"Hilliard High School construction culminated years of work" By Blanche M. Franklin Johnson

   In this narrative history of Booker T. Washington-Hilliard High School, students and citizens are referred to as Colored, Negroes, Blacks and African-Americans, all denoting one race of people.  The early 20th century is sometimes phrased as the second great era of reform in America.

"Confederate Defenses at the Mouth of Caney Creek" By John G. Forister and Hershel R. Horton

   The event to be described by this historical marker is the Confederate defense of the Texas coast which occurred at the mouth of Caney Creek.  The specific actions at the mouth of Caney Creek occurred in January and February of 1864.

Caney Creek once widely traveled waterway

   Caney Creek, originally named Canebrake Creek after the dense cane growth that banked its sides until white settlement of the area, rises one mile south of Matthews in Colorado County, within the maze of irrigation canals, dead-water sloughs, and old stream channels of the flat prairie near the...

Haller once represented county in legislature

    Nathan H. Haller, who represented Brazoria and Matagorda counties in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth legislatures, was born in slavery in Charleston, South Carolina, on July 8, 1845. His owner took him to Walker County, Texas, probably before 1860.

Cook early colonist, postmaster on Cook’s Island

   James Cook, a partner with William B. DeWees as one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred families, was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1797 and was probably in Texas by 1820.   On August 3, 1824, he and DeWees received title to a sitio of land now in Colorado County.

Step Into History: Luther Hotel restoration and Smithsonian exhibit highlight Palacios

   Significant restoration efforts are just beginning at our historic Luther Hotel, located in the heart of Palacios, Texas.

CJ Wildman worked to develop early Palacios

   EDITOR’S NOTE: C.J. Wildman arrived in Palacios in 1904 as the then-townsite’s resident manager. He was revered in his time and in his passing at the age of 38.   The following is the obituary that ran in the Palacios Beacon in 1917. The obituary tells much about Wildman’s contributions.

San Jacinto veteran returned home to serve Matagorda County

   Daniel D. D. Baker (1806–1843), San Jacinto soldier and Texas legislator, was born in Massachusetts in 1806 and moved to Texas in February 1831.   In May 1831 he was granted a quarter league in Stephen F. Austin’s second colony in what is now Wharton County.

Jamison served as postmaster at Caney, Sugar Land

   Thomas Jamison, one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundredcolonists, was probably born in Tennessee in 1792 or 1796.   He was in Texas as early as August 16, 1823, when he voted in the election that made James Cummins alcalde.

Holt’s extensive acreage sold for $11.11

   Samuel Hoit, early colonist, was born in Chester, New Hampshire, on February 10, 1781, the son of Zabez and Abigail (Hasseltine) Hoit.   Before moving to Texas in 1830, he was a justice of the peace and postmaster in Port Gibson, Mississippi.