PANOLA COUNTY'S HISTORICAL MARKERS

Complied by Panola Co. Historical Commission Committee

Thanks TO ALL.

We have two types of markers in the State of Texas- the medallion and the historical marker.  The medallion Home is over fifty years of age and has not been altered in any way.  The medallion has a special state seal on top of a plate that gives the history of the House

Panola County Historical Commission complied the first guide to Historical Markers in this county in 1981. Since that time, the number of official historical marker has doubled, and the county commissioner’s court has placed numbers on all county roads.

Added to increase in numbers of markers is the revived interest climate in personal knowledge of our heritage.

A volunteer committee took on the task of putting this updated guide together. Becky Austin and Kay Mauritzen visited each site and photographed it, and the committed then assembled the book. We hope this collection helps searchers and students who are assigned to master Panola County history.

A special thanks to Panola College students Shajuana Henderson for assisting Mrs. Morris in preparing our material for the published.

The Committee, 1990

(1) ADAMS CEMETERY

When Adam’s daughter died in 1884, Lorenzo H. Adams (1849-1912) gave one acre of land for the purpose of a public cemetery. Lorenzo H. Adams served as a constable, Justice of the Peace, and Deputy Sheriff. This marker is located six miles southeast of Deadwood off FM 31, two miles east on CR 466.

(2) ALLISON CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The Rev. Littleton Fowler, an early Methodist Missionary in the East Texas area, is supposed to have organized this congregation of believers between 1837 and 1839.This marker is located on U.S. Hwy. 79, ten miles west of Carthage, at Fairplay.

(3) JONATHAN ANDERSON

Jonathan Anderson owned the Pine forest where Carthage now stands. On November 13, 1848, he deeded One hundred acres for the county seat. The former site of the Courthouse has been made into a park and named in his honor. This marker is located in the center of the city of Carthage.

(4) ANTIOCH CEMETERY

To celebrate the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986, the people of the Antioch community honored their ancestors by dedicating a marker at the Antioch Cemetery. The earliest marker in this cemetery is 1849.This marker is located five miles south of Carthage and five-tenths mile west of FM 699.

(5) JOSEPH BENEDICT BEAUCHAMP

Joseph Benedict Beauchamp’s Texas War for Independence Marker of granite is located at Old Macedonia Cemetery, near Holland Quarters. This marker is located four miles west on U.S. 79, one mile north on FM 959, in the pasture three-fourths mile west from CR 110.

(6) FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BECKVILLE

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church had only 12 charter members when it was organized on May 15, 1886. In 1930, the congregation changed the name to First Baptist Church.This marker is located on FM 124 east in Beckville.

(7) BECKVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

In 1874, the members constructed the first sanctuary. The church history dates back to the Republic of Texas, when the region was served as part of the San Augustine Circuit. This marker is located at the church in the town of Beckville, two blocks north of Hwy. 149.

(8) BELL-FOUNTAIN CEMETERY

According to legend, a Mr. Wooten was the first person buried on the hill before it was called Bell-Fountain cemetery. It was said that he cut his foot badly with an axe. He was far from home and went to the branch to put his foot in cool water. He contacted Lockjaw and died shortly after. This marker is located about four miles west of DeBerry, just off FM 1186, between Horton and DeBerry.

(9) BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH

This church was officially organized in 1843 at the Home of Rev. Isaac Reed at Reed's settlement about two miles from Clayton. The church was moved to the present location just off Hwy. 315 in 1874. This church is still active and has an annual homecoming. This marker is located at the church just behind the Clayton Cemetery.

(10) BETHESDA METHODIST CHURCH

This is the site of the Old Purviance Williams Family settlement and the Old Williams Cemetery. One of the earliest graves in the cemetery is dated 1838. This marker is located one mile west of Fairplay, one-fourth mile off Hwy. U.S. 79 north.

(11) BRACKEN CEMETERY

The earliest marked grave is that of Clarence Liston d 1876, the son of Perry and Acenie Bracken Liston.This family cemetery has been maintain through the years by members of various families buried there, through semi-annual grave-yard workings, donations, and a variety of fund-raising projects. This marker is located on Bracken Road, 311, between DeBerry and Elysian Fields, off Hwy. 31.

