Clemville
Markham vicinity, Matagorda County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Originally part of land granted to early colonist Henry Parker, this was a rural farming and ranching area until 1908 when F. J. Hardy discovered oil and formed the Hardy Oil Company. By 1911, F. J. Clemenger had settled in the community, then known as Hardy. After Clemenger purchased Hardy's holdings and further developed oil fields in the area, the community was renamed Clemville in his honor and a post office was established in 1911. Clemville became an oil boomtown, with schools, a church, residences, hotels, a general store and machinist shops. As the economy slowed in the 1930s, Clemville's population began to dwindle. By the end of the 20th century, little physical evidence remained of the once booming oil town. (2001)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Once part of a grant to early colonist Henry Parker, this quiet farming and ranching land changed overnight in 1908 when F. J. Hardy struck oil and formed the Hardy Oil Company. After F. J. Clemenger bought out Hardy and expanded the fields, the community was renamed Clemville in his honor and got a post office in 1911, blossoming into a boomtown of schools, hotels, stores, and machine shops. As the economy slowed in the 1930s the population dwindled, and by century's end little remained of the once-thriving town.
Why it matters
Clemville is a classic Texas oil boomtown, tracing the arc from sudden gusher-fueled prosperity to near-vanished ghost town that defined much of the state's early petroleum era.
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Related people
- · F. J. Hardy
- · F. J. Clemenger
- · Henry Parker
Themes & tags
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