Morton-McCloy House
Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas
Marker Inscription
"Old 300" settlers William Morton and his family operated Morton's Ferry here in the 1820s. Hand-hewn braced-frame construction suggests that at its core this house was built by the Mortons in the mid-1830s. Altered to its present appearance between 1873-1904 during the ownership of the Dr. John McCloy family, the L-plan house features a 3-bay front porch, single door entry with transom, and gable roof. Later owners included the families of Edgar Andrus and A. W. Whatley. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1995
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
William Morton was among the "Old 300" — the first families granted land in Stephen F. Austin's colony — and operated Morton's Ferry here in the 1820s. The core of this house, built with hand-hewn braced-frame construction, dates to the mid-1830s, making it a rare survivor from Texas's earliest Anglo settlement. Later owners, notably the Dr. John McCloy family, reshaped it between 1873 and 1904 into the L-plan home seen today.
Why it matters
Few buildings connect so directly to the Old 300 and the founding generation of Anglo colonization in Mexican Texas.
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Related people
- · William Morton
- · John McCloy
- · Edgar Andrus
- · A. W. Whatley
Themes & tags
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