Oldest Historical Marker in Travis County?

Sometimes historical markers themselves become historical. In 1935/1936 the State of Texas Legislature created a commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Texas independence from Mexico. Part of this consisted of placing granite and bronze markers around Texas. These Texas Centennial Markers are in a way themselves historical [1].

But what is the oldest historic marker in Travis County? That distinction likely goes to the marker about the scalping of Josiah Wilbarger (https://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=135942) [2]:

Josiah Pugh Wilbarger
In Memoriam

Marking the spot where
Josiah Pugh Wilbarger
of Austin's Colony was stabbed
and scalped by the Indians in 1832
while locating lands for the Colonies.

Born in Bourbon Co. Ky. Sept. 10, 1801
Died in Bastrop Co. Tex. April 11, 1845

A true Pioneer and Patriot.
We honor the spirit of sacrifice.
Reverenced and erected by his descendants.

While the Texas Historical Commission's site atlas has this marker listed as one of the 1936 Texas Centennial Markers, it doesn't look like the other markers, and evidence indicates it is older, and quite possibly the oldest in Travis County. Here's a story from The Austin American, 12 Aug 1966, p.40:

Wilbarger Marker 1st in Travis

Josiah Pugh Wilbarger's ghost is still strong. At least, feeling for the location of his marker, dedicated to the day he was scalped out near Pecan Springs, is still strong.

So it appeared a couple of weeks ago when the Austin City Council voted to let the marker remain where it is, on the old Manor Road, near its intersection with East 51st.

That was when the Travis County Historical Survey Committee requested that the marker be moved from its present obscure location over to the Mueller Municipal Airport building, where more people could see it and appreciate the fact that wild Indians used to roam where jet aircraft now zoom into the sky.

The committee's request was made to aviation director Vance E. Murphy, who took it to the council for decision.

Murphy wrote of the scalping incident when he outlined the history of Austin’s aviation in the May, 1965, issue of the city’s newsletter, “City Perspective.”

Mrs. Jessie McIlroy Smith, chairman of the survey committee, said the Wilbarger marker was set up in the late 1920s, and as such was probably the first historical marker in Travis County. Spur for the county survey committee’s concern is History Appreciation Month, July 24-Aug. 23.

The story of Wilbarger has been recounted in almost all historical summaries of Austin and vicinage, and a dramatic dream incident which led to the saving of Wilbarger's life, so that he could live another 12 years in Central Texas, was the basis for a ballet composed by Barbara Carson and performed by the Austin Ballet Society in 1964.

Wilbarger and four other men, members of Austin’s Colony, were scouting for colonial lands near Pecan Springs about four miles east of present-day Austin in August, 1832 when they were attacked by Indians. Two men, Thomas Christian and William Strother, were killed. Wilbarger was stabbed and scalped and left for dead under a cedar tree. And the other two men evaded historical immorality by escaping.

Mrs. Ruben Hornsby, a pioneer’s wife, had a dream in which she saw Wilbarger still alive. Her near-hysteria prompted her husband and some other men to go find Wilbarger and bring him back to the Hornsby home.

Wilbarger, who had been born in Bourbon County, Ky. in 1801, did not die until 1845, in Bastrop county ... [Wilbarger County] across the Red River from Oklahoma was named for him.

His family later erected the marker, on property recently acquired by the city of Austin for navigation easements in the glide zone near the airport.

Another article from the Austin American-Statesman, 12 Aug 1931, p.45 references the marker. In the article, simply titled "Historical Markers", the author wrote:

Not long ago the spot where a man named Wilbarger was scalped by Indian raiders was marked on the road between Austin and Manor by a monument. Each time I pass there I want to pause and read the Inscription. I call up in my mind a picture of Wilbarger's suf­fering—scalped, crawling half a mile for water, his life saved, and living 13 years without being able to wear a hat. A small item, and a romantic one.

