Kickapoo, Texas, Edwards county ghost town. (original) (raw)
In searching for the Edwards County town of Henze, which was just a name on an old map, we published a plea to the world at large for information of this nearly-forgotten place. Strangely enough, we received information �in-house� since frequent contributor Will Beauchamp has relatives in the area and visited Edwards County not long ago. - Ed.
History in a Pecan Shell
Although Henze is not mentioned in the text of the historical markers shown, it had to have been woven into the local historical tapestry. The Thurman Ranch, Kickapoo school and Henze are interrelated.
Mr. Beauchamp writes that the information (other than the markers) he obtained was from both local residents and a small volume of history published by the Rocksprings Women�s Club around 1980.
Springs that bubbled to the surface here made it a popular site with the nomadic Kickapoo Indians, hence the name of Kickapoo for the school.
After settlers arrived, they too used the springs and built the school for their children. Jerry Roberts Ellis has stated that in addition to Henze and Kickapoo, there was also a community of Ellis. Mr. Ellis added that at least one member of the Ellis family taught at the school, which is said to have been of log construction. The school had been not far from the present-day location of the historical markers.
Photographer's Note:
"The town or community of Henze and the Early Kickapoo Settlement are very much intertwined. The historical markers on FM Road 674 make no mention of the site Henze.
One of the Ellis family members whose ancestor taught at the Kickapoo School said the early school was a log cabin located not too far from the Historical Markers." -
Site of Ranch of the Thurmans of Kickapoo
Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, June 2012
Historical Marker:
(from Rocksprings take US Hwy 377 South approximately 3 miles to RR 674; take RR 674 South approximately 25 miles)
Site of Ranch of the
Thurmans of Kickapoo
In 1882 Joe Thurman and sons Bill, Sam and Jess became first permanent settlers on the west prong of the Nueces River. By 1895 neighbors included the Barksdale, Chapman, Cox, Ellis, Haley, Justice, Parham, Silman, and Tabor Families. A brush arbor sheltered the first church, with Virgil Silman and A.J. Cox as preachers, and first school, with Perry Ellis as teacher. Joe Thurman acted as doctor, dentist, and coffin maker for this ranch community. His family raised fine horses for racing. In 1895 they matched their favorite against the horse of John Nance Garner, later U.S. Vice President.
(1972)
Historical Marker:
(from Rocksprings take US Hwy 377 South approximately 3 miles to RR 674; take RR 674 South approximately 25 miles)
Thurman Cemetery
Joseph and Mary Jane (Dusenbury) Thurman came to this part of Edwards County in 1882. In 1885, Mary Jane was the first to be buried in what became the Thurman Family Cemetery. Grave markers record infant deaths and victims of typhoid and other diseases that plagued the pioneers. Members of the Thurman, Self, Ellis, Donaghe, Parham, Maddux, Quigg, Loden, Fulkerson, Wilkerson, Chapman, Lazerine, Wallace, Bolding, and Remley families are buried in the 29 gravesites. Last used in 1958, the cemetery is maintained by Thurman family descendants.
(1985)
More photos courtesy The Rocksprings Woman's Club
From their book
"The History of Edwards County"
Submitted by William Beauchamp
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