur. Consecrated by great missionary bishop, the Rt. Rev. A.C. Garrett. Erected facing Main Street (2 blks. w. of square) in 1889.
Known as "The Little Church with the Crosses", by 1912 it had . . . — — Map (db m108544) HM
Near West Main Street at South Lane Street, on the right when traveling west.
This financial institution was organized in 1883 by Decatur bankers Dan Waggoner, Henry Greathouse, and other pioneer businessmen. Waggoner's son, W. T. Waggoner (b. 1854), a prominent Texas cattleman and oilman, served as bank president from 1904 . . . — — Map (db m108543) HM
On West Walnut Street (Business U.S. 81) at North Lane Street, on the right when traveling west on West Walnut Street.
Remnant of bois d'arc hedge which encircled the log cabin of Stephen M. Gose (1824-77), early Justice of the Peace, blacksmith, and leader of Methodist church, who came to Texas from Missouri in 1859. The spiny trees, planted 1861, . . . — — Map (db m187225) HM
On U.S. 380 at Renshaw-Beal Road (County Highway 2311), on the right when traveling east on U.S. 380.
Famous western frontier outlaws, who had many Texas hideouts along a line from the Rio Grande to the Red River. The camps—extending into Missouri, their home state—were used for hiding stolen horses until posses could be thrown off the . . . — — Map (db m108533) HM
On East Pecan Street at South Market Street, on the left when traveling east on East Pecan Street.
First stone house in Decatur. Erected by prison labor about 1859. Main house was residence of sheriff or deputy. Basement was used as jail. Meals were sent down a dumb-waiter located outside the east end of the house.
County sold property in . . . — — Map (db m108539) HM
On North Trinity Street (Farm to Market Road 730) south of East Walnut Street, on the right when traveling south.
Respected Negro citizen and homeowner. Champion pioneer fiddler, popular at Forts Belknap, Griffin and Richardson and over county. Once when he was an Indian captive, held in Kansas, Texans sent ponies to ransom him. He is buried in Oaklawn, . . . — — Map (db m108524) HM
Near South Deep Creek Road (County Road 4227) 2.2 miles south of County Road 4360, on the right when traveling south.
Tennessee pioneer Sam Woody (1826-1920) migrated to Texas in the 1840s. He brought his family to Wise County in 1854. This cabin, located near Deep Creek, was the first dwelling in the area. After Woody cut the logs, friends and relatives helped . . . — — Map (db m108540) HM
On County Road 4226 east of County Highway 4127, on the left when traveling east.
A center of pioneer culture in North Texas, drawing crowds to meet here at good spring of water issuing from beneath hill that gave community its name. First church (Methodist) in territory to become Wise County was organized in home of Jim . . . — — Map (db m184108) HM
On Farm to Market Road 455 at County Route 2822, on the right when traveling west on Route 455.
Named for John Slidell, one of the Confederate diplomats in the "Trent Affair" (1861), this community was established to supply goods and services to nearby farmers. The post office was started in 1884. Garrett Fletcher, donor of land for a . . . — — Map (db m230202) HM
This historic church formed in the
spring of 1882. A group of women, led
by Missouri Brown, began a Sunday
school and later initiated the
organization of a new church. The
first church building was used as a
school and became a center for . . . — — Map (db m220246) HM
On County Highway 4226, 0.4 miles east of County Highway 4127, on the left when traveling east.
Dedicated and courageous. Born in Indiana; reared in Missouri. Wounded twice in Confederate service during the Civil War.
On reorganization of Texas Rangers, 1874, was commissioned first lieutenant; promoted 1875 to captain, Company A, official . . . — — Map (db m108537) HM
On Business U.S. 287 at East Hale Avenue, on the left when traveling north on U.S. 287Business .
Local businessman E.F. Boydston (1888-1945) purchased this site, a former feed lot, in 1927 for $400. Recognizing a potential business opportunity in offering services to the traveling public, he built a wooden shed and gas station in 1927. . . . — — Map (db m101511) HM
On East Shoemaker Street at South Hill Street, on the left when traveling east on East Shoemaker Street.
Born in Gibson County, Tennessee, S. W. Tilghman (1846-1913) came in 1870 by wagon train to Wise County. In 1872 he married a Decatur native, Eliza Bland Miller (1856-1931), and became father of a daughter and three sons. A master builder, he . . . — — Map (db m184085) HM
On Farm to Market Road 51 at Joe Wheeler Park Road, on the left when traveling south on Highway 51.
The Confederate veterans of Wise County are said to have held occasional reunions in the 1860s-1870s. Old settlers invited both the Confederate veterans and Wise County pioneers to an 1881 reunion at Cold Springs. This was on July 12, the . . . — — Map (db m108538) HM
On West Main Street at North State Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.
County named for Henry A. Wise, U.S. Senator from Virginia who supported Texas annexation, later Governor and C.S.A. general. Wise County was part of District One of 33 brigade districts of Texas established to recruit men for Confederate and state . . . — — Map (db m108530) HM
On North State Street at West Walnut Street (Business U.S. 81), on the right when traveling north on North State Street.
Third built since creation of the county in 1856.
Erected, 1895. Of pink Texas granite, with interior of Vermont marble. Has been called architecturally perfect. Has commanding height of 1,112'.
Bonded cost paid in full April 10, 1945. . . . — — Map (db m138077) HM
On South Trinity Street (Farm to Market Road 730) at East Pecan Street, on the left when traveling south on South Trinity Street.
Started by William Forster in 1880, the "Messenger" was published in Paradise (10 mi. SW) and Alvord (11 mi. NW) before a permanent move to Decatur in 1885. Early editions included poems, love stories, and lists of strayed animals and mail at the . . . — — Map (db m108535) HM
Honoring all who served so well and dedicated to the everlasting memory of those from Wise County who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I 1917-1918 and World War II 1941-1945 — — Map (db m108597) WM