DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, friends — and Tyler's got a story worth telling right. The area was opened to white settlers in 1839, following Republic of Texas victories over the Cherokee Indians. And here's a thing worth knowing: it was the Cherokee trails themselves that led the way — to good springs, fine farmlands, useful salines.
The land knew where it wanted people to go. The town was founded in 1846, and the first Legislature of the state of Texas named it for President John Tyler — the man who signed the resolution annexing Texas to the United States. So right from the start, this place had a presidential stamp on it.
In its early years Tyler was mainly a farm market, and few men of great wealth walked its streets — but by 1860 it had built something maybe more lasting: good schools, churches, and what the marker calls cultured citizens. That reputation for learning and faith was already setting Tyler apart. Then came the war.
Several men from Tyler raised and commanded troops in the Civil War, and after mid-1863 the town became the transportation headquarters for the entire Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy. That is not a small thing. It had an ordnance factory running, and it was the site of Camp Ford — the largest prisoner-of-war post west of the Mississippi River.
Let that settle in for a moment. The largest. West of the Mississippi.
In Tyler, Texas. The war left its mark, as wars do, but Tyler kept movin. In the 1870s it became an important site for railroad shops and a roundhouse, and from there the economy just kept expanding — industries, manufacturing, fruit and vegetable packing, shipping, one thing building on another.
Tyler furnished Texas with statesmen, among them three governors: Richard B. Hubbard, in office from 1876 to 1879; O. M.
Roberts, from 1879 to 1883; and James Stephen Hogg, from 1891 to 1895. Three governors out of one East Texas town. Then in 1931, the nearby East Texas oil field was discovered, and Tyler became an investment, banking, and servicing center almost overnight.
Today it's home to Tyler Junior College and the Annual Rose Festival. From Cherokee trails to Confederate headquarters to the governor's mansion to the oil patch — Tyler, Texas has never been content to be just one thing.
What the marker says
In area opened 1839 to white settlers by Republic of Texas victories over Cherokee Indians whose trails led the way to good springs, fine farmlands, useful salines. The first Legislature of the state of Texas named the town (founded 1846) for President John Tyler, who signed the resolution annexing Texas to the United States. Originally a farm market, Tyler in early years had few men of wealth, but by 1860 was known for good schools, churches and cultured citizens. Several men here raised and commanded troops in Civil War. After mid-1863 this was transportation headquarters for Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy. It had an ordnance factory and was site of Camp Ford -- the largest P.O.W. post west of the Mississippi. In 1870s important as site of railroad shops and roundhouse. Developed industries, manufacturing, fruit and vegetable packing, shipping, expanding economy. Furnished Texas with statesmen, including Governors Richard B. Hubbard (in office 1876-1879), O. M. Roberts (1879-1883) and James Stephen Hogg (1891-1895). Upon discovery of nearby East Texas oil field in 1931, became investment, banking, servicing center. Home of Tyler Junior College; Annual Rose Festival.