John Leakey

The town that carries John Leakey's name was not incorporated until June 11, 1951, almost four decades after it became the seat of Real County. A. G. Vogel moved the post office here from Floral, two miles north, in 1883 and opened the town's first store. After that the population swung with the times: an estimated 318 people in 1904, 150 in 1926, 700 in 1931 and 150 again two years later. It then climbed steadily to a peak of 762 in 1956 before falling to 468 by 1982 and 387 in 2000.

What the plaque says

John Leakey Tennessee native John Leakey (1824-1900) came to Texas in 1847, settling for a time in Henderson County where he was a brickmason and rancher. He and his wife Nancy (Patterson) moved to Uvalde County in 1852 near present day Sabinal. A desire to pursue other endeavors took him to the Frio Canyon where there was an abundance of cypress timber. Despite constant threats of Indian attacks, Leakey settled his family and started a cypress shingle business. He served the Confederacy as a freighter during the Civil War, hauling provisions for the troops. Leakey returned to his home after the war to establish a steam sawmill and to attend to his ranching interests. He also began a school for the children of the community, and his home often served as a resting place of itinerant preachers. The town, situated on the Bandera-Edwards county line, was laid out in 1883 and named in honor of the resourceful pioneer who donated land for this plaza, a church, school, and cemetery. Leakey served as county seat of Edwards County until 1891, and became county seat of Real County when it was organized in 1913. A successful businessman, Indian fighter and pioneer, John Leakey's contributions and leadership were vital to the early growth of the area. (1983)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Real County Historical Museum — steps away
  A small county museum in Leakey, at the head of the Frio Canyon, with a log-cabin parlor, an 1880s horse-drawn hearse, a wool and mohair shearing machine and 1910s jail cells.
• Garner State Park — 8.9 mi
  The Frio River park that Uvalde County built with the Civilian Conservation Corps and named for its own vice president, where people have danced on the stone pavilion every summer since the 1940s.
• Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area — 33 mi
  A 140-foot shaft into a cavern outside Rocksprings, seen only on guided tours from a platform at the rim as some three million bats spiral out on summer evenings.

More markers nearby

• Real County — steps away
• Real County — steps away
• Leakey Cemetery — steps away
• Catherine McLauren — 0.2 mi