Menefee Reunion
Rio Vista, Johnson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Yearly gathering of heirs of colonists entering America 1623. Wm. L. Menefee, ancestor of this branch of the family, migrated to Texas 1830; signed Declaration of Independence 1836; was on the commission selecting Capital site at present-day Austin. He served 6 terms in Congress of Republic of Texas, one term in the State Legislature. His sons, H. F. and the Rev. W. O. Menefee, were early settlers in Johnson County. The family has produced many jurists, soldiers, political leaders, ministers. The reunion, started in 1890, has been held here since 1891.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This site marks the long-running reunion of the Menefee family, begun in 1890 and held here since 1891. Their Texas ancestor, William L. Menefee, arrived in 1830, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836, helped choose the site of the capital at Austin, and served six terms in the Congress of the Republic. The gathering honors a lineage the marker traces back to colonists reaching America in 1623.
Why it matters
It ties one family's founding role in the Republic of Texas to a durable tradition of remembrance, showing how early Texans wove personal heritage into the young state's identity.
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Related people
- · William L. Menefee
Related events
- · Texas Declaration of Independence
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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