Historical Marker
The Old Town Well, Goldthwaite
Goldthwaite, Mills County · Texas
Erected 1963
The well was dug in the year the county was born. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe built into the region in 1885, spurring settlement and calls for a county, and in 1887 the legislature carved Mills County from Brown, Comanche, Hamilton and Lampasas counties, with Goldthwaite as seat. By 1890 the county had 5,493 people and 680 farms and ranches. Ranchers counted almost 25,000 cattle and 23,000 sheep, and farmers planted 7,000 acres of cotton, 7,200 of corn, 3,500 of oats and 2,800 of wheat.
What the plaque says
The Old Town Well, Goldthwaite Mr. Peyton died from poison fumes in digging this well; Ben Cox was also overcome; Deed H. Mayer rescued Mr. Cox and brought up Mr. Peyton's body; August 1887. In memory of these three men; Mills Co. Hist. Society (1963)
Where it stands
31.45017, -98.56953 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Confederate Veterans Memorial of Mills County — steps away
- Mills County — steps away
- Mills County State Bank — steps away
- Goldthwaite Eagle — steps away