Eastland
Inscription
County seat, Eastland County. Named for William M. Eastland--Texas War for Independence hero who was in Mier Expedition against Mexico, and was executed in "Black Bean" lottery at Rancho Salado in 1842. Most noted early local people were Comanches, who resisted occupation of area by white settlers.
The last recorded Indian raid in county was in 1874. Eastland was named county seat in an election on Aug. 2, 1875. With 250 people it was incorporated on June 6, 1891, and W.Q. Connellee was elected as mayor. After a discovery in 1917, one of the fabled oil booms of Texas occurred nearby, with Eastland center for legal matters.
With oil priced $2.60 a barrel, many wells flowed at 10,000 barrels a day. The city quickly grew to 25,000 people; 5 banks prospered. Coming here to seek "black gold" were celebrities, including evangelist Billy Sunday, circus owner John Ringling, sports figures Jess Willard, Tex Rickard. An international wonder-story happened here: the old courthouse cornerstone was opened (on this site) in 1928 to reveal survival of "Old Rip", a horned toad placed there with other mementoes on July 19, 1897.
Continuing oil production, agricultural processing and clay products bolster the present economy. (1968)
Location
Sources
More markers in Eastland
Camp Salmon, C.S.A.
Eastland, TX
Guarding the frontier during the Civil War, this camp was located 17 mi. west, 6 mi. north.
Early Settlers of Eastland County
Eastland, TX
First known Eastland area inhabitant was Frank Sanchez (d. 1867), who grazed herds here in the 1850s.
Ellison Family Graveyard
Gorman vicinity, TX
The first settler in this part of Eastland County, James Madison Ellison (1840-1923) built a cabin near Ellison Springs in 1858.
Ellison Springs
Gorman vicinity, TX
Used for centuries by Indians inhabiting the region.
Rising Star
Rising Star, TX
First settlers--families of Andrew Agnew, Isaac Agnew, Fletcher Fields, David McKinley, Allis Smith and W. W. Smith--arrived in a wagon...