El Camino Real -- Angelina River & Site of Linwood, SH 21 east of Alto - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

These two historic markers are located in a highway pullout along SH 21 east of Alto. They preserve important sites and landmarks along the El Camino Real from the New Spain and later Republic of Texas eras.

The Angelina River was a major river landmark on the El Camino Real. Today, it serves as a boundary for several East Texas counties.

The state historic marker at the site reads as follows:

"ANGELINA RIVER

Early Texas artery of travel and transportation. Ran through lands of civilized Indians whose word "Tejas", for friend, gave name to northern part of New Spain, then to the Republic and State of Texas. Here in 1690, Spanish explorers and missionaries found a young girl eager to learn Christianity. For her sweet disposition, she was called Angelina. Her name soon was used for the river where she lived. Though French and Spaniards were enemies, Angelina befriended all, and for years acted as interpreter.

Angelina River by 1799 was route for settlers to come from the coast to East Texas. It was crossed by the Camino Real (King's Highway to Mexico) and by Smugglers' Road, for those dodging tax collectors. In the 1830s, John Durst promoted on the Angelina, just south of here, a port for shipping cotton to New Orleans and receiving merchandise in return.

Other Texas rivers named by Spaniards include the Blanco, Brazos (river of the arms of God), Colorado, Concho, Comal (a pan), Frio, Guadalupe, Lavaca, Llano, Medina, Navidad, Navasota, Neches, Nueces, Pedernales, Pecos, Rio Grande, San Antonio, San Gabriel, Trinity and San Jacinto. Anglo-American names for streams include Canadian, Pease, Red and Devil's River. (1966)"

The marker for the site of Linwood was erected in 1965 as part of the state's Centennial of the Civil War marker program. It reads as follows:

"Site of Linwood

On land inherited by Delilah Dill Durst from Helena Kimble Dill, whose daughter born in 1804 was thought to be first white child native to Texas.

Built about 1830 by Delilah's husband, Joseph Durst, who settled in Texas in early 1800s and rose by 1826 to office of Alcalde in Nacogdoches.

During troubles of 1832, the battle of Nacogdoches ended here with the surrender of Colonel Piedras' army to 17 Texans.

Later was home of Geo. Whitfield Terrell (1802-1846), who served Republic of Texas as attorney-general and as Minister to England, France and Spain.

Birthplace of Geo. B. Terrell (1862-1947), State Representative, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Congressman-at-Large. (1965)"

Road of Trail Name: El Camino Real / Old San Antonio Road State: Texas County: Cherokee Historical Significance: The El Camino Real opened LA, TX, and the southwest to exploration and conquest by the Spanish Government. It led directly to the establishment of the Spanish Empire in this part of the New World. Years in use: 1691-present (as TX SH 21) How you discovered it: Learned about it in Texas History courses Book on Wagon Road or Trial: From Saltillo, Mexico to San Antonio and East Texas (Paperback) – Unabridged, April 26, 2016 by Joseph P Sanchez (Author),‎ Bruce A Erickson (Author) and El Camino Real de los Tejas (Images of America) Paperback – October 20, 2014 By Steven Gonzales (Author),‎ Mary Joy Graham (Author),‎ Dr. Lucile Estell (Author) Website Explination: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/exo04 Why?: exploration, conquest, colonization, trade, immigration Directions: SH 21 east of Alto near the site of Linwood

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