Peter Kerr

Kerr's Texas fortune came only after a run of disasters. In 1824 he set up as a merchant in Victoria, but he was robbed on a trading trip, and the father of the Spanish girl he meant to marry refused him once he was penniless. Insurance on a wrecked charter ship bought a hack and horses, which he wrecked on the first trip; a still he bought in New Orleans sailed for Texas without him. On March 24, 1836, he brought the army news of Fannin's defeat at Coleto, and Houston had him arrested for spreading false news.

What the plaque says

Peter Kerr 1795-1861 One of "Old 300" of Stephen F. Austin's first colony; from Pennsylvania. Took part in 1836 war for Texas Independence. He made and lost several stakes. In 1851 bought a league and labor of Burnet County land, including site of Fort Croghan. Amassed wealth as army beef contractor. Gave 100 acres and town square for Burnet County seat. To build a college here, he willed $23,500 and 6,359 acres of land to Burnet. The will was broken; city got a 2-acre site for a public school. It is said "he never refused to help when he observed its need." (1970)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Inks Lake State Park — 7.9 mi
  A state park on a constant-level lake of the Colorado, between Buchanan and Inks dams, with pink granite and gneiss at the water and CCC work along Park Road 4.
• Longhorn Cavern State Park — 8.3 mi
  A cave carved by an underground river in the Hill Country, cleared of mud by hand in the 1930s and reached down 52 stone steps on a guided tour.
• Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery — 9.0 mi
  A free federal hatchery below Inks Dam on the Colorado, with thirty production ponds that draw birds and a look at how fish are raised from egg to harvest.
• Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge: Doeskin Ranch — 14 mi
  A free federal refuge north of Lake Travis kept for two songbirds that need old juniper and oak, with trails at the Doeskin Ranch unit near Bertram.

More markers nearby

• Site of Fort Croghan — steps away
• The Burnet Bulletin — 0.6 mi
• General Adam R. Johnson — 0.7 mi
• Burnet County — 0.7 mi