Coalson-Pullen Colony

The Coalsons' homestead stood where East and West Copperas creeks meet. Copperas Creek itself rises 3.5 miles northeast of Roosevelt and runs only 3.5 miles southeast to the North Llano River, four miles east of Roosevelt, but its three main tributaries are longer: East Copperas Creek, rising in northwestern Kimble County, runs twenty-four miles, Middle Copperas ten and West Copperas fifteen. Nick B. and Jennie Coalson, natives of Illinois, settled at the junction of the east and west branches in 1866, raising corn and hunting native deer and turkey.

What the plaque says

Coalson-Pullen Colony (cabin chimney at site, about 3 mi. NW) Opened 1866 by Nick and Jennie (Blackwell) Coalson, who moved from Menard area. Stockraising and hunting provided livelihood. Their "bacon" was cured bear meat. Indians often stole horses, and in Dec. 1870 attacked cabin when Coalson and Charlie Mann had gone hunting. Ranch hand Joe Harris was killed. Mrs. Coalson in man's attire held off Indians until her husband returned. Later Coalson sold the ranch to surveyor - Civil War veteran Dr. Asa Pullen and wife Juliet (Gilliland), who had 6 daughters. Many descendants of this family still live in Kimble County. (1970)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Kimble County Historical Museum — 15 mi
  A free county museum in Junction, the town at the meeting of the North and South Llano, with the papers, photographs and tools of a ranching county.
• Fort McKavett State Historic Site — 22 mi
  The post Sherman called the prettiest in Texas, home to soldiers of all four Buffalo Soldier regiments and then to a town that lived in its buildings until 1973.

More markers nearby

• Fort McKavett - Fort Clark Military Road — 3.0 mi
• Captain Gully Cowsert — 3.0 mi
• Roosevelt — 3.1 mi
• First Murr Ranch — 10 mi