Milam County

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Way back in 1834, the land that would become Milam County was part of Robertson's Colony. The year after that, 1835, it fell under the municipality of Viesca.

Now, Viesca wasn't long for that name. On December 27, 1835, the name changed to Milam, in honor of Benjamin Rush Milam, born 1788, who fell at San Antonio in 1835. A man honored in the naming of a county is a man worth remembering, and the marker makes sure you do.

Then came the carving. Burleson and Robertson counties were cut off, and after that happened, Nashville stepped up as county seat in 1837. But the carving wasn't finished.

Not by a long shot. Williamson came next. Then Bell.

Then McLennan. Then Falls. Each one trimmed a little more off the edges until Milam County settled into the size you'd find it today.

And through all that reshaping, the county needed a steady center. Cameron answered that call, serving as county seat since 1846. That's Milam County, drawn down from something bigger, named for a man who gave everything, and still standin' right where history left it.

What the marker says

A part of Robertson's colony in 1834. A part of the municipality of Viesca, 1835. Named changed to Milam, December 27, 1835 in honor of Benjamin Rush Milam, 1788-1835, who fell at San Antonio. After Burleson and Robertson counties were cut off Nashville became the county seat in 1837. The later creation of Williamson, Bell, McLennan and Falls, reduced Milam County to its present size. Cameron, the county seat since 1846.