James Tracy Morehead

Duane's take

The official marker's the source here, and here's how I tell it. A Virginia man named James Tracy Morehead packed up his family and headed to Texas in 1852, settling in a place that was just then finding its footing, a newly organized stretch of land called Tarrant County. He hadn't been there two years before his neighbors looked around, sized him up, and chose him to serve as the county's third Chief Justice.

Third. The county was that new. The ink on the organization papers was barely dry, and already they needed a judge, and Morehead was their man.

Now, he only served the one term as Chief Justice; but don't let that fool you into thinkin' he went quiet. The man stayed active in government long after his term wound down. In 1858, he was presiding over the elections that organized neighboring Parker County.

Still in the thick of it. But here's the piece of this story that tends to stick with people. There was a settlement in those parts that went by the name of Dunnville.

Perfectly serviceable name. Didn't last, though. James Tracy Morehead suggested a new one: and he drew it from a pioneer landmark sitting east of the settlement, a place known as the Grape Vine Springs.

He is credited with naming that town Grapevine. One man, one suggestion, pulled straight from the land itself. That's the kind of mark that outlasts any office.

What the marker says

Virginia native James Tracy Morehead came to Texas with his family in 1852, settling in newly organized Tarrant County. Two years later, he was chosen to serve as the County's third Chief Justice. He is credited with naming the town of Grapevine, originally known as Dunnville. His suggested name came from the Grape Vine Springs, a pioneer landmark located east of the settlement. Although he served only one term as Chief Justice, Judge Morehead remained active in government. In 1858 he presided over the elections that organized neighboring Parker County. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.