Wood County History
By LOU MALLORY - Chairperson, Wood County Historical Commission
Wood County Historical Markers
With the cooler weather on its way, if you are a history or genealogy maven, you might want to plan a day trip or two, to visit some of the many historical markers in Wood County. While some are in our towns and cities, many other are in out-of-the-way scenic locations, perfect for a picnic outing. Here are just a few of the markers.
There is a marker dedicated to the first Anglo settler in Wood County, Martin Varner. The marker offers a brief outline of his life. It is located on FM 3056 just ten and one-half miles east of Mineola.
There is also a marker dedicated to Henry Stout, the early lawman and Indian fighter. It is located at the Captain Stout Roadside Park, located on FM 2088 near East Point.
The Smyrna Baptist Church was organized in June 1869 under a pine tree by Rev. Jacob Ziegler, aided by elders. There were 18 constituting members. A Sabbath school school was organized in 1878. The original two-story building housed the church, a lodge and a school.
To reach this church, go east on Hwy 11 from Winnsboro. At the point where FM 515 intersects, continue on Hwy 11 for one and two-tenth miles. Then, at that distance, turn south on the oiled road. Continue on the oiled road for one and six-tenth miles and turn back east at that point and proceed for two-tenths of a mile.
The Indian cemetery and village. This site was found during road building operations and reported in November 1966. In January 1967, eight graves were studied but the bone fragments that were unearthed were so old they crumbled on exposure to air.
Pieces of patterned pottery were also found in the cemetery and in the villages in the vicinity. Grindstones, a jar with red paint, water jugs and skinning stones suggest that the area may have been inhabited about 1200 to 1500 A.D. and possibly earlier. The inhabitants are thought to have been Caddo Indians, an agricultural people with a fairly advanced culture. The site was dedicated in 1969. To reach the marker, follow FM 2966 north of Quitman and turn right at the Lake Quitman sign. The marker is near the dam site.
The Macedonia School, This is one of the first one-teacher schools in Wood County and served the county¢s earliest community, Macedonia, which was renamed Redland in 1900. The land for the school was donated by W.M. McCarrol in 1855. W.M. Harris was one of the first teachers. The school consolidated with the Hawkins Independent School District in 1944. The marker was dedicated in 1969. It is located on FM 778 between Hainesville and Hwy 80.
The Charter Oak marker stands near the site of the first election in Wood County. The county was organized under a large post oak on Gaines Geer¢s farm on August 5th, 1850. The commissioners were Reuben Elledge, Joseph Fisher, George Green, Henry Stout and Gilbert Yarbrough. They met with 30 other men to choose a site for the county seat and elect the first officials.
They elected Chief Justice D.O. Norton, County Clerk Ambrose Fitzgerald, Treasurer Henry W. Norton, Tax-Assessor/Collector Gilbert Yarbrough, Sheriff Henry Stout and County Commissioners Daniel Center, P.M. Gunstream, William Rice and Peter Rozell. The historic oak was killed by lightning in 1950.
The marker was dedicated on December 15th, 1973. This marker is located on FM 49 at Hainesville, about three and one-half miles east of Mineola.
More about Wood County¢s historical markers will be featured in coming editions.
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