| Marker Text |
The Withers family first came to Jasper County in 1861. Five years later, Valentine J. Withers purchased 1,000 acres of land, including this site. With one of the boundaries of his land bordering on the Neches River, Withers established a ferry service that provided public transportation for a three-county area. In 1875 Withers' son William married Margaret L. Richardson, who was a descendant of pioneer area settlers. They built their home at this site, on land given to them by Valentine Withers, in the community that became known as Cairo Springs. The house was designed and constructed by William, who also built some of its furnishings. William Withers, who at one time had assisted his father with the ferry operation, was a successful farmer and merchant. In 1894 he was elected Jasper County Commissioner and served for four years. He died in 1917, a victim of the influenza epidemic. The Withers homestead, which has remained continuously in the family, serves as a reminder of Jasper County's early history. Its close link to the settlement of Cairo Springs is an important element in the area's rich heritage. |
