Ballinger

William Pitt Ballinger was born at Barbourville, Kentucky, on September 25, 1825, the Handbook of Texas says. He moved to Galveston in 1843 to read law with his uncle James Love and was admitted to the bar in 1847. In the Mexican War he rose from private to adjutant of Albert Sidney Johnston's regiment. He was U.S. district attorney for Texas from 1850 to 1854 and won the Galveston wharf case. He twice declined a seat on the Texas Supreme Court, refused the 1878 Democratic nomination for governor and died in Galveston on January 20, 1888.

What the plaque says

Originally called Hutchins City. Promoted by Santa Fe Rwy. Named for Judge William Pitt Ballinger (1825-1888), railroad attorney and townsite official. Distinguished Texas statesmen, veteran of the Mexican War. In the Civil War helped establish defenses of Galveston, served as Confederate receiver of enemy aliens property, was sent to negotiate peace for Texas. Ballinger is county seat, and farm-ranch center. Industries include dairying, meat products, leather goods manufacturing. Has annual rodeo, livestock and quarterhorse shows. (1964)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Carnegie Library of Ballinger — 0.2 mi
  A 1909 limestone library with an Ionic portico in a railroad town the Santa Fe created in 1886, one of the few Texas Carnegie libraries still working in its original building.
• Z. I. Hale Museum and Rock Hotel — 15 mi
  A free museum in a Winters optometrist's office, a 1909 railroad hotel and a 1927 implement dealership, with Rogers Hornsby's hometown memorabilia and a 1912 horse-drawn cotton picker.
• Fort Chadbourne — 27 mi
  An 1852 infantry post and Butterfield stage station on a Coke County ranch, its fallen stone buildings rebuilt since 1999 by the descendant of the family that has ranched the land since 1877.

More markers nearby

• Charles H. Noyes — steps away
• Runnels County — steps away
• Site of the Town of Runnels — 4.7 mi
• San Clemente Mission — 6.6 mi