Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
American Indian Horse Museum | Caldwell County | Caldwell County Courthouse | Caldwell County Jail | Caldwell County Museum and Visitor's Center | Central Texas Oil Patch Museum | Isham Jones Good | William Johnson Cabin | Battle of Plum Creek
American Indian Horse Museum
Museum Name: American Indian Horse Museum
Mailing Address: Rt. 3 Box 64
City: Lockhart
Zip Code: 78644
Street Address: FM 20, 7 1/2 Mi W
Area Code: 512
Phone: 398-6642
County: Caldwell
Bethel Primitive Baptist Church
Marker Title: Bethel Primitive Baptist Church
City: McMahan
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1986
Marker Location: from McMahan take FM 713 W .5 mi. (adjacent
to Jeffrey Cemetery).
Marker Text: This congregation was organized June 19, 1852, in
the home of John Fleming near this site. Elders George Daniels and Reuben
W. Ellis from the Plum Creek Primitive Baptist Church were called to
serve as pastors by the charter members: James Jeffrey, Mary Ann Jeffrey,
John M. fleming, Abigail fleming, Richard Cole, Sarah Cole, John B.
Jeffrey, Elinder Jeffrey, robert McFeron, and Sarah McFeron. A church
building was erected at this site in 1901. Bethel Primitive Baptist
Church continues to minister to McMahan and the surrounding area s it
has since 1852. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986
Caldwell County
Marker Title: Caldwell County
City: Lockhart
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: SW corner of Courthouse Square
Marker Text: A part of De Witt's Colony, 1825-1836. A part of
Gonzales County to 1848. First settlements were on Plum Creek and the
San Marcos River. Created March 6, 1848; organized August 7, 1848. Named
in honor of Mathew Caldwell, "Old Paint," 1798-1842, soldier-statesman.
Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Commander of the Texas
Rangers. Lockhart, the county seat.
Caldwell County Courthouse
Marker Title: Caldwell County Courthouse
Address: Courthouse Square
City: Lockhart
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1976
Marker Text: The first Caldwell County Courthouse was erected
on this site in 1848, when the county was organized and named for Mathew
Caldwell, a Texas Ranger and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
It was replaced in 1858 by a 2-story limestone edifice, measuring 65
feet by 40 feet, with six offices and two rooms for storing records.
By 1893, that building had become too small for a growing county. In
April 1893, Judge George W. Kyser and commissioners J. H. Jolley, G.
A. McGee, C. R. Smith, and R. A. Tiller approved plans for the present
courthouse. The cornerstone was laid by Lockhart Lodge No. 690, A. F.
& A. M., on August 15, 1893. Contractors Martin, Byrne, and Johnston
completed the building on March 19, 1894. The 3-story structure is built
of sandstone with red sandstone trim. It displays the fine workmanship
and elaborate detail common to architecture of the period. the mansard
roof is characteristic of the second empire style that was often used
for public buildings. The courthouse is topped by a central clock tower,
with additional towers at each corner and flanking the north and south
entrances. When it was built, the structure was equipped with the latest
conveniences of the day, including electricity.
Caldwell County Jail
Marker Title: Caldwell County Jail
Address: Brazos and Market St.
City: Lockhart
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1977
Marker Text: Organized in 1848, Caldwell County lost its original
log jail in an 1858 fire, then kept prisoners in the Courthouse basement
until 1873, when outlaws' activities called for a strong stone prison.
In 1908 Caldwell countains voted 725 to 311 for a $25,000.00 bond issue
to erect this castellated brick structure. The jailer's quarters occupy
the ground floor, over a storage area in the basement. The upper floors
contain fifteen cells of concrete and steel, with one cell rising from
the center of the building. Gallows are said to have been removed from
this jail in the 1930s. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1977
Caldwell County Museum and Visitor's Center
Museum Name: Caldwell County Museum and Visitor's Center
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 297
City: Lockhart
Zip Code: 78644
Street Address: 315 East Market Street
Area Code: 512
Phone: 376-2833
County: Caldwell
Central Texas Oil Patch Museum
Museum Name: Central Texas Oil Patch Museum
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1002
City: Luling
Zip Code: 78648
Street Address: 421 E. Davis
Area Code: 830
Phone: 875-3214
County: Caldwell
Isham Jones Good
Marker Title: Isham Jones Good
City: Lockhart
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1985
Marker Location: 5.45 mi. east of US 183 on FM 20 ROW
Marker Text: Born in Georgia, Isham Jones Good (1813-1866) came
to Texas in 1835 with a group of volunteers to join the Texian forces
in their war for independence from Mexico. As a member of the Georgia
battalion, Good went to the aid of Col. James W. Fannin, but escaped
death or capture in the Goliad Massacre in March 1836. After an honorable
discharge from military service in May 1836, Good married Melissa Trantham
(1811-1870) in Alabama. By February 1838, he had returned to Texas and
settled near this site in what was then Gonzales County. As a participant
in the 1840 Indian battle of Plum Creek, Isham Good helped open the
area to further settlement. He served as first postmaster when the Plum
Creek postal station was established. A civic leader, entrepreneur,
and land speculator, Good was instrumental in the formation of Caldwell
County in 1848 and served as its first sheriff. During the 1850s, Good
sold most of his landholdings and moved his family to Bear Creek in
Hays County, where he raised cattle until his death. An important local
leader during Texas' formative years, Isham Jones Good is buried on
his ranch in Hays County.
William Johnson Cabin
Marker Title: William Johnson Cabin
City: Luling
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1973
Marker Location: Corner of US 183 and Austin St. (Blanche Square)
Marker Text: The Rev. William Johnson (1822-89), farmer and Baptist
minister who came to Texas in 1833, built this shotgun-style cabin near
Tenney Creek (11 mi. NE of Luling) in 1870s. Family included five children.
His son, W. E. (Billie) became a physician in Tilmon. Since 1893 the
Jeff Connolly family has owned Johnson's land. T. B. Coopwood, M. D.,
used cabin as office in late 1890s. Mr. and Mrs. Jett Connolly donated
structure in 1972 to be relocated here. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
- 1973 Incise in base: Restored by Luling Garden Club, 1972
Battle of Plum Creek
Marker Title: Battle of Plum Creek
City: Lockhart
County: Caldwell
Year Marker Erected: 1978
Marker Location: Near intersection of US 183 and SH 142 in Lions
Park
Marker Text: The harsh anti-Indian policies of President Mirabeau
B. Lamar and Mexican efforts to weaken the Republic of Texas stirred
Indian hostilities. Hatred increased after the Council House Fight in
San Antonio, March 19, 1840, where 12 Comanche chief were killed. After
regrouping and making plans for revenge, 600 Comanches and Kiowas, including
women and children, moved across central Texas in early August. They
raided Victoria and Linnville (120 mi. SE), a prosperous seaport. About
200 Texans met at Good's Crossing on Plum Creek under Major-General
Felix Huston (1800-1857) to stop the Indians. Adorned with their plunder
from Linnville, the war party stretched for miles across the prairie.
The Battle of Plum Creek, August 12, 1840, began on Comanche Flats (5.5
mi. SE) and proceeded to Kelley springs (2.5 mi. SW), with skirmishes
as far as present San Marcos and Kyle. Mathew Caldwell (1798-1842),
for whom Caldwell County was named, was injured in the Council House
fight but took part in this battle. Volunteers under Edward Burleson
(1793-1851) included 13 Tonkawa Indians, marked as Texan allies by white
armbands. Texan casualties were light while the Indians lost over 80
chiefs and warriors. This battle ended the Comanche penetration of settled
portions of Texas. More of the story
