Van Zandt County Historical Sites and Research Helps

Bobby Pearce's Field Guide to Historical Sites in Van Zandt County
provided by Bobby Pearce

• ALLEN: Cemetery located between Wills Point and I-20.
• ALSA: Located in n.w. Van Zandt county two miles e. of highway 751. Founded in 1866.
• ANDERSON'S FERRY: Located eighteen miles n. of Canton on the Sabine River. A toll bridge was built here in 1863. Probably in the vicinity of the present bridge on highway 19.
• BEARD: Cemetery located on highway 3080 in s.w. corner of county just east of Odom.
• BEN WHEELER: Located s. of Van and highway 64 on FM 279 at the intersection with FM 773. Originally called Clough and settled in 1840. Population was 200 in 1890.
• BETHEL: Located between highways 1651 and 198 three miles n.w. of the Denman Crossroads Community.
• BETHLEHEM: No other information known.
• BIG ROCK: Located near the s. county line at the intersection of FM 1861 and CR 2908.
• BIG ROCK TOP: Located one and one-half miles n.e. of Big Rock.
• BRIGHT STAR: Located six miles n.n.e. of Wills Point on highway 1395. Settled in 1850's. In 1860's, outlaw Cullen Baker and his guerrillas fought Federal forces here.
• BUFORD SPRINGS: Located five miles n.e. of Edom on Mountain Creek. Site of 1853 settlement by M. Buford.
• CAMP LOCKE: Also known as Goose Lake. Enlistment point during the Civil War. Located nine miles east of north from Wills Point. Possibly under Lake Tawakoni?
• CANA: Located w. of Canton on CR 3322 just e. of FM 47.
• CEDAR GROVE: Located four miles n.e. of Elmo in Kaufman county on the county line with Van Zandt county. Cemetery located in Kaufman county. P. O. est. in 1850 and disc. in 1874. Remained a trading center until the 1930's. Was called "that low city which is entirely disloyal and a hangout for former rebels," raided by Federal forces in 1868.
• CENTRAL: Cemetery located three miles n.n.w. of Grand Saline.
• CHEROKEE SPRINGS: Located one and one-half miles n.n.w. of Redland on W. B. Harper's ranch. Delaware village located here in 1839 and a burial mound is located nearby. Springs are just south of the Historical Marker for the battle site where Chief Bowles was killed.
• CHINA GROVE: Located between Denman Crossroads and highway 19 n. of Walton. A grove of chinaberry trees once grew near the church around which the community developed.
• CHINQUAPIN: Cemetery located two miles n.w. of Walton and w. of Highway 19.
• CLIFTON: Located n. of Wills Point at the intersection of FM 47 and CR 2475. Population of 25 in 1940.
• CLOWER: Located w.n.w. of Van on FM 773 s.w. of the intersection with CR 1516.
• COLDWATER SPRINGS: Located one-half mile s. of Colfax. Near here was a log house used for religious purposes in the early days.
• COLFAX: Located s.e. of Canton at the intersection of FM 16, CR 1308, and CR 1311. Originally called Tunnell's Camp or Tunnell's Chapel and had a population of 25 in 1890. Famous for its camp meetings.
• COLLINS FERRY: Located near the bridge on highway 17 across the Sabine River n.e. of Grand Saline.
• COLTHARP-BEALL RELAY STATION: Built in Dec. of 1849 and located on old highway 64 (FM 279) five to seven miles e. of present Edom. Site of the stage relay station and P. O. for Hamburg (Edom). See Redland.
• COLTHORP'S MILL: An early saw mill in Van Zandt county although another source places it in Houston county. May be separate sites and possibly at different dates. Probably in s.e. county along the Neches River in the piney woods.
• COOL SPRINGS: Cemetery located on highway 1651 just s. of the intersection with highway 19. The springs are located four miles s. of Canton on property belonging to the Ward family. The several springs were used by the Cool Springs Church located two hundred yards to the s.w..
• CORINTH: Located on highway 1255 between Oakland and Jones.
• COUNTY POOR FARM: Located four miles s. of Canton in 1877.
• COX: Cemetery located three miles w. of Ben Wheeler and one-half mile e. of highway 1653.
• CREAGLEVILLE: Cemetery located just s. of U. S. 80 between Grand Saline and Fruitvale.
