James Bradford Pier

Pier had kept a store at Milan, Ohio, and married Lucy Merry there in 1834. The couple landed at Velasco on February 14, 1835, and went by ox wagon to Mill Creek. In early March 1836 he set out with neighbors to help at the Alamo, learned of the siege on the way and turned home to see to his wife before joining Gibson Kuykendall's company. He later served with the Mill Creek Volunteers and in the Mexican War, and in the Civil War was Confederate postmaster and a home guard who guarded prisoners at Hempstead.

What the plaque says

James Bradford Pier (Nov. 23, 1813-Feb. 5, 1888) A native of Circleville, Ohio, J. B. Pier came to Texas in 1835 with his wife, Lucy (Merry). The Piers settled in this area near the site of the early Texas town of Travis. Pier served as a member of the Texas Army during the War for Independence. He was detailed as a rear guard at the camp opposite Harrisburg during the Battle of San Jacinto. In later years, he was a farmer, stock raiser, teacher, and merchant. He served as Justice of the Peace of Austin County and was the first postmaster of the Travis community. Pier is buried in the nearby Travis Cemetery. (1985)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Independence and Old Baylor Park — 21 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.
• Star of the Republic Museum — 24 mi
  A star-shaped museum of the Republic of Texas years, 1836 to 1846, built at Washington-on-the-Brazos after a Brenham campaign and opened on March 1, 1970.
• Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site — 24 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.
• Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway — 29 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.

More markers nearby

• John Wesley Kenney — 2.5 mi
• First Czech Immigrants in Texas — 4.4 mi
• Austin County — 5.9 mi
• Original Site of St. Mary's Episcopal Church — 6.6 mi