Emporia

The land came from W. H. Bonner, who sold about 5,755 acres in southern Angelina County to M. T. Jones and S. F. Carter of Houston on November 3, 1892. A post office opened in July 1893, and the Emporia Lumber Company was incorporated in October 1894, with S. F. Carter as president, Jones as vice president and J. P. Carter as secretary. Its logging railroad, the Emporia and Gulf, was chartered on August 18, 1900 and ran fifteen miles to Crooker. Fire destroyed the mill in March 1906, and the post office closed in April 1907.

What the plaque says

Emporia Emporia Lumber Company co-owners S. F. Carter and M. T. Jones purchased over 5,000 acres of land in south Angelina County and established a company town named Emporia in 1893. The town included sawmill facilities, a railroad spur to ship lumber, logging camps, company houses, schools, churches, stores and a cemetery. In 1906 the sawmill burned and was not rebuilt. Although the company ceased operations, people continued to live in Emporia. Eventually the town was absorbed within the city of Diboll. (1996)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Southern Pine Lumber Company Commissary — 0.7 mi
• Thomas Lewis Latane Temple — 1.1 mi
• Diboll — 1.1 mi
• Ryan Chapel — 3.1 mi