• CROSS ROADS: Located three miles n.w. of Grand Saline.
• DALE CREST: Located s. of highway 1255 two miles s.w. of Silver Lake.
• DENMAN CROSSROADS: Located fourteen miles n. of Athens two miles w. of highway 19 at the intersection of FM 1256 and CR 2916.
• EAST CENTER: Located on highway 1652 six miles s. of Grand Saline.
• EDGEWOOD: Located on the T&PRR n. of Canton and known as Stevenson Switch until 11-39-1875 when Edgewood was platted.
• EDOM: Located in the s.e. corner of the county at the intersection of CR 314, FM 23339, and CR 4609. Originally called Hamburg. Settled in 1848 and a population of 175 in 1890.
• ELLIS CHAPEL: Located just s. of highway 1395 four miles n.w. of Edgewood.
• ELM GROVE: Cemetery located n.w. of Phalba between highway 47 and the w. county line.
• ELWOOD: Located three miles n.e. of Wills Point.
• ENTERPRISE: Located about six miles n. of Wills Point on highway 2475.
• FAIRVIEW: Located n.w. of Canton on CR 3915 just w. of FM 47.
• FIELD: Located on the west county line w. of Wise.
• FLATWOOD: Located one-half mile n.w. of Edom on highway 279.
• FOUR MILE PRAIRIE: Cemetery located near the w. county line and n. of Roddy. Settled in 1847 by Norwegian emigrant Johan Reiersen. The prairie was covered with buffalo bones in the 1850's.
• FRIENDLY: Located three miles s. of Van off highway 314.
• FRIENDSHIP: Located about three miles n.e. of Grand Saline and just e. of highway 17.
• FRUITVALE: Located on U. S. 80 between Edgewood and Grand Saline. Settled in 1914. Population of 160 in 1940.
• GREENWOOD: Cemetery located just s. of Wills Point.
• HAMBURG: On the 1862 P. O. list. See Edom.
• HAYDEN: Located at Hayden Springs one mile s.w. of Myrtle Springs on the O. L. Pate ranch. Large numbers of buffalo grazed here until about 1860.
• HIGH: Cemetery located two miles n.w. of Wallace and six miles w.n.w. of Canton.
• HIGHLAND: Cemetery located just w. of highway 859 between Edgewood and Canton.
• HOBBS: Located one mile e. of highway 1861 and one mile n. of highway 2339 two miles n.w. of Pleasant Ridge near the south county line.
• HOLLY SPRINGS: Located w. of Ben Wheeler at the intersection of FM 1653 and CR 4402. The springs are located one and one-half miles n.e. of Martin's Mill and just s.w. of the Holly Springs Church and cemetery. Site of an 1887 Prohibition Picnic. Settled in 1850 four miles e. of the present location. P. O. disc. in 1928 and a population of 75 in 1949.
• INDEX: Located six miles s. of Wills Point.
• IOLA: See Wills Point.
• JACKSON: Located s.w. of Canton on highway 198 at the intersection with FM 1651. Established in the 1890's, had store, mill, etc. Population of ten in 1910, school closed in 1920.
• JONES: Located s. of Grand Saline on highway 110 at the intersection with CR 1605 and FM 1255. Founded about 1850.
• JORDAN'S SALINE: A salt prairie located three-quarters of a mile from Grand Saline. Another source places the town one and one-half miles s.e. of the T &P RR depot at Grand Saline. John Jordan purchased the land in 1839 and started processing brine for salt in 1844. Was the first county seat until 1853 when it was moved to the center of the county and Canton was formed. Called a "den of traitors" by Federal forces after the Civil War.
• LAWRENCE SPRING: Located three miles s.s.e. of Fruitvale. Spring is located two hundred yards s. of the Lawrence Spring Church.
• LITTLE HOPE-MOORE COMMUNITY CENTER: Located s.e. of Canton on highway 64 just s. of CR 4111. Another source places Little Hope in Wood county.
• LOLLER'S BRIDGE: Located on the Neches River on the Smith county line. Possibly near the present bridge on highway 279. It was on the Tyler to Porter's Bluff Road.
• MARS COMMUNITY: Located one mile n.w. of Pleasant Ridge n. of highway 2339 near the s. county line. Settled in 1848 and had a population of 150 in 1915.
• MARTIN BLUFF: Located on the Sabine River s.e. of Lake Tawakoni.
• MARTIN'S MILL: Located s.s.w. of Holly Springs at the intersection of FM 858 and FM 1861. A gristmill was here as early as 1860. P. O. by 1882. Population was 200 in 1940.
