Fort Picketville, aka Picketville, Texas, Stephens County first county seat. (original) (raw)

Stephens County Tx - Fort Picketville historical marker

Picketville historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009

Historical Marker

Picketville

One of Stephens County's first white settlements, Picketville was founded before the Civil War (1861-65) on Gunsolus Creek. Without military defense during the war, families "forted up" here for protection against hostile Indian attacks. The name probably came from picket construction in which tree limbs were placed on end and chinked with mud. Picketville served as the county seat until Breckenridge was settled in 1876. Then the town began to decline, leaving only a cemetery. After many graves were accidentally destroyed, Boy Scout troops restored and fenced the site.

Photographer's Note:
"The cemetery was off the road. I didn't want to hazard climbing over a locked gate." - Barclay Gibson

TX - Stephens County 1907 postal map

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