Here, in the heart of Baytown, stands the Bell Prairie Plaque, a testament to a bygone era of Texas history. It tells the story of Henry Falvel Gillette, a man who carved his name into the landscape of this land.
A native of Connecticut, Henry Gillette arrived in Texas in 1840. He was a man of ambition and vision, drawn to the vast and untamed frontier. He became a respected educator, leaving his mark on Harris, Washington, and Polk counties. In 1842, he married Lucinda Maxey, a woman of strong family ties and land holdings.
The couple settled on Lucinda’s father’s plantation, a sprawling expanse in present-day San Jacinto County. In 1859, Henry made his mark on the land, purchasing property on Galveston Bay. He named his plantation Bell Prairie. The plantation housed a two-story brick house, a matching carriage house, and slave quarters. It also included a wharf on the property, used for the fascinating purpose of importing cattle from England.
Henry Gillette, a man of many talents, wasn’t just a plantation owner. He was also the superintendent of the Bayland Orphan’s Home on nearby Goose Creek. He was also a founding member and Worthy Master of the Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge, showcasing his dedication to the community.
Though the home itself was lost to the ravages of time and storms – a hurricane in 1900 and a lightning strike in 1915, Bell Prairie’s legacy lives on, etched in the memory of the land and preserved in the words of this plaque that stands before you. The story of Henry Gillette, a prominent figure in early Texas, a man of education, a planter, and a community leader.