"Markham United Methodist Church organized in 1904" By Marianne Hayes

The Markham United Methodist Church was organized March 13, 1904, and services were held in a community church situated on the site of the present Markham Baptist Church.     This building was constructed between 1902 and 1903 and has recently been replaced by a new structure.

"Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church began in 1866" Compiled by Mary Belle Ingram & Shiloh Church Historians Alex Sidney III, Willie Sidney, Dennis Griggs and Chester Kemp

The year 1865 was very significant in the history of the early Black settlers of the present day Cedar Lane Community.     Their prayers had been answered, they now were free.     Overnight, they were transformed from slaves to free community members.

"Preston a trading center on Caney in years of Republic" By Mary Belle Ingram

Preston was established in 1838 in the northeastern part of Matagorda County at the head of Bay Prairie.     It was on the road from Matagorda to Columbus and San Felipe and was within four-and-a-half miles of the Colorado River and two-and-a-half miles of Caney Creek.'

"Manhattan University proposed at mouth of Caney Creek in 1830s" By Mary Belle Ingram

The town of Manhattan was situated at the mouth of Caney Creek on the Benjamin Wightman and Margaret Wightman Leagues.      The town was in existence before 1838 as in that year several of the settlers along Caney Creek met to formulate plans to deepen the channel at the mouth of Caney.

Matagorda doctor served in both Texas army, navy

Albert Moses (Moses A.) Levy, physician, was born to Abraham and Rachel Cornelia (Bernard) Levy in 1800, probably in Amsterdam, Netherlands.     The Levy family moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1818.     His brothers and sisters were: Isaac, Jacob, Lewis, Esther, Mary, Julia and Rebecca.

William Selkirk was the Austin colony surveyor

William Selkirk, one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists, one of at least two sons of James and Elizabeth (Henry) Selkirk, of Selkirk, New York, was born on July 24, 1792.     His father was a Scottish immigrant.

"Karankawa descendants are reviving" By John Novcal Lomax Texas Highways

With cane ornaments piercing their noses and nipples, Karankawa warriors were the stuff of nightmares. Reports of their savagery date to the accounts of French and Spanish explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries.

"Sanford center reopening marks 8 years of renovations" by: Mike Reddell

Sanford Community Center marked its grand reopening after an eight year renovation of the historic Palacios Colored School Building at a ceremony Saturday, June 18.

"Abel ‘Shanghai’ Pierce a Texas pioneer cattleman" By John Runnells

Abel Head “Shanghai” Pierce was born in Little Compton, Rhode Island, on June 29, 1834.        He was Johnathan and Hannah Pierce’s third son and their sixth child.

Thomas Marshall Duke active in early Texas, Matagorda

Thomas Marshall Duke, the first constitutional alcalde of Austin’s colony and one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred colonists, the son of Dr. Basil and Charlotte (Marshall) Duke, was born at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1795.     His mother was a niece of Chief Justice John Marshall.