Site of Old Spearman's Ferry
Lone Star, Morris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Operated along with a mill by E. B. Smith during the Republic of Texas. Bought by John Spearman in 1850. At this site in 1870 the state authorized a toll bridge. Fees ranged from 2 cents for a sheep to $1 for an 8-horse team and loaded wagon. This was at Big Cypress Bayou on Pittsburg-Jefferson Stage Road.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
During the days of the Republic of Texas, E. B. Smith ran a ferry and mill at this Big Cypress Bayou crossing on the Pittsburg–Jefferson stage road. John Spearman bought the ferry in 1850, and by 1870 the state authorized a toll bridge here, charging anywhere from two cents for a sheep to a dollar for a loaded eight-horse team. The crossing kept goods and travelers moving through Northeast Texas.
Why it matters
River crossings like Spearman's Ferry were the arteries of early Texas commerce, turning a bayou into a link between frontier towns and markets.
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Related people
- · John Spearman
- · E. B. Smith
Themes & tags
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