So when exactly was the marker erected? This article gives us that answer: 1927. Austin American-Statesman, 20 Jul 1927, Wed, Page 12:

Granddaughter Erects Shaft Near Austin. Erected to the memory of Josiah Pugh Wilbarger, one of the founders of Austin's colony, who was scalped in 1832 by the Indians, a monument of Texas granite was Tuesday set up on a knoll by the side of the road at Pecan Springs, near the spot where be was found on the morn­ing after the raid. His grand­daughter, Mrs. Lipscome Norville of Beaumont, had the shaft erected in compliance with the dying re­quest of her mother, Mrs. James Harvey Wilbarger, whose death oc­curred last year ... Together with Judge Calhoun, Judge George Matthews, Judge R. L. Batts, Judge Hornsby and Mr. and Mrs. B. M Temple, Mrs. Norville directed the placing of the stone Tuesday morning. A similar monument marks his burial place at Wilbarger's Bend.

Erected in 1927, the marker is roughly a decade older than the 1936 Centennial markers! Notice also the end of the article: "A similar monument marks his burial place at Wilbarger's Bend". That marker is located in Bastrop County along FM 969: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=82611

While Wilbarger was initially buried in the Wilbarger Cemetery, Bastrop County, he was later reinterred to the Texas State Cemetery.

Another article the following month provides additional details on the marker: Austin American-Statesman, 14 Aug 1927, Sun, Page 46

"...The idea for the marker was given to L.W. Stolz, a stone-mason of La Grange, and the model was executed in the native granite of Texas ... The monument itself is six feet high, and is placed on a base four feet high .. This memorial was placed on land belonging at the present to Judge George Calhoun. It is on a small knoll which is, as nearly could be designated, about halfway between the spot where Wilbarger fell and the spot where he was found by the searching party. It [the marker] was set up on July 19, 1927..."

You may recognize the name Stolz? Otto Stolz and L.W. Stolz have been involved in a number of famous granite monuments: Monument Hill in La Grange; the WW II memorial on the Texas Capitol grounds [3].

 

1973 Pecan Springs School Marker; 1985 Wilbarger Marker Moved

In 1973 another marker was erected near the old Wilbarger marker at the original site of Pecan Springs School; that marker referenced the scalping of Wilbarger:

Site of Pecan Springs School

In community where scalping and dramatic rescue of Josiah Wilbarger occurred in 1833. By 1875 area had developed so much that a schoolhouse was built at this site. Original 30 x 40 – foot structure was set on 4.68 acres of land. A Mr. Goodnight was the first teacher; he had 85 pupils in one-room school.

Later, under county system, this became District Number 61. Its southern boundary was the Colorado River. By 1943 it had six teachers. It was annexed to Austin in 1951; closed in 1956.

Both the Wilbarger and Pecan Springs School markers are what I call "It happened here" markers: markers placed at the site of a historic event or location. While it had escaped being moved in 1966, the progress of development finally caught up with the old Wilbarger marker and in 1985 it was moved to its current location. From the Austin American-Statesman, 3 Oct 1985, p.55:

Marker moved

Possibly the best known historical marker in the area marks the story of Wilbarger, the man who was scalped and lived to tell about it.

Recently the historical marker was moved to a new home in Bartholomew Park near the intersection of Berkman Drive and 51st Street. This places it where more people can see it and also keeps it in the same area where the scalping and miraculous recovery occurred.

The Wilbarger incident is a fascinating part of local and Texas history which is now easier to find.

Lei Hawkins, John Herndon, and Austin Parks and Recreation Department staff member Donald Spence got the move accomplished.

 

Photos, Maps

The marker today sits inside Bartholomew Park all but hidden from view.

Matching marker at Wilbarger Bend referenced in 1927 article

1954 USGS map showing original location of marker and Pecan Springs School

1952 aerial photo showing original locations of marker, Pecan Springs School. Compare to USGS map.

Original marker location on today's roads. The marker was originally at the intersection of 51st and Manor Rd. That section of Manor Rd. is now Old Manor Rd, and 51st. has been re-routed. Correction: Image incorrectly calls it a 1936 marker; it is listed as such in the THC site atlas but likely dates to late 1920s.

Footnotes

[1] For more on the 1936 Texas Centennial Makers visit here https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/state-historical-markers/1936-texas-centennial-markers

[2] Josiah's brother John W. Wilbarger in his book Indians Depredations in Texas puts the date at 1833.

[3] Monumental Texas: The Stolz Name is Written in Stone. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPersonalities/Monumental-Texas-Stolz-Name-Written-In-Stone.htm