|
| Three historical
markers (on Hwy 6 in Arcola) on Duke
Community and pioneer settlers: |
Historical
Marker (in Arcola, Hwy 6, E of Post
Oak Blvd.)
Duke Community
In 1824, Old
Three-Hundred settlers David Fitzgerald, Thomas Barnett and Moses
Shipman received land grants in this area. Fitzgerald fought at Anahuac
in 1832; Barnett signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. This
location on the northeastern high bluff of Clear Lake, an ample supply
of water for steam engines, led to the construction of railroads here
by the mid-1800s.
Duke was terminus of the Sugar Land Railway for loading sugarcane.
The area developed as a major shipping point with a store, hotel,
livestock pen, and sugar mills. It was named for Duke Hessey, the
storekeeper. Duke had a post office from 1883 to 1922; the first Postmaster
was J.R. Fenn. Today, Duke Cemetery is the only remnant of this once-thriving
community.
(2008) |
Historical
Marker (in Arcola, Hwy 6, E of Post
Oak Blvd.)
The Fitzgerald
and Fenn Families
David Fitzgerald,
a veteran of the American Revolution and the War of 1812, came to
Texas from Georgia in 1821.His son-in-law, Eli Fenn, followed in 1832.
Fenn served during the Texas Revolution and signed the 1837 petition
for the creation of Fort
Bend County. An expert in natural remedies, his wife Sarah aided
sick residents. One of their sons, John R. Fenn, was a war veteran,
Duke's first Postmaster and a businessman. His wife, Rebecca (Williams),
was a charter member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. F.M.O.
Fenn, John and Rebecca's eldest child, served as County Attorney and
later as Justice of the Peace. In 1893, the Sons of the Republic of
Texas organized in his office in Richmond.
Sarah, John R. and Rebecca Fenn are buried in the Duke Cemetery.
(2008) |
Historical
Marker (in Arcola, Hwy 6, E of Post
Oak Blvd.)
Daniel Perry
Daniel Perry,
an early area settler, was born in 1791 in Mississippi. He came to
Texas in 1832 with his wife Eliza Whitehead and two sons. He was widowed
and in 1833 married Louisa Ann Morton. They had four children and
lived on her inherited land on the David Fitzgerald League. Perry
joined the Texas Army as a captain and recruiter. He fought at the
Battle of San
Jacinto and then served in the Republic of Texas Navy. In 1837,
Perry signed the petition for the creation of Fort
Bend County. After being widowed again, he married Jane Hamblen
in 1851. He was a rancher, farmer and administrator of several estates.
His cattle brand was 7P. Perry died in 1869 and was buried in the
Duke Cemetery beside Louisa Ann and two of their children.
(2008) |
 |
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history
and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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