Marquez, Texas, Leon County. (original) (raw)
The peaceful town of Marquez
TE Photo, May 2009
Marquez is quite unusual in that the name refers to the original land-grantee. In this case it was Maria de la Marquez. The town is built on the tracks of the International-Great Northern Railroad that came through the area in 1871.
The main street ran parallel to the tracks, but a sensible distance from them. The town is spacious, perhaps because of a devastating fire that occurred in December of 1920. The town reached a low of 131 people in 1968, but the high point had been in 1925 when it was 700.
The school was consolidated with Jewett in 1958 and the Leon school was built for the students of both towns.
Marquez has a modest library, but the important thing is - it has a library. Community involvement is evident everywhere. The cemetery is well tended and was freshly mown for Memorial Day.
The park playground equipment was in use during our visit and someone's miniature donkey was tethered across the street next to a garden with free-ranging chickens.
An old building in Marquez
TE Photo, May 2009
Marquez water tower
TE Photo, May 2009
The Marquez Cemetery
TE Photo, May 2009
A resident of Marquez enjoying the tranquility
TE Photo, May 2009
Marquez, Texas Forum
- I was born in 1927 and I am a descendent of William Washington Winn, an early settler in Marquez who had several children and is interred in the cemetery. My father is also interred there.
I was always told that the cemetery is known as The Winn Cementery. - Jack D. Winn, June 3, 2005
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