Details for A House of the William Becknell Family

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5387010866

Data

Marker Number 10866
Atlas Number 5387010866
Marker Title A House of the William Becknell Family
Index Entry Becknell, William
Address
City Clarksville
County Red River
UTM Zone 15
UTM Easting 303751
UTM Northing 3721023
Subject Codes houses, residential buildings
Marker Year 1978
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location US 82, 0.2 mi. E of CR 2123, 1 mi. W of Clarksville
Private Property No
Marker Condition In Situ
Marker Size 18" x 28"
Marker Text William Becknell (1788-1856) of Missouri is renowned for opening the Santa Fe Trail from the United States into Spain's New World Empire in 1821. He and his wife Mary settled in 1835 near here, on Becknell's Prairie, with a daughter and two sons. On the way to the Alamo, David Crockett visited them. Becknell himself fought in 1836 in the Texas War for Independence. After milled lumber became available, he or his family built the earliest portion of this house. It was later enlarged and relocated. Restored by Ella Ruth and Harold Wallace in 1968.