Historical Marker
John Wortham
Houston County · Texas
Erected 1982
Aldrich's 1943 county history says John Wortham was born on May 10, 1800. It prints Sam Houston's commission of December 18, 1837, naming him associate commissioner of the Board of Land Commissioners for Houston County. On April 27, 1839, signing as Major, Houston County Rangers, he appealed for men to enroll in a ranger battalion. Aldrich also prints a June 15, 1839 appraisal of thirty-one beeves, 15,460 pounds, furnished for a general's command. Aldrich says he died on November 10, 1867, on his plantation four miles northwest of Crockett.
What the plaque says
John Wortham A pioneer area landowner and farmer, John Wortham (1804-67) was a petitioner for the creation of Houston County in 1837. He later served as a captain of an independent ranger company, as major in the Republic of Texas Army and as quartermaster of the Texas Militia. In addition to his military service, he was a trustee of Trinity College and was appointed to the first Board of Land Commissioners for the Texas Republic. He also owned a local sawmill and gristmill. Twice married, Wortham was the father of 12 children. He was buried on this land (2.3 miles SW). (1982)
Where it stands
31.35919, -95.47582 · Directions
Worth the stop nearby
- Caddo Mounds State Historic Site — 25 miThree earthen mounds of an ancestral Caddo village and ceremonial center on the old El Camino Real, settled about A.D. 800 and still sacred to Caddo people, with a grass house and visitor center.
More markers nearby
- Vicory Barker Tunstall — 1.8 mi
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- Mary Allen Seminary — 2.4 mi
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