DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells this story, and I'm just the one passing it down the road to you. Now, the land we're talking about came to Delilah Dill Durst the way some of the best Texas land did — through family. It had been inherited from Helena Kimble Dill, and Helena's daughter, born in 1804, was thought to be the first white child native to Texas.
Think about that for a second. Not brought over, not carried across a border — born right here. That's the kind of detail that has a way of stopping you.
On that very land, around 1830, Delilah's husband Joseph Durst built what would become the place known as Linwood. Joseph hadn't exactly just wandered in — he'd settled in Texas in the early 1800s, and by 1826 he had risen to the office of Alcalde in Nacogdoches. That's a man who put down roots and earned his standing.
But here's where the story shifts gears on you. During the troubles of 1832, the battle of Nacogdoches didn't end in some distant field or fortified plaza. It ended right here — on this land — when Colonel Piedras' army surrendered.
And who took that surrender? Seventeen Texans. Seventeen.
You can chew on that number as long as you like. Linwood went on to serve as home to George Whitfield Terrell, born in 1802 and gone by 1846, who had managed in that time to serve the Republic of Texas as attorney-general and as Minister to England, France, and Spain. One man, one republic, three countries across an ocean.
And then, in 1862, a child named George B. Terrell was born on this same ground. He would go on to serve as State Representative, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Congressman-at-Large, before passing in 1947.
From a child thought to be the first of her kind born in Texas, to an army laying down its arms before seventeen men, to ministers and congressmen walking the same floors — Linwood has a way of collecting history whether it asked to or not.
What the marker says
Star and Wreath On land inherited by Delilah Dill Durst from Helena Kimble Dill, whose daughter born in 1804 was thought to be first white child native to Texas. Built about 1830 by Delilah's husband, Joseph Durst, who settled in Texas in early 1800s and rose by 1826 to office of Alcalde in Nacogdoches. During troubles of 1832, the battle of Nacogdoches ended here with the surrender of Colonel Piedras' army to 17 Texans. Later was home of Geo. Whitfield Terrell (1802-1846), who served Republic of Texas as attorney-general and as Minister to England, France and Spain. Birthplace of Geo. B. Terrell (1862-1947), State Representative, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Congressman-at-Large.