The Killough Monument (massacre site with historic marker) is a hard to find site on an unmarked road running South of Cherokee County Road 3411. The Issac Killough family was unarmed while harvesting their crops. They were attacked resulting in 18 family members being murdered or carried off. The historic marker (and several internet sites) blamed that massacre on "Indians"; refering to the peaceful East Texas Cherokee Nation. Keep in mind that Cherokee Chief Duwali (AKA Chief Bowles) had a signed treaty in 1836 with Sam Houston (and the Republic of Texas) for permenant exclusive land rites for about three million acres of land including all of Cherokee County. In 1837 the congress of the Republic of Texas nullified the treaty and started issuing land grants to settlers on Cherokee land.Unfortunately Issac Killough did not know ... read more

I drove East on Texas Hwy 7 about 50 miles to the downtown Center Square for the Poultry Festival. (Raising chickens is big business here in East Texas.) This small festival is limited to the square dominated by the Shelby County Courthouse Museum. Though a small festival, there were many nice people there to chat with. They had a small group of vendors including food and ride vendors for the children. This was the middle day of a three day festival. (I wish I was there to enter the chicken wing eating contest!) Later that afternoon there would be live intertainment on the square; but I had other places to see. I was happy to see that the Shelby County Courthouse Museum was opem to the public. A nice lady there gave me a guided tour ... read more

The unincorporated community of Weeping Mary was founded after the US Civil War by freed Afro-American slaves. This community is located about sevin miles SW of Alto, Texas on Cherokee County Road 2907 by Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. Weeping Mary had its school established in 1896 until World War 2; then the students were educated in Alto ISD. The religious and social life centered at the Weeping Mary Baptist Church. The church was established at a nearby location where it was seriously damaged in a flood. The church was replaced at the current location in 1957. While in the area I had a short tour of Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. completed... read more

I just got my truck back after some expensive repairs in Gunnison, and I wanted to test out my wheels and gears. I drove East about twenty miles to the small town of Parlin, Colorado. I turned North on Gunnison County road 76. After a few miles I drove through the little town of Ohio City. I drove past the Fish Hatchery on to the larger town of Pitkin. I checked out a few old buildings and the 1900 Pitcan City Hall. There I walked up the stairs to peek inside the city hall. They had a large room that looked like it could accomodate a large bunch of people. Pitkin was founded in 1879 and may be the first mining camp West of the Continental Divide. Pitkin (originally named Quartzville) was a gold and silver ... read more

About a mile from Blackjack I was looking for another historic marker; and found the Town of Griffin Historic Marker on county road 4716. I did not see the Griffin Cemetery. Nearby Griffin I saw a private ranch and then an old building. Also nearby Griffin (County Road 4722) was a very nice expensive ranch with large stadium floodlights. I think they had their own private rodeos there. I liked their fence that looked like the fence had very large barbed wire. According to TSHA (Texas State Historical Association) Griffin was established by Issac Kendrict in 1853. Later in 1853 the post office opened under the name of Troutman until 1855. In 1855 the post office name was changed to Griffin; after Kendrict's home town of Griffin, Georgia. The post office closed from 1867 to 1876; ... read more