Sweeny-Waddy Log Cabin
East Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas
Marker Inscription
John Sweeny, Sr. (d. 1855) moved his family from Tennessee to Brazoria County, Texas, about 1833. With the help of slaves, he cleared his land and established a large plantation. This log cabin, originally located about 9 miles southwest of this site, was built soon after Sweeny's arrival and housed the slave family that included Mark and Larkin Waddy. The Waddys continued to live in the cabin after they were freed at the end of the Civil War. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1983
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John Sweeny, Sr. moved his family from Tennessee to Brazoria County around 1833 and, with enslaved labor, cleared his land and built a large plantation. This log cabin housed an enslaved family that included Mark and Larkin Waddy, who continued to live in it as free people after emancipation at the close of the Civil War. Their enduring presence gave the cabin the joined name it carries today.
Why it matters
The cabin is a rare surviving witness to both slavery and the transition to freedom, honoring the African American family whose lives were bound to and outlasted the plantation.
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Related people
- · John Sweeny, Sr.
- · Mark Waddy
- · Larkin Waddy
Related events
- · Emancipation
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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