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Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Texas Lakes Trail Region

Map of Hood County Historic Sites
Markers (click on a topic to jump to that section.)
Acton Cemetery |Aston-Landers Building | Bull Stone House, John W. | Comanche Peak | Granbury, General H.B. | Hood County Courthouse | Hood County Jailhouse | Hood, County Named for Famous Confederate General John Bell | Martin Cemetery | so-called "Squaw Creek" Indian Fight
Uncommemorated and Unmapped Sites
Boyd, Pleasant | Holt, Nathan | Wallace Drive, Big Foot
Uncommemorated Active Battle Map (Stories below are on map.)
G.B. Rozel | Indian Raid in Hood County | Indians Wound E.B. Dennis | Green, Jeremiah
Acton Cemetery

Marker Title: Acton Cemetery
City: Acton
Year Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Location: Highway 167, Acton (about .5 miles south of North intersection of FM 167 and FM 4, Acton).
Marker Text: Location of Acton historic site, smallest state park in Texas. Includes the grave of Mrs. Elizabeth P. Crockett (1788-1860), widow of the Alamo hero David Crockett, and two of his children. In 1911 a monument and statue were erected to her memory. Acton (formerly Comanche Peak Post Office) was named in 1855 by C.P. Hollis, first merchant in town. In spite of early name, Acton had few Comanche raids. After erecting a building for church and school, area pioneers selected this plot as cemetery. First person buried here was Mrs. Wash Hutcheson, in 1855. (1968)

Aston-Landers Building

Marker Title: Aston-Landers Building
Address: 113 Bridge St.
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1974
Marker Text: Erected 1893 as a saloon by Andy Aston and George Landers; of native stone, with patented iron front. Here occurred a 1901 duel that badly injured a non-participating horseman on the square. Crusader Carrie nation visited Granbury in 1905, and in 1906 voters outlawed liquor. Afterward Aston had his Buggy and Harness shop in the building, employing fine leather craftsmen Charlie Maxwell and Wilkes McCuen. Later the building housed shops of many kinds.

John W. Bull Stone House

Marker Title: John W. Bull Stone House
City: Granbury vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: from Granbury, take FM 51 south about 14.5 miles to FM 205 west and turn southwest immediately onto CR. Follow CR about 2.7 miles southwest then take gravel road south about 1/10 miles.
Marker Text: One of earliest masonry homes in area; built in view of indian caucus site, Comanche Peak. John W. Bull (1818-98), born in Tennessee, came to Texas in 1853; preempted land here, 1861; in Jan. 1865 participated in the famed Dove Creek Indian Battle. After land grant was approved (1871), Bull hired crew under Mason Pat Gannon to build this house of stone quarried from Nearby Hill. Chiseled in chimney is the date "March 17, 1872".

Comanche Peak

Marker Title: Comanche Peak
City: Granbury vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 1969
Marker Location: from Granbury, take SH 144 about 3 miles south.
Marker Text: Prominent Indian and pioneer landmark. Actually a Mesa, the peak rises 1,229 feet (above sea level). May have had ceremonial value for local tribes or have been a look-out point for game and enemies. A Comanche trail crossed county in this vicinity. In 1846 whites and indians en route to the so-called "peak" for a meeting almost failed to find it because of its flat top. Later settlers held dances here and students from Add-Ran College (about 10 miles north) had picnics at the peak. Boys also hunted wolves and rattlesnakes among caves and rocks on the top. More

General H.B. Granbury

Marker Title: General H.B. Granbury
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1963
Marker Location: 100th block of Pearl St., Granbury Courthouse lawn.
Marker Text: A Mississippian came to Texas early 1850's. Lawyer in Waco, recruited Waco guards, confederate Army, 1861. Elected major 7th Texas infantry. Beat back federals some miles, Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 1862. Captured there, exchanged Aug. colonel in Vicksburg campaign to prevent split of confederacy along Mississippi River. Took 306 men into battle, lost 158. Chickamauga, Sept. 1863 severely wounded. Had brigade command missionary ridge. Promoted brigadier general 1864. Led Granbury's Texas Brigade into Tennessee with hood. Was one of 6 confederate generals killed at Franklin, Tenn. buried in Granbury Cemetery. (Back of Gen. H.B. Granbury) Formed in Autumn 1863 from remnant of Deshler's Brigade. Texas units included 6th, 7th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th infantry, with 3rd, 5th confederate regiments of Memphis. Nov. 1863 battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Granbury's men repulsed Sherman's attacks repeatedly C.S.A. Congress thanked unit for valor at Ringgold Gap at Kensaw Mountain this and fellow Brigade counted 700 enemy casualties at their front after one charge. In Bayonet Combat, yells in the dark from Granbury's men were sufficient to rout federals. Before troops of equal number in open field the unit was unconquerable. Fought intrenched Army, Franklin, Tenn. Battle. Flags flying, drums rolling, but with no cover Granbury's men ran Forth on the double. Courage inspired by the leader named it forever: Granbury's Brigade.

