Poe Chapel
Winters, Runnels County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Named in honor of William Wyatt Poe, who came to Texas from his native Alabama in late 1870. Married Jerusha Evaline Cline in 1885; had ten children. Moved family to Runnels County, 1904. Gave land for school and church buildings. Was school trustee. Three sons were later on school board. Family active in farming, civic and church affairs. Son, Howard, introduced 4-row tractor farming to area in 1930. Upon W. W. Poe's death, 1945, each child inherited a farm. Land is still farmed mainly by his grandsons.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
William Wyatt Poe left Alabama for Texas in 1870, married Jerusha Evaline Cline, and in 1904 moved his large family to Runnels County. A committed community builder, he donated land for school and church buildings and served as a school trustee, roles later carried on by three of his sons. The family shaped local farming, too—son Howard brought four-row tractor cultivation to the area in 1930—and land Poe left to his children is still worked by his descendants.
Why it matters
The Poe family's story shows how settler families rooted schools, churches, and modern farming into West Texas soil across successive generations.
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Related people
- · William Wyatt Poe
- · Jerusha Evaline Cline
- · Howard Poe
Themes & tags
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