Pumphrey
Winters, Runnels County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded about 1899. Named for Wm. M. Pumphrey (1849-1937), early settler. A deacon of the Baptist church, he would put his organ in a wagon on weekends and take it, his wife and 11 children to attend services in Wingate. In 1900, as the settlement grew, a one-room frame school was built and named New Hope, to embody the aspirations of the citizens. The community came to have a post office (1901-1912), several stores and 2 churches. It withstood tragedy in 1906 when 4 men were killed by lightning -- leaving more than 20 children orphans.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Pumphrey took root around 1899, named for pioneer settler and Baptist deacon William M. Pumphrey, who was known to load his organ into a wagon and haul his wife and eleven children to Sunday services. As the settlement grew it gained a one-room school named New Hope, a post office, stores, and churches. Tragedy struck in 1906 when lightning killed four men, leaving more than twenty children orphaned.
Why it matters
Pumphrey is a small window into the faith, family, and hardship that defined turn-of-the-century settlement on the West Texas plains.
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Related people
- · William M. Pumphrey
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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