If you have the time for this longer trip, from Granbury, continue past Comanche Peak to Glen Rose on Hwy. 144. Take I-35 to visit Parker's Fort near Mexia and the Texas Ranger Museum.

Hood County Courthouse

Marker Title: Hood County Courthouse
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Location: 100th block of Pearl St., Granbury Courthouse lawn.
Marker Text: Fifth courthouse on this site. Erected 1890-1891, this handsome building is a Texas version of the french second empire style. First courthouse (1867) was a 1-room log cabin housing county records, lawyers and land agents' offices, and mail station. It was succeeded by 3 stone structures. Contractors Moodie and Ellis and Architect W.C. Dodson built this native stone edifice. The clock tower, added after completion, was reinforced with steel in 1969.

Hood County Jailhouse

Marker Title: Hood County Jailhouse
Address: 208 N. Crockett
City: Granbury
Year Marker Erected: 1970
Marker Text: Second county jail. Celebrated in early local Ballad. Built to succeed 1873 log jail at time when lawlessness was rampant. Main building is late victorian in style. Separate stone kitchen was added upon completion. The tall front section was to have a gallows, but no hanging have occurred here. Jail admits some 55 prisoners yearly. "Uncle" Andy Walters, a local character, once locked sheriff in this jail, but left key with judge on way home.

County Named for Famous Confederate General John Bell Hood

Marker Title: County Named for Famous Confederate General John Bell Hood
City: Granbury
Marker Location: 100 block of Pearl Street, Granbury courthouse lawn.
Marker Text: Born Kentucky. West Point graduate. Army service on Texas frontier led Hood to adopt the Lone Star State. Resigned U.S. Army 1861 to serve South. Commanded 4th Texas Infantry. Led "Hood's Texas," most renowned Confederate Brigade. Rose rapidly to Lieutenant General. Known as "The Fighting General" for leadership in the Army of Northern Virginia. Although lost leg Battle Chickamauga, became commander Army of Tennessee. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy Erected by the State of Texas 1963.

Martin Cemetery

Marker Title: Martin Cemetery
City: Lipan vicinity
Year Marker Erected: 2001
Marker Location: 5 miles east of Lipan on FM 4 to Diamond A Ranch, then 2 miles down main ranch road through two gates.
Marker Text: A reminder of pioneer life in Hood County, the Martin Cemetery may have had its origins as early as 1859 when Nathan Holt was buried on the property after being killed during an Indian attack. The graveyard is named for the family of William Harvey Martin, who came to Texas from Illinois in 1855 and obtained the land on which the cemetery rests in 1876. The oldest tombstone--dated June 17, 1868--is that of Spencer Marion Self, infant son of David and Frances Self, while a reproduced stone marks an even earlier burial, that of Elizabeth Fortner Holt, from about 1860. Grave markers of granite, concrete and hand-carved stone reflect the lives of those buried here and stand as testament to the area pioneers. (2001)

so-called "Squaw Creek" Indian Fight

Marker Title: so-called "Squaw Creek" Indian Fight
City: Glen Rose
Year Marker Erected: 1965
Marker Location: FM 144 N of Glen Rose about 2 miles.
Marker Text: Civil War frontier victory, near this site. About 25 raiding Indians jumped a fox hunter, Rigman Bryant, killed him, shot his dog, stole his horse. That afternoon the Indians and stolen horses were seen by a minister, Silas Scarborough, W. C. Walters and an African bringing home a turn of meal from the gristmill. Scarborough and Walters headed into a cedar brake. The Indians urged the African to join them, shot him full of arrows when he refused. In a few hours the Cavalry attacked the Indians, recovered the horses, killed one Indian, chased the others away. One settler was shot. In a week the wounded African died. Many of the 1848-1861 settlers on the Paluxy and so-called "Squaw Creek" were away in the Confederate army. Very young boys and elderly men joined defense forces. Some drew military duty for 10 days, were off 10 days to look after mills, cattle, horses and farms. For safety, women dressed as men while their sons, husbands and fathers were away. At times 50 to 100 tents were used in hasty "forting up" of families. During the war, Alex McCammant established county's first tannery, using cedar leaves in processing hides. For cloth making, county's first cotton was grown.

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