• MARVIN CHAPEL: See Owlet Green.
• MC BEE'S CREEK: In 1845 William H. Mc Bee established a gristmill, the first mill in the county prior to 1850.
• MIDWAY COMMUNITY: Located on highway 64 five miles n.e. of Edom.
• MONICO: Located seven miles s.e. of Grand Saline.
• MOREHEAD COMMUNITY: Had a school, no other information known.
• MORINCE: Located eight miles n.e. of Edgewood.
• MORTON MINE: Located just s. of Grand Saline.
• MOUNT GIBSON: No other information known.
• MT. LEBANON: Located just w. of highway 17 between Canton and Grand Saline.
• MT. PISGAH: Located just e. of highway 2909 two miles n. of Walnut Springs.
• MUSTANG P. O.: A Civil War enlistment point.
• MYRTLE SPRINGS: Called Holden Springs in 1872 and site of hotel, park, and lake with gondolas. In 1950 there was a large swimming pool that is now abandoned.
• NECHES RIVER: Exact location unknown, but probably along the Neches River.
• NEW HOPE: Located s.w. of Edgewood.
• OAKLAND: Located e.n.e. of Canton at the intersection of CR 1213 and CR/FM 1255. Founded in 1880. Population of 25 in 1970.
• ODOM: Located s. of Roddy on FM 3080 between CR 2810 and CR 2815.
• OLD LIBERTY SPRINGS: The springs are located five miles s.e. of Canton and one mile n.e. of Jackson on Leona Melton's ranch. Here in 1848, William Wages built Old Liberty Church.
• OWLET GREEN: Located s. of Van and I-20 at the intersection of FM 1995 and CR 1411. First called Marvin Chapel and a population of 50 in 1890.
• PHALBA: Located n.e. of Roddy. Established in the early 1900's with a population of 28 in 1903 and 65 in 1940.
• PIGEON ROOST PRAIRIE: Located four miles s.e. of Grand Saline near Jones' school house, this was a favorite roost of the Passenger Pigeon until their extinction around 1876. Millions of these birds roosted here in large flocks.
• PLEASANT HILL: Located two miles n.e. of Edom.
• PLEASANT RIDGE: Located on the south county line on highway 2339 at the intersection with highway 773.
• PLEASANT UNION: Cemetery located n. of highway 859 five miles n. of Edgewood.
• POOL TOWN: No other information known.
• PRAIRIE CREEK: Located four miles n.e. of Edom.
• PRAIRIE SPRINGS: Located one and one-half miles n.w. of Ben Wheeler. In 1888 site of Farmers' Alliance lodge and used for camping and picnics over the years. Located on the L. O. Pyle ranch. One spring is three hundred yards e. of the Prairie Springs Cemetery and another is eight hundred yards north.
• PRIMROSE: Located between Van and Odom on highway 314. Founded in the early 1900's and a population of 25 in 1915.
• PRUITT: Located n. of Van on highway 110 at CR 1507. A farming community as early as 1890 and a population of 75 in 1940.
• RAINEYS CHAPEL: Located between Myrtle Springs and Edgewood and between highways 1504 and 859.
• RED HILL: A hill located e. of Canton n. of highway 64 at the intersection of FM 17 and CR 1255.
• RED HILL: Located four miles n.e. of Edom at Red Hill Springs.
• REDLAND: Located on highway 64 at CR 4923. Two locations shown here. The Coltharp-Beall log house is located one mile s. of Redland. Established in 1849 this house served as a stage stop and the first religious services held in the county were here. The springs are now on the property of C. B. Cason.
• RILEY SPRINGS: The springs are located three miles s. of Canton and form Mill Creek. Many Indian artifacts have been found here. Riley's Mill was located about one mile n.e. of the springs on W. C. Herring's farm in the 1850's.
• ROCHELL SPRINGS: Located one and one-half miles n.w. of Fruitvale on Louise Foster's ranch.
• ROCK HILL: Cemetery located just w. of highway 1504 between Myrtle Springs and Edgewood.
• ROCK HILL: Located on highway 1256 two miles w. of the Denman Crossroads Community.
• ROCK POINT: Located near Wills Point.
• ROCK POND: Site of a grand basket dinner for 5,000 people on July 9, 1886.
• RODDY: Located inn the s.w. corner of the county on highway 198 at CR 2803. Store established in the late 1880's and a population of 25 in 1890.