(12) CARTHAGE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Gospel meetings in the late 1880's brought together enough prospective members to organize the First Christian Church of Carthage. Hamilton Pollard deeded a lot to the congregation in 1890 and a building was completed the next year. This marker is located at the site of the church, 206 South Market Street, Carthage.

(13) CARTHAGE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Carthage Methodists were First organized in 1855, but for the first few years services were held on the lower floor of the two story Masonic Hall, at the corner of East Wellington and South Live Oak Streets. In 1859, members bought the present property at the corner of Shelby and East Wellington St. This marker is located at the site of the church, 201 S. Shelby St., Carthage.

(14) DEADWOOD CEMETERY

The earliest marked grave is that of Christeena LaGrone (1785-1847), who came to Texas with her husband and their children. This marker is located in Deadwood on State Hwy. 31, turn east off 31 at loop CR 445, and go one-fourth mile.

(15) A.W. DEBERRY

Alfred W. DeBerry, (1829-1903), 28th Texas Cavalry, dismounted, Confederate Army. In the 1863-1865 legislature, helped pass laws to give Confederacy men revenue and supplies, support soldiers' families and defend Texas Frontiers. This marker is located in DeBerry, just west of U.S. Hwy. 79, on Hwy 31.

(16) DEBERRY BAPTIST CHURCH

DeBerry Baptist Church, established in 1880, has a colorful history of more than a century of community service and development. Holland Livingston Anderson donated the original plot of land for the site. This marker is located on Hwy. 31, one-fourth mile south of Hwy. 79.

(17) EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Founded in 1843 , this congregation is credited to the pioneer Methodist Minister Littleton Fowler in the Texas Republic Days. Land was donated by John Henry Ross in 1872 after the original church at Macedonia had burned. This marker is located five miles west of Carthage on U.S. 79, one-fourth mile north on CR 227.

(18) GRAND BLUFF CEMETERY

In the early 1800s, the original settlement of Grand Bluff was a favorite ferry crossing on the Sabine River. Many settlers entered Panola County via this ferry, first called Brewster's Bluff for the Ferryman, Brewster. Later the property was secured by the Vawter Family and became known as Grand Bluff. David Vawter, owner and operator of the Ferry donated the land for the cemetery. This marker is located on FM 1794, approximately eight miles north of Carthage, one mile east of U.S. Hwy. 59.

(19) INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY MARKER

A Unique Historical Marker on the Boundary between Texas and Louisiana is one of a Kind. This is a granite shaft set on April 23 1841, to settle once and for all a boundary dispute of almost two hundred years. No other American Boundary has gone through contests between France, Spain, the United States and Republic of Texas three-acre park has been dedicated by officials of both Texas and Louisiana as a Bi-State Park around the marker. This marker is located about 50 yards north of Hwy. 31 at the Texas - Louisiana State line, between Deadwood and Logansport.

(20) THE JERNIGAN HOUSE

William Ashley Jernigan built this home in 1849. The entire structure was erected by slave labor from timber grown on the property. The Jernigan Family Cemetery is located directly in front of the house, across FM 9.

This marker is located across FM 9.

(21)MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH

The Old Macedonia Church was organized by Rev. Lemeul Herrin and Rev. Isaac Reed in 1845. The original location was at Old Macedonia Cemetery near Holland's Quarter where the congregation shared a pioneer church. Building with Macedonia Methodist Church, now Called Ebenezer. When the original church burned in 1880, this church was moved to its present location US HWY 79, west of Carthage. This marker is located in front of Macedonia Baptist Church on U.S. Hwy. 79, west of Carthage.

(22) MIDYETT SPRINGS

Midyett Springs, originally called Breckenridge Springs because of the Mineral Waters, became a well known health resort in the latter part of the 19th century. This marker is located is in the eastern part of Panola County on the Old Marshall-Mansfield Road between FM 21 and FM 123, it is sixteen miles from Carthage.

(23) MT. PLEASANT MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1880 under the leadership of Eld. William H. Gresham and Eld. Jerry Robinson Alexander. The second story which had served as a meeting hall for the Woodsmen of the World, was removed in the 1940s.This marker is located at the church, beyond Deadwood and Galloway, off Texas Hwy. 31, on CR 455 at CR 460.

(24) MT. ZION CEMETERY  (Picture)

This is a large cemetery with many old and interesting gravestones. Some old stones have lettering turned to the west, or away from the Graves, as was the custom in pioneer times. Many of the graves are marked by military grave stones from the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.This marker is located beside Mount Zion Methodist Church on U.S. Hwy. 79, east of Carthage, between DeBerry and Panola (Latex), Texas.

