History

Matagorda County History & Genealogy page Above left is the Matagorda United Methodist Church, which was founded in 1839.

Matagorda County History & Genealogy page Above left is the Matagorda United Methodist Church, which was founded in 1839.

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"Matagorda Methodist Church history goes back to 1820s" By Louise Walker Ryman & Geraldyne Ryman Havard

News Staff
Thursday, October 13, 2022
The Matagorda United Methodist Church lays claim to a history beginning in the late 1820s and 1830s. Henry Stevenson of the Mississippi Conference preached in Texas in those early years, “… along the whole Western boundary of the settlements, and all the way to the Colorado River.”
Allenhurst Cemetery has been designated at a Historic Texas Cemetery by the Texas Historical Commission

Allenhurst Cemetery has been designated at a Historic Texas Cemetery by the Texas Historical Commission

Allenhurst Cemetery an African-American cemetery near Van Vleck

News Staff
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Allenhurst Cemetery is an African-American cemetery located on Allenhurst Road  (CR 142) in Matagorda County, Texas.    From the intersection of HWY 35 and FM 457 in Bay City, travel 3.9 miles on FM 457 to Allenhurst Road.     Turn left (North), proceed 3.1 miles and the cemetery is on the right.

"Allenhurst was 1st new townsite east of Bay City" By Mary B. Ingram

News Staff
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
In 1905 Allenhurst was the first new townsite east of Bay City on the newly-completed St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway (SLB&M).      The townsite was named after Allentown, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Jeff N. Miller, vice-president and general manager of the Brownsville Railway.
Photo courtesy of Matagorda County Museum Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, also known as Mt. Zion Baptist Church No. 1, was located in the Allenhurst Cemetery.

Photo courtesy of Matagorda County Museum Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, also known as Mt. Zion Baptist Church No. 1, was located in the Allenhurst Cemetery.

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Mt. Zion Missionary

News Staff
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church (Thomas M. Duke League) Compiled by Vera Rugeley King    Information for the now defunct, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church located in the Allenhurst Community was provided by Mrs. Vera King in 1992.

Four cemeteries part of Blessing history

News Staff
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Hawley Cemetery     Hawley Cemetery, first known as Deming’s Bridge Cemetery, was established in 1854. It is located on Tres Palacios River, two miles east of Blessing, in the Thomas Jamison League of Matagorda County, Texas.
Texas Historical Marker for Fisher at Matagorda Cemetery.

Texas Historical Marker for Fisher at Matagorda Cemetery.

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Samuel Rhoads Fisher helped create 1st Texas Navy

News Staff
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Samuel Rhoads Fisher, born December 31, 1794, in Pennsylvania came to Matagorda County with Stephen F. Austin's third colony in 1830.

Kate Ward river’s first steamboat

News Staff
Thursday, September 8, 2022
The Kate Ward was the first steamboat to operate on the Colorado River.      In June 1844 the La Grange Intelligencer announced that a local merchant, Samuel Ward, was to build a steamboat for use on the Colorado.
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