Historical Markers

County Named for Sidney Sherman, C.S.A.

Marker Location: Stratford - Not Located

Year Marker Erected: 1964

Marker Text: Born in Massachusetts, 1805. Led his crack Kentucky Militia Company to join Texas Army in War for Independence. Commanded cavalry wing, Battle of San Jacinto. Major-General and Congressman, Republic of Texas. Built second railroad west of Mississippi River. First engine to run in Texas was "General Sherman", named in his honor.
   Put in command of fortifying Galveston, most valued seaport in Texas, at outbreak of Civil War. Set up marine guard and batteries of cannon. Lost eldest son in Galveston recapture, 1863. Gen. Sherman died in 1873. (1964)

Early Settlers on Coldwater Creek

Marker Location: From Stratford take US 287 about 2 miles north to roadside park.

Year Marker Erected: 1971

Marker Text: First area in Sherman County to be settled, and only live water for miles. First settler, buffalo hunter J.D. Rawlings, came 1870s. Later County Judge. W.B. Slaughter acquired the Rawlings place about 1894. Later ran bank and store in Stratford. John Lanners (arrived 1892) was a cowboy at Slaughter's ranch; acquired land and ran a mule-drawn supply line. One of largest spreads was owned by Thomas Snyder (also arrived in 1892). Among other prominent early settlers were J.H. Williams, freighter, and Geo. Loomis, merchant.

Removal of Archives From Coldwater to Stratford

Marker Location: At Sherman County Courthouse, Stratford.

Year Marker Erected: 1969

Marker Text: On May 2, 1901, an election was held to determine whether the Sherman County seat should be moved from Coldwater (a ranching center in the central part of the county) to Stratford (a growing town on the new railroad). Partisan feelings ran high and the legality of certain votes was questioned.
   Because of a threatened injunction against the move, a special session of court was held at 1 a.m. on May 6. Votes were canvassed and, under cover of darkness, the county records were spirited to a tent about 2 blocks south of here. A horseman bringing the injunction to halt the move arrived too late.
   For several days apprehensive Stratford citizens kept an armed guard posted around the tent. Proponents of Coldwater then filed a suit titled "W.B. Slaughter Et Al. vs. D.W. Snyder Et Al.", but by the time court convened, Stratford had been widely accepted as county seat and the suit was dismissed.
   Those who helped move the records included D.W. Snyder, County Judge; C.F. Rudolph, County Clerk; Dick Pincham, Sheriff; D.D. Spurlock, Deputy Sheriff; Tom Chambers, Treasurer; W.J. Potts and J.H. Bowman, Jr., Commissioners; and J.M. Upshaw, a hired freighter. (1969)

Sherman County

Marker Location: 2 miles south of Stratford on US 287.

Year Marker Erected: 1936

Marker Text: Formed from Young and Bexar Territories; Created August 21, 1876; Organized June 13, 1889; Named in Honor of General Sidney Sherman 1805-1873; Commander of the Left Wing of the Army at the Battle of San Jacinto; Member of the Texas Congress 1842-1843; County Seat, Coldwater, 1889; Stratford, Since 1901

Sherman County Courthouse, Stratford

Current Use: Active Courthouse
Construction Date: 1922
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Parker and Rittenberry
Contractor: J.W. Mordecai
Substantial Modifications: Doors replaced.

Sherman County Depot Museum, Stratford

17 N Main Street
P O Box 1248
Stratford, Texas 79084
806 396-2582

Contact: Millie Hacker
Phone Number: 806 396-5310

Museum Classification: General, Historic House, Non-Historic Structure, Museum Building Type: Historic Structure
Original Purpose: Depot
Types of Exhibits/Collections: Art, Military, Natural History, Archeology, Photos, Historical, Local/Pioneer History, Archives
Educational Programs: Guided Tours, Self-guided tours, School Tours
Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)
Texas Historic Sites Atlas, by the Texas Historical Commission (THC)