Across the vast expanse of Texas lies Wharton County. Its name echoes with the legacy of the Wharton brothers. William H and John A Wharton. These men left an indelible mark on this land. A land shaped by the Colorado River. This river bisects Wharton County. It carves a path through the heart of the county. It flows past the towns of Wharton and Glen Flora.
Wharton County boasts a rich history stretching back millennia. Long before European explorers arrived the Karankawa Indians thrived here. They hunted and fished along the waterways. They called the land home for thousands of years. The Tonkawa Indians also visited the region. Their territories overlapped. Skirmishes with white settlers occurred into the 1840s. The Karankawa eventually retreated to Mexico.
Wharton County’s strategic location along the coast played a vital role in its exploration. La Salle passed through in 1687. Alonso De Leon followed. He sought the lost La Salle colony. Spanish explorers like Martin de Alarcon and Pedro de Rivera y Villalon also charted these lands. Anglo-American colonization began in 1823. Stephen F Austin’s Old Three Hundred received land grants. They established the foundation of Wharton County’s future.
Early settlers chose locations near the rivers. They built homes along the Caney and Peach Creeks. The Colorado River was prone to flooding. They established plantations along the fertile Caney Creek. Slaves worked the land planting corn cotton and sugar cane. Many settlers hailed from Southern states. Their farms mirrored those they left behind. The Alabama Road. A trail leading from Matagorda to Texanna. It bears testament to this migration.
The Texas Revolution shaped Wharton County. General Martin Perfecto de Cos camped near Egypt. He reinforced Santa Anna’s army. WJE Heard an Egypt resident fought at San Jacinto. He and others defended San Antonio in 1842. Post West Bernard Station. A Republic of Texas ordnance depot was established in 1837. Soldiers refurbished weapons. They prepared for potential Mexican incursions.
Wharton County officially emerged in 1846. It was carved from parts of neighboring counties. It inherited their fertile land. The county seat Wharton was founded on the Colorado River. Religion played a pivotal role in early life. The Kincheloe estate. It was reputedly the site of the colony’s first Protestant service.
Antebellum Wharton County resembled the Deep South. Plantation agriculture dominated. By 1850 the county’s population included a substantial number of enslaved people. Albert Clinton Horton owned as many as 170 slaves. Sugar cane production flourished. Wharton County was part of the Texas sugar bowl. The Civil War shattered this economy. The emancipation of slaves brought about dramatic change.
Reconstruction led to shifts in power. Blacks outnumbered Whites for a time. Black residents achieved political milestones. Bird B Davis attended the 1875 Constitutional Convention. The White Man’s Union Association emerged. This group aimed to limit Black political participation. The Ku Klux Klan also had a presence in the county.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed growth. Railroads spurred development. Immigrants arrived from various parts of Europe. El Campo boomed with the railroad’s arrival. The Danevang settlement attracted Danes from the American Midwest. A Jewish community also established itself in Wharton.
Cattle ranching became a major industry. Abel Head Pierce established a vast cattle empire. His nephew A P Borden imported Brahman cattle in 1906. Wharton County’s location near Houston influenced its economy. Improved transportation linked it to markets. Rice farming emerged as a crucial crop. Irrigation systems from the Colorado River helped.
Wharton County’s history is one of transformation. It shifted from a plantation economy to one of ranching and diversified agriculture. The discovery of oil and gas in the early 20th century reshaped its landscape. This county is a microcosm of Texas itself. It reflects the state’s unique blend of cultures and industries. It is a vibrant testament to resilience. A land of contrasts that has witnessed significant historical changes.