(25) MARGIE ELIZABETH NEAL

The first woman and only woman to serve in the Texas State Senate during the first one hundred years of Texas’ History was a native of Carthage.In January 1945, Miss Margie came back to Carthage and remained until her death in 1971. This marker is located on the Town square in Carthage.

(26) OLD CENTER CEMETERY

In 1856, land for the Old Center Cemetery was first donated by James Rowe, a community pioneer and a veteran of the Texas War for Independence. James Rowe’s grave, dated 1868, is one of the oldest in the cemetery. Over the years, the descendants of the original land donor have given acreage to enlarge the boundaries of the cemetery.

This marker is located on FM 699, 11 miles southeast of Carthage.

(27) OLD PANOLA COUNTY JAIL

In 1987, the Panola County Historical and Genealogical Association organized and adopted the dilapidated and abandoned Old Jail as a potential archives and mini-law enforcement museum. (This is now one of the best genealogical research libraries in this area comments by Gloria B. Mayfield, Panola Co. Coordinator.) This marker is located one block north of downtown Carthage at 113 N. Shelby St.

(28)PANOLA COUNTY MARKER--BETHANY

The village of Vernon was founded in 1840. The local name of "Lickskillet" was given to the place for a time because of the Legend of a hungry traveler who arrived after the campers had eaten, and he supposedly "licked the skillet". In 1850, a military map gave the name of the village as Bethany. This marker is located on the extreme eastern edge of Panola County.

(29)PANOLA COUNTY MARKER--GRAND BLUFF

When Highway 59 was repaired and changed to another crossing on the Sabine River, the Marker was left on Old Hwy. 59 to Marshall, now a county road that was not traveled by many people, Therefore at the request of the Panola County Historical Commission and with sanction of the Texas Historical Commission it was moved and is now located on the square in Carthage.

(30) THE PANOLA WATCHMAN

The Panola Watchman was established July 2, 1873, by Colonel Tom M. Bowers.It is one of the oldest newspapers in continuous publication in Texas and the oldest continuous business operated in Carthage. This marker is located in front of the Panola County Newspaper Office at 109 W. Panola.

(31) PISGAH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

This church was organized in 1848 with the Rev. N.S. Johnson as the first Pastor. Early services were conducted in homes, except for summer camp meetings held at a site know as old Camp Ground. This church has played an important role in the development of the surrounding rural area in Panola County. This marker is located on U.S. Hwy. 149, northwest of Carthage.

(32) PULASKI

Pulaski was the first county seat of Panola County (1846-1848) Some people have considered it "Panola's Lost Capitol." This marker is located on the Sabine River, on a private road between FM 31 and FM 2617.

(33) REV. ISAAC REED

Rev. Reed, pioneer Baptist Minister born in Tennessee and came to Texas in 1834. Rev. Reed erected the Old North Church near Nacogdoches in 1838. Reed's settlement was the second oldest in the area that became Panola County. The settlement included his son Isaac Reed Jr. two sons in law, John Morris and Hugh Shepherd. Rev. Reed is buried in Old Bethel Cemetery, with memorial stones that were chiseled from Rock by slaves and they still mark the graves. This marker is located about two miles northwest of Clayton.

(34) JIM REEVES

James Travis Reeves was born August 20, 1923. His recording "Mexican Joe" took him to the top of the Country Music Charts and a contract with RCA.

(35) REHOBETH METHODIST CHURCH AND CEMETERY

On January 9, 1878, land was donated by John Wesley Biggs and wife Mary Ann at a site on Now US Hwy 59. That spring the people built the Rehobeth Methodist Church. The Church still holds services.

(36) RESPESS CREEK AND RESPESS FAMILY

This marker honors the Richard O. Respess Family. The son, Ormand Respess, was a pioneer leader in Liberty Chapel Community. He gave the land for the first school built in Frog Pond Community, and he taught in the school without pay in the early days.

(37)ROCK HILL UNITED METHGODIST CHURCH

Rock Hill Methodist Church began in the Grand Bluff Comm. as a Baptist Congregation in 1887. Upon moving the site to the Rock Hill Community in 1895, the congregation reorganized and affiliated with the Methodist Denomination of the Northern Conference.

