John F. McGuffin

Duane's take

Here's the tale as the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to honor every word of it. Now settle in, because this one covers some ground — literally and figuratively. We're talking about a man named John F.

McGuffin, and his story stretches from South Carolina all the way to the Texas Hill Country, with a revolution tucked somewhere in the middle. Born in South Carolina in 1813 — that's the opening chapter. A young man from the Carolinas, and whatever was pulling people westward in those days must have had a good strong grip on him, because in 1837 he came to Texas.

Now, the Republic of Texas was barely a year old at that point, and a man arriving then knew exactly what kind of country he was walking into. McGuffin joined the Army of Texas, and more than that — the marker tells us he participated in the struggle for Independence in 1835 and 1836. That's the thick of it, right there.

The fight. The whole reason Texas became Texas. He was in it.

After all of that — the campaigns, the republic, the years that followed — John F. McGuffin lived on until September 10, 1887. The State of Texas erected this marker in 1956, making sure his name didn't just fade into the grass.

Some men plant a flag. McGuffin helped plant a republic.

What the marker says

Star and Wreath Born in South Carolina in 1813; came to Texas in 1837; a soldier in the Army of Texas; He participated in the struggle for Independence in 1835 and 1836; died September 10, 1887. Erected by the State of Texas 1956