• ROHER SPRINGS: The springs are located four and one-half miles s.e. of Phalba and one mile e. of Big Rock on the Big Rock Ranch. The springs powered a gristmill belonging to W. W. Stirman in 1848.
• ROSELAND PLANTATION: Located twenty-two miles s.e. of Canton on highway 64.
• SABA: No other information known.
• SAND FLAT: Located s.e. of Grand Saline at the intersection of FM 1255 and FM 857. A church community with two stores and a population of 25.
• SAND HILL: A hill located s.w. of Denman Crossroads just e. of CR 2901.
• SCOTT: Located n.w. of Canton on FM 47 just s. of CR 3311. The Handbook of Texas places it eight miles s. of Wills Point with one store and a population of 50 in 1940.
• SILVER LAKE: Located on U. S. 80 six miles e. of Grand Saline at the east county line. Major plats located near Crockett's Bluff at a 350' elevation. Water stop on the T&P RR. Established in 1873, but settled as early as 1845. Population was 50 in 1940.
• SLATER CREEK: No other information known.
• SMALL: Located three miles s.w. of Martin Bluff.
• SNYDER (SNIDER) SPRINGS: The springs on county property in Phalba and date to 1853 when John Snider built a cabin here.
• STANGER SPRINGS: Located four miles s.e. of Ben Wheeler and one-half mile n. of highway 279. The springs are on Jimmy Stanger's property and are one hundred yards n. of the Stanger Springs Church. Possible stop for the Spanish in 1761.
• STARR: Located one mile e. of highway 17 five miles n.e. of Canton.
• STEVENSON SWITCH: See Edgewood.
• STONE POINT: Located eleven miles w. of Canton near the source of Lacy's Fork of Cedar Creek. Lies along the prairie at the base of a rocky hill. Population of 30 in 1890.
• TIDMORE: Cemetery located on highway 2339 three miles n.w. of Pleasant Ridge near the south county line.
• TOWLES: No other information known.
• TRAVER: Cemetery located between Whitton and Wise and just n. of highway 1651.
• TUNDRA: Located s.s.w. of Canton at the intersection of FM 1651 and CR 2217. Explored as early as 1845, but no permanent settlement until the close of the Civil War. Gin est. in early 1900's and a population of 100 in 1915.
• TURNER: Located about seven miles s.e. of Wills Point between highway 64 and I-20.
• UNION GROVE: Cemetery located two miles n. of Wills Point on highway 751.
• VAN: Located e. of Canton near the e. county line. A party for 1500 people was held on the W. T. Jarman farm one-fourth of a mile n. of Van in August 1929 to celebrate the first oil well there.
• VAN SPRINGS: Located three miles w. of Van near the intersection of I-20 and highway 16.
• WALLACE: Located w. of Canton s. of highway 243 at CR 2501. Had a rural church and scattered farm residences in 1936.
• WALNUT SPRINGS: Located on highway 2909 between highways 64 and 19 nine miles n. of Martin's Mill. The springs are located six miles s.s.e. of Canton on the property of C. S. Perkins. The original church was located at the springs, but is now three hundred yards north of the springs.
• WALTON: Located on the south county line s.w. of Martin's Mill. A farming community along Murchison Creek before the Civil War. Population of 30 in 1940.
• WATKINS: Located w. of Canton s. of highway 243 on FM 47 at CR 2514.
• WENTWORTH: Located n.e. of Canton at the intersection of CR 1215 and CR 1207. Settled in 1859, had a population of 30 in 1940.
• WESLEY CHAPEL: Located just n. of highway 243 about nine miles w. of Canton.
• WHITON: Located s.w. of Canton at the intersection of FM 1651 and CR 2404.
• WIDOW'S PRAIRIE: Located in the s.w. corner of the county.
• WILLOW SPRINGS: Located just e. of highway 859 and w. of highway 19 between Fruitvale and Canton. The springs are on the Jim Cox ranch and are located six hundred yards north of the Willow Springs church.
• WILLS POINT: Built on the summit (529') between the Trinity and Sabine rivers in 1873 on the RR. First called Iola.
• WISDOM TEMPLE: Located s.e. of Grand Saline at the intersection of CR 1524 and CR 1517.
• WISE: Located s. of Watkins on FM 47 at the intersection with FM 3227.
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
  
