Texas Historical Marker

Major John Dean House

Tyler · Smith County · placed 1972 · Recorded Texas Historic Landmark

Civil War

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Smith County, Texas

The story

On land bought Jan. 22, 1863, by Frances Clarenda Rice Dean (1836-76) with Confederate pay sent home from Civil War post by husband, Major John Dean (1831-1902). Using Louisiana heart pine lumber that he himself milled and seasoned, Dean had house built in 1872. An ex-slave, Jesse Duckinfield, made and burned brick of farm clay.

Finest in the community when finished, the house remains in builder's family a century later. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1972

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