(38)JAMES ROWE- TEXAS REVOLUTION MARKER

James Rowe was an early settler in Panola County coming to the area before 1835, when he received a grant of land from the Republic of Mexico. He is buried in Old Center Cemetery, which is located about 12 miles southeast of Carthage on FM 1410.

(39)SHADY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Shady Grove Baptist Church was established around 1873. Members of the Original congregation belonged to Bell-Fountain Baptist Church before the Civil War. The first Pastor of this church was Rev. J. R. Alexander.

(40)TRAMMEL'S TRACE, COUNTY LINE AT US HWY 79

An official Texas Historical Marker was installed at the County-Line on Highway 79 west of Carthage in 1936. The marker recognizes the Pre-Anglo trail which became the county line Road known as Trammel's Trace, so named for Nicholas Trammel, an early trader who used the trail first traveled by Indians.

(41) TRAMMEL'S TRACE-TATUM

An early Indian Trail, later named for Nicholas Trammel, who surveyed it in 1813 for the US, used in describing most of the boundary between Rusk and Panola Counties. Portions of the Trace are incorporated into the County Line Road, 7/10 of a mile south of this marker.

(42)WALTER PRESCOTT WEBB

Walter Prescott Webb was born on April 13, 1888 in Panola County. Dr. Webb became a world renowned American Historian. He was a distinguished professor at the University of Texas for forty-five years. He won many honors, among them being the first southwesterner to be President of the American Historical Association.

(43) WOODS METHODIST CHURCH

The Woods Methodist Church Historical Marker is Located at Woods Cemetery on Highway 59 between Carthage and Tenaha. The first church located at Woods Post Office was built prior to October 28, 1858. Woods Methodist Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980,

(44)ISAAC R. YOUNGBLOOD

Youngblood Cemetery was named after a great pioneer of the community, Isaac R. Youngblood. The county Commissioners appointed him as an early overseer of the Grand Bluff Road, an important link to the Rest of Texas. It is located on FM 124, south of Beckville, four miles.

(45) JIMMY ARNOLD, CONFEDERATE SOLDIER

Jimmy left Carthage in 1862 with Company G. 14th Texas Calvary at the tender age of 15. He was killed in the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863. This marker is located on the southeast side of the Panola County courthouse lawn.

(46) VETERANS LOST IN MODERN WARS

This is a large monument honoring Panola Countains who were casualties of Twentieth Century Wars: World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Viet Nam. This marker is located on the Northeast front lawn of the Panola County Courthouse.

(47) BETHLEHEM CEMETERY

The American Revolution Dicentennial Medallion 1776-1976 was placed at the entry to Bethlehem Cemetery in memory of Ancestors who settled in this area of Panola County. A Gazebo has been recently built to display the burial plat, showing locations of almost 400 burials.

(48) WALDROP CEMETERTY

Jemina Guest Gentry died on June 8, 1872 and was buried on the land of James C. and Lucretia Harris, who later deeded the land to the community in 1885. Waldrop Cemetery is located 9.6 miles west of Carthage on US 79, then 2 miles north on FM 1251

(49) HOLLAND QUARTERS CEMETERY

This African American Cemetery is located on land deeded to former slaves by Spearman Holland. The Site also includes the Pine Grove Baptist Church, a School, and Lodge Hall. Through the site contains more than 500 graves, only a fourth are marked. The oldest documented burial is that of the unnamed infant twin daughter of William and Betty Holland Rayson in 1895. Buried here are former members of fraternal organizations and Veterans of Wars, from WWI to the Vietnam War.

(50) SUGAR HILL CEMETERY

Elijah Wyatt, Who came to Texas in 1838, is thought to have died and been buried here in 1849. His son-in-law, Terrell Henson, deeded land to T. A. Sullivan in 1855, reserving one acre for "The Graveyard and Meeting House," supporting the local belief that the site was already in use as a local burial ground. Thomas C. Jones was living on Wyatt Family property when he died in 1861: his is the earliest marked grave. The site became the Sugar Hill Community Cemetery as more families were interred here. Members of the Terrell and Minerva Wyatt Henson Family are believed to be buried under the rocks surrounding three graves at the entrance to the cemetery. With 78 marked graves and at least as many unmarked, the Graveyard includes the final resting place of Veterans of the Civil War and World War II.

(1999)