East Mountain, Texas, Upshur and Gregg County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Settled in the 1870s and named after a geographic feature, East Mountain was known as Savannah when a post office opened under that name in 1902. It closed within three years and the name East Mountain became official.

The town experienced an oil boom in the 1930s, and the town's school and churches all had producing wells on their property.

The population in 1940 was an estimated 75 persons. The town is now a bedroom community of Longview, just across the line in Gregg County.

Parson McClelland School Historical Marker
On FM 726 (about 3.3 miles E of US 271)
about 10 miles SE of Gilmer
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010

Historical Marker:

Parson McClelland School

Built about 1869 by the Rev. Wm. Henry McClelland, a Baptist minister and teacher. He lived here and operated a private school, with day and boarding pupils, until the 2-story frame building burned on Dec. 14, 1876.

Family lore records that on same night, his son Lee died in a fire, step-daughter Nancy Skaggs wed R. M. Keasler, and his first grandson Mack Florence was born.

McClelland (1831-1897) was born in Virginia; baptized 1,324 persons in 40 years in the ministry. He married 4 times: To Jane Stanley, Margaret E. Blain, Martha D. Skaggs, Leela Wilkinson. Had 16 children.

1968

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