This is part of the Texas World Traveler Series, first conceived
by Texas Geocaching Pioneer 9key. I'm expanding the idea to take
you to all regions of the state. You'll visit historic places with
names similar to destinations around the world. If you visit them
all, you will receive a handsome reward commemorating the
accomplishment.
"Egypt, on Farm Road 102 eleven miles
northwest of Wharton, is the oldest community in Wharton
County. John C. Clark was there in 1822, and Egypt is located on
his league. Robert Kuykendall's land was below Egypt, and Thomas
Rabb's was above. These three men were among the first of the
Austin colony settlers. The land along the Colorado River was the
favorite hunting ground of the Karankawa Indians, and Clark,
Kuykendall, and Rabb were noted Indian fighters. The area soon
became safe enough for others to move into because of the efforts
of these men. The original settlement was started in 1829, when Eli
Mercer established a plantation and ferry on the Colorado River at
the San Felipe-Texana crossing. The road from Matagorda to Columbus
crossed the San Felipe-Texana road a mile or so from the river, and
the community developed at this junction. The town was originally
called Mercer's Crossing, but during a severe drought the area
supplied corn to surrounding settlements, and people began to refer
to it as Egypt.
In 1832 William J. E. Heard started Egypt Plantation on the
2,222 acres he purchased from John C. Clark and built his home in
what is now the center of Egypt; in 1992 it was still occupied by
his family. The Republic of Texas opened a post office in November
1835 with Eli Mercer as postmaster. By 1840 four different Texas
mail routes were passing through Egypt. The fertile soil has made
Egypt an agricultural center since its beginning; Mercer produced
some of the first sugarcane in Texas, and Heard had a cotton gin in
1836.
In February of that year Capt. Thomas Rabb recruited a company
of men in the Egypt area. They became Company F of the First
Regiment of Texas Volunteers. They were at Gonzales when Gen. Sam
Houston arrived, and they made the long retreat across Texas. Under
Capt. W. J. E. Heard at San Jacinto, they formed the center of the
Texas line and captured the Mexican cannons. During the Runaway
Scrape many of the people from west of the Colorado gathered in
Egypt, hoping that Houston and the Texas army, which was camped
just above Egypt, would keep the Mexicans from crossing the river.
During the republic days many prominent Texans lived in Egypt,
including William Menefee, who signed the Texas Declaration of
Independence; Dr. John Sutherland, Alamo courier; and Eli Mercer's
son-in-law, editor and inventor Gail Borden, Jr. Gen. Thomas J.
Rusk and the Texas army established temporary headquarters at Egypt
in May 1836 as they followed the retreating Mexican army. The
republic opened Post Colorado at Egypt in 1837.
"In 1839 a stagecoach line, operated by Andrew Northington,
served Egypt. By 1840 a general store was well established. Egypt
had originally been in Colorado County, but in 1846 it became part
of newly established Wharton County. When the first election was
held a general store was the polling place; in the 1990 primary
election, the general store at Egypt was still the polling
place.
"In 1848 some enterprising people in Egypt built a railroad. The
wooden rails were made of hard live oak, and the cars were pulled
by horses. It operated between Egypt and Columbus. A school
district was established in 1854 and operated until 1958, when it
was consolidated with the Hungerford Independent School District.
Just before the Civil War Captain Heard's son-in-law Mentor
Northington built a new cotton gin, which the family operated for
over 100 years.
"In 1881 George H. Northington and Green C. Duncan built a large
general mercantile company in Egypt. The store became the business
and social center for a large area of the county. It stocked
everything from seeds, farm implements, clothes, and groceries to
caskets. The post office moved to the new store when it was built
and remained there until 1981, when a new brick building was
constructed a block down the street. During the 1930s and until the
beginning of World War II a quarter horse racetrack was in
operation in Egypt. On race days large crowds of people from all
over South Texas attended the races. The Cane Belt Railroad was
built through Egypt in 1901. The line was sold to the Santa Fe in
1902, and in 1991 service was discontinued and the tracks were
removed. The estimated population of Egypt in 1990 was twenty-six.
In 1992, 300 registered voters lived in the area served by the
Egypt post office."
-- from The Handbook
of Texas Online
William Jones Elliot Heard's Plantation
House is now a museum; please tell us your impression if you
are able to go in and visit. The container is located nearby. It is
a large M&M tube with a log sheet and pen only. Very small
items or micro coins will fit. Enjoy!
Happy Trails,
Candy