HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

James Jordan (Jardine) Log House

Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Born in Ireland about 1790, James Jordan (also spelled "Jardine") came to Texas in 1826 as part of Jose Vehlein's colony. He built this cabin about 1830 on land obtained from the Mexican government in present Walker County. The hand-hewn pine logs were joined by half dovetail notching, and the chimney was fashioned of mud and sticks. In 1976 Mr. and Mrs. B. Carroll Tharp moved the house to this site and restored it. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1977

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Born in Ireland around 1790, James Jordan came to Texas in 1826 as part of José Vehlein's colony and built this cabin about 1830 on land granted by the Mexican government. Its hand-hewn pine logs were joined with half-dovetail notching and its chimney fashioned of mud and sticks; the Tharp family moved and restored the house in 1976.

Why it matters

Jordan's cabin survives from the empresario era before Texas independence, when Mexican land grants drew Irish and other immigrant settlers to colonize the region.

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Related people

  • · James Jordan
  • · José Vehlein

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionImmigrationFrontier HistoryHome

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