Atkins House
Jefferson, Marion County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Late Greek revival style house. Probably built in 1860 by T. O. Alley (1836-1860), son of Daniel N. Alley, co-founder of Jefferson. Over the years other notable owners have been james M. Tucker (d. ;1891), steamboatman and captain in 16th Texas Dismounted Cavalry, Confedereate Army; and W. R. Camp, an attorney. Longest ownership (1892-1923) was by W. T. Atkins (1842-1930), official of Jefferson Iron Co. House was acquired in 1961 by Mrs. Nettie Mae Lemmon. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1972
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This late Greek Revival house was probably built in 1860 by T. O. Alley, son of Jefferson co-founder Daniel N. Alley. Later owners included steamboat captain James M. Tucker, who served in the 16th Texas Dismounted Cavalry of the Confederate Army, and W. T. Atkins, an official of the Jefferson Iron Company who held the home the longest, from 1892 to 1923. Its succession of owners mirrors the rise and fall of a busy riverport town.
Why it matters
The house links the founding, steamboat commerce, Civil War service, and industry of Jefferson in a single roofline, embodying the arc of a 19th-century East Texas boomtown.
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Related people
- · T. O. Alley
- · James M. Tucker
- · W. T. Atkins
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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During the Civil War, the prosperous river port of Jefferson became a vital engine of the Confederate war effort in East Texas. A major quartermaster depot established here in 1862 supplied clothing and camp equipment, a Cotton Bureau station bought up the cotton that funded the cause, and county iron works cast plows, kettles, and cannon balls. Cattle and sheep were driven here for slaughter and shipment, and a boot factory helped outfit the army, while troops leaving Texas embarked from the town.
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