  • COLFAX By Jackie Geddie. 1963 149p.,ill.
  • EVERY FIRST MONDAY A History of Canton, Texas By D. N. Wren 1973 91p.,ill.
  • HISTORY OF FOUR MILE By M. T. Jensen 1972 144p.,ill.
  • A HISTORY OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY By M. E. Hall 1976 156p.
  • HISTORY OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY By W. S. Mills 1950 240p.
  • MAP OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY 30" x 32" Scale 1"=1mile. A folding color soil map showing roads, railroads, schools, etc.
  • MARRIAGE RECORDS OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY, TEXAS 1855-1880 By F. T. Ingmire 1979 49p.
  • MARTINS MILL By C. M. Wallace 1976 136p.,ill.
  • SOME HISTORY OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY By Wentworth Manning 1919 220p.,ill. maps, index.
  • YET ANOTHER GLORY By M. W. Harrison 1969 160p.,ill. Reminiscences of Wills Point.

One source for the above items is:
STATE HOUSE BOOKS
1604 S. CONGRESS AVE.
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704
(512)448-0700
Some of these are out of print and rare so check the library Reference and Genealogy sections.

Statement from Bobby Pearce:
The purpose of this guide is to give researchers a tool to take in to the field that replaces many of the books and maps necessary to their work. I make no claims of authorship as this guide is merely a compilation of information from various sources, and is by its very nature, incomplete. This guide is very much a "work in progress", and your input is necessary for it to ever be completed. Please forward your corrections, additions or suggestions to me to aid in the improvement of this guide.

There is a list of various books and maps that can flesh out the brief outline of this guide furnished at the back of the guide and I encourage the reader to spend some time in the various libraries and museums of Van Zandt county. I recommend that some time be spent in the Genealogy section of the library as the records there contain more than just dry statistics.

Please keep me informed of your work as this guide is designed to help you and can only be as effective as your feedback.

August 13, 1995
Bobby Pearce
1918 Reever
Arlington, TX 76010

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