Personville, Texas, AKA Lost Prairie, Limestone County ghost town. (original) (raw)

"Behind this marker is townsite of Personville..."
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2010

History in a Pecan Shell

B. D. Person, a native North Carolinian moved to Texas in 1854 and founded the town that bears his name. The nucleus of several families grew to the point where a post office became necessary. One was granted in 1855 when the population was around 30.

A few people (definitely not Persons) prefered the more romantic name of Lost Prairie. By the late 1850, the town was well on it�s way, with two groceries, three dry-goods stores, a blacksmith and a cotton gin.

The Houston and Texas Central Railway arrived in 1906 and Personville became a stop. The estimated population in 1914 was around 200 residents . But the railroad lost money and by 1933 service was stopped. Highway 39 was paved over the old roadbed and connected the town with the outside world.

The town entered the 1930s with nearly 300 people but after the Great Depression and post war mobility, it was left with a mere 20 residents by the late 1960s.

Personville retains a cemetery and church and is remembered by highway signage as well as the historical marker.

Historical Marker

PERSONVILLE

Behind this marker is town site of Personville, begun in 1854 by Benjamin D. Person, Sr. 1855 postmaster was Wm. Person.

Grayson Masonic Lodge 265, chartered 1861, demised 1889. Nelleva cut-off, built in 1906 was abandoned 1933. J. D. Hudson was first teacher in district school, 1908.

By 1915 had blacksmith shop, lumber yard, bank, hotel, 12 mercantiles, two drugstores, three doctors. Dr. G. H. Stephens was outstanding.

Fire razed town, October 1916. Rebuilt, it soon faded away. Post office was abolished 1952.

1963

Personville Cemetery Sign
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2020

Personville Cemetery Gate
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2020

Historic Cemetery Marker
Personville Cemetery
Established ca. 1861
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2020

Wren Tombstones
Photo courtesy Jen Basham, March 2020

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