Was born in Tennessee on August 17, 1786. Participated in the Creek Indian Campaign 1813-1814. Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1821-1823. United States Congressman from Tennessee, 1827-1831 and 1833-1835. Arrived in Texas in January 1836. Died a hero at the Alamo March the Sixth 1836. ".. Be sure you are right - then go ahead .."

South Carolina native John M. Crockett married Katherine (Kate) Polk in 1837. In 1848 they moved to Dallas where Crockett opened one of the pioneer settlement's first law offices. Crockett served as a State Legislator, Mayor of Dallas, and meteorological observer for the Smithsonian Institution in the 1850s, and as Lt. Governor of Texas during its first two years in the Confederacy. A prominent Mason, Crockett also helped establish The Grange in North Texas.

Four generations have lived in this house built in early 1870s by Crabapple community pioneer David Crockett Riley (1840-1900). Stone for 24" outer walls and 18" partitions came from a hill a mile north; timbers were hand-hewn from farm trees; milled lumber hauled from Austin (90 mi.SE). With a purchased lock for model, rest of door locks were made in farm shop. Workmen were paid 50 cents and a pint of Crockett Riley's whiskey (home-distilled) for a day's work.

A native of Illinois, Darius H. Edens moved to Texas in 1831. He served in a Texas Army Infantry unit commanded by Thomas J. Rusk in 1936. A surveyor by trade, he worked in present Houston and Anderson Counties. He and partner James E. Box platted the town of Palestine, where he later owned a store and was elected Anderson County's first Chief Justice. After a brief foray to California during the 1849 gold rush, he returned to Texas and settled at Augusta. He and his wife, Nancy Rice, operated the Augusta Stagecoach Station and Inn on the road between Rusk and Crockett.

Originally known as South End Junior High School, this structure was designed and built in 1923 by the Austin architectural firm of C.H. Page. The first classes were held here in the fall of 1924, and in 1926 the students voted to change the school's name to honor Texas hero David Crockett. A good example of schoolhouse architecture from the post-World War I period, the building features decorative stonework and an entry arch in the Tudor Gothic revival style.

City of Crockett, Texas named for Davis Crockett and incorporated by the Republic of Texas Dec. 29, 1837 ------- Houston County named for General Sam Houston created by act of the Republic of Texas June 12, 1837 ------- City officials Mayor J.B. Beasley; Councilmen R.L. Shivers, H.O. McCarty, C.L.. Edminsten, W.E. Keland, B.O. Perdue.

Named for Maj. Gen. Johann de Kalb - a hero of the American Revolution - upon suggestion (1836) of David Crockett, a visitor on his way to fight in Texas War for Independence. Other Texas heroes traveling through here were James B. Fannin and Wm. B. Travis.

Settled by 1831, when land was given for a public school by Dr. W.H. Boyce, Wm. L. Browning, D.M. Chisholm, Clement R. Johns and Judge (and Dr.) James W. Smith.

Site of first college in Bowie County, founded in 1839 and of Ninth Masonic Lodge in Texas, organized 1840. Served as county seat, 1840-1841. On two early stage lines. A stopover for U.S. immigrants to Texas Republic, and 49'ers on way to California gold rush.

In 1870's hideouts of train robbers Sam Bass, Jesse James, other notorious characters were nearby. Texas & Pacific Railroad reached here 1876. Site in 1889 of P.S. Ramseur's sawmill which shipped high quality lumber all over United States; to get logs to mill, he built a railroad, traces of which still exist. Although in 1896 and 1923 most of businesses were destroyed by fires, city prospers today. Center of ranching, truck farming, and pulpwood productions. Known as "The Pride of East Texas".

When the Four-C Company built a large sawmill in nearby Ratcliff in 1900, the Eastern Texas Rail Line was built through the area for shipping. Druso was the only stop on the rail line between the Four-C mill and Lufkin, and changed from a farming to a logging boom town. Druso included a post office, cotton gin, general store, blacksmith and saloon. Children attended nearby Mt. Pisgah School. In 1920 the mill closed, the rail line was abandoned, and the town declined. Much of the land became part of the Davy Crockett National Forest in 1935.

A typical late 19th Century Texas commercial building, with cast iron front and pressed tin ornamentation. Erected for bank development in mercantile store of W.E. Mayes (1837-1915). To aid his customers, Mayes in 1880s took care of cash and credit; in 1891 sold this business to First National Bank of Crockett, which he and H.F. Moore were organizing. This structure, built 1893-94, was sold 1954 to Mary Aldrich, abstractor.