John Cole Homestead
Mauriceville, Orange County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Pioneer settler John Cole (1805-75) migrated to Texas in 1828. An active resident of the Cow Bayou community, he served in the militia during the 1836 Texas War for Independence. Moving to this area, he built a log cabin on public land (5 mi. W). In 1848 he received a land grant for his homestead (.5 mi. N). Cole was a successful cattleman in northern Orange and southern Jasper counties. The community that developed around his land from 1830 to 1902 was known as the Cole settlement. He is buried in the family cemetery on his original homestead.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John Cole came to Texas in 1828 and served in the militia during the 1836 war for independence before settling this corner of the southeast Texas piney woods. He built a log cabin on public land, earned a land grant for his homestead in 1848, and prospered as a cattleman across northern Orange and southern Jasper counties. The community that grew up around him was long known simply as the Cole settlement.
Why it matters
Cole's homestead marks the ordinary frontier settler behind the Republic of Texas—the militiaman turned cattleman whose land grant seeded a whole rural community.
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Related people
- · John Cole
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
William Williamson
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