Glenblythe Plantation, Home of Thomas Affleck

Thomas Affleck's best-known book was a ledger. The Handbook of Texas lists his Cotton Plantation Record and Account Book among the works that became models for other planters in the area. Glenblythe was worked by enslaved people. Washington County counted 7,941 of them in 1860, more than half its population, and by 1864 tax records showed 8,663. Nothing in the Handbook entry says how many Affleck held. He died at Glenblythe on December 30, 1868, after trips to Europe to recruit English and Scottish settlers.

What the plaque says

Glenblythe Plantation, Home of Thomas Affleck In the 19th century, one of the world's foremost researcher-writers on agriculture and horticulture lived 1858-1868 on his 3,500-acre plantation (2 mi. S) of here, developing famous "central Texas nurseries" and experimental fields for new plant varieties. On this property gained recognition as one of earliest promoters and developers of conservation farming. Born 1812 in Scotland; came to the United States in 1832, soon starting in Mississippi one of the South's finest nurseries; gained wide fame as scientist and writer on agriculture. Before moving here, landscaped State Capitol grounds for both Louisiana and Texas. Surrounded Glenblythe mansion and guest houses (2 mi. S) with ornamental gardens and greenhouses, vegetable garden, orchard, a church, hospital, day nursery, store, homes, workshop, stock pens, flour and lumber mills. During Civil War (1861-1865) built ambulances, wagons; fed Waul's Legion in training camp near here. After the war, was key figure in rehabilitation of farming in Texas; made a trip to Europe to recruit settlers. Died 1868, and was buried near his home. Writings, especially "Affleck's Southern Rural Almanac," were influential for years. His "Report on Agricultural Grasses" was a Senate Executive Document of 1879. (1967)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Independence and Old Baylor Park — 9.0 mi
  A crossroads north of Brenham that was the richest town in Texas when it won Baylor University in 1845, refused the railroad, and lost the college to Waco and Belton in 1886.
• Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway — 13 mi
  Two park units on an 11,000-acre lake between Austin and College Station, joined by a thirteen-mile trailway for hikers, cyclists and riders with primitive camps along the way.
• Round Top and Festival Hill — 19 mi
  A German village on the old La Bahía Road, named for a house tower, with an 1867 stone church, a Fourth of July kept since 1851 and a concert hall a pianist built without blueprints.
• Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site — 21 mi
  The townsite on the Brazos where delegates met in a cold, unfinished hall in March 1836 to declare Texas independent, with Independence Hall rebuilt and Anson Jones's Barrington farm worked as in 1850.

More markers nearby

• La Bahia Road — 1.1 mi
• Birthplace of Hedwig T. Kniker — 1.9 mi
• St. Peter's Lutheran Church — 1.9 mi
• Gideon Lincecum — 3.2 mi