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History in
a Pecan Shell
James Quincy Yarborough
established the community in the late 1870s. Yarborough had built
a steam-powered gristmill and cotton gin which resulted in a community
forming here.
In the mid 1880s, the railroad had arrived and Yarborough became a
shipping point for area farmers. A post office was granted around
that time. The population at that time was a mere thirty people.
The early 1890s brought German Lutheran immigrants to bolster the
75 people who were living there at that time. By 1893 they had erected
a building that served as school, meetinghouse and church. When the
community peaked, there were three stores, two schools and a depot
with a telegraph office.
The town declined over the years until the 1950 census could count
just twenty people. The businesses had all closed although the post
office remained open until 1953.
The town has since been dropped from maps. |
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A note on the
name and the various spellings from John
Germann:
"As for Yarboro(ugh): In the mid-1890s the postal authorities decided
that the naming system needed standardization. They decided "Center"
was acceptable but "Centre" was not; similarly apostrophes should
be dropped, the "h" should be dropped from names like Edinburg, and
in the case of "boroughs" like Yarborough, the "ugh" should be banished.
Thus Yarboro. Some postmasters complied right away, some waited until
they ordered new cancelling devices, some resisted, some made the
change then reverted, etc." |
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1882 map showing
Yarborough
in SE Grimes County
From Texas state map #2134
Texas
General Land Office
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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