FIRST -- Wagon Road in Comanche County area, Comanche TX
N 31° 53.853 W 098° 36.844
14R E 536494 N 3529144
The Old Corn Trail is the first Army wagon road surveyed and opened in this part of Texas near Comanche TX.
Waymark Code: WMQT7Z
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/26/2016
Views: 4
The Old Corn Trail was an important military and civilian travel route in this part of West Texas. Its history is preserved in a state historic maker near the site of the old road. the marker reads as follows:
"THE OLD CORN TRAIL
Surveyed in 1850 by Army engineers, this was the first wagon road to penetrate this area. Point of origin was San Antonio, site of U.S. Army District Headquarters after annexation of Texas in 1846. This segment of road extended from Fort Gates (in Coryell County) to Fort Griffin (Shackelford County) and Fort Belknap (Young County). Although used for communications and troop movements, most common traffic was in supplies--especially feed for Army horses and mules. Hence the name "Corn Trail." Presence of the road and its traffic from fort to fort encouraged settlement. In 1851 John A. and J. M. McGuire moved to a site near here on Indian Creek. James H. Neel settled on Resley's Creek in 1852; in 1854 James Mercer and Capt. Frank Collier pitched tents on Mercer Creek, soon to be joined by their families and the Holmsleys and Tuggles. Collier put up first log house; Holmsley plowed first furrow. By Christmas of 1855 there were enough citizens here to petition for a county, and Comanche County was created by the Texas Legislature Jan. 25, 1856. The Corn Trail was a main civilian thoroughfare, and continued to serve its original purpose as a route for frontier troops and supplies. (1967)"
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1850
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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