J. H. and Abbie Barbee House
San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Marker Inscription
J.H. AND ABBIE BARBEE HOUSE John Howard Barbee was born in Stringtown, a stretch of farms outside San Marcos, in 1854. Barbee was a businessman, rancher, builder, developer and was a founder in the Farmers Union Gin Co. His wife, Abbie, was an accomplished singer. In 1906, Barbee moved to San Marcos and built this house for his wife. It later passed through many families who had an impact on commerce and educational institutions in San Marcos. The house is of the 20th century classical revival style with Doric columns and a prominent pediment with dentil courses. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK – 2014
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John Howard Barbee, born outside San Marcos in 1854, was a rancher, builder, and developer who helped found the Farmers Union Gin Company. In 1906 he moved into town and built this Classical Revival house — with Doric columns, a prominent pediment, and dentil trim — for his wife Abbie, an accomplished singer. Over the following decades the home passed through families tied to the commerce and schools of San Marcos.
Why it matters
The house reflects the confidence of small-town Texas entrepreneurs whose cotton-gin fortunes built the genteel neighborhoods of the early twentieth century.
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Related people
- · John Howard Barbee
Themes & tags
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