William Blewett

The Stephen F. Austin State University Heritage Center preserves a letter William Blewett wrote his wife Nancy on July 4, 1862, from camp near Coffeeville, Texas. He guessed 15 to 20 days to Little Rock, Arkansas, reported he had gained 10 to 15 pounds and was in good health, and worried about horses with tender feet on rocky roads. His regiment was making 15 to 20 miles a day. He asked her to pray for him and send a coat and pants in light grey.

What the plaque says

William Blewett (1830-1862) Georgia native William Blewett came to Texas with his family in 1849. They settled first in Jasper County, where he was district surveyor about 1853. He married a cousin, Nancy Adams; they later became the parents of 6 children. In 1858 they moved to Newton and William opened the Blewett & Company Mercantile near this site with his cousin Adam Adams. When the Civil War broke out, Blewett was a leader in organizing a company of local volunteers that became part of Company G, 13th Texas Cavalry. He served as a captain and died in Arkansas in 1862. (1997) Incise on base: Donated by Blewett Descendants

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Martin Dies, Jr. State Park — 27 mi
  A 705-acre state park on Steinhagen Reservoir at the meeting of the Neches and Angelina rivers, with about 14 miles of paddling trails through sloughs and more than 200 campsites.

More markers nearby

• Town of Newton — steps away
• Newton County Pre-War Maneuvers — steps away
• Newton County — 3.4 mi
• Newton County, C.S.A. — 3.4 mi