First Fannin County Settlement
Elwood, Fannin County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(1 mile east of landing) Established April 1836 by five pioneers moving to Texas on the "Rover," one of few steamboats to pass around snags and bends of Red River to this area. The colonists -- from four states of the "Old South" -- were Richard Locke, Dr. Daniel Rowlett, Daniel Slack, Edward and John Stephens. They were soon joined by Jabez Fitzgerald and Mark Roberts and families, who traveled overland. Leader of settlers was Rowlett, planter and lawyer as well as doctor, instrumental in creation of Fannin County, 1837; he served Republic of Texas in army and in 2nd, 4th and 8th Congresses.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In April 1836, as Texas was fighting for independence from Mexico, five pioneers from the Old South stepped ashore near here after a rare steamboat passage up the snag-choked Red River aboard the "Rover." Led by the planter-lawyer-physician Dr. Daniel Rowlett, these families put down roots in the far northeast corner of the new republic. Rowlett went on to help create Fannin County in 1837 and served the Republic of Texas in both its army and its Congress.
Why it matters
This landing marks one of the first Anglo-American footholds in North Texas, part of the wave of Old South settlement that filled out the young Republic and shaped the state that followed.
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Related people
- · Daniel Rowlett
- · Richard Locke
- · Daniel Slack
- · Edward Stephens
- · John Stephens
Related events
- · Founding of Fannin County
Themes & tags
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