Ben Cannon Ferry

Native American and early Anglo settlers in this region forded the Neches River at this site, called Duty Crossing for early settler Richard Duty. A significant link in the history of transportation across the river, the Ben Cannon Ferry is first documented in Cherokee County Commissioners court records in 1848. Pioneer settler Ben Canon operated the Ferry until 1851. A toll bridge operated north of the ferry site from 1854 to 1924. The route of the Texas State Railroad crosses the Neches just north of the ferry site.

Ben Cannon Ferry is a historical marker in Maydelle, Cherokee County, dedicated in 1991. It is one of 112 historical markers documented in Cherokee County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 245 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.7775, -95.3892 near Maydelle. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mewshaw State Sawmill and Maydell CCC Camp (historical marker), about 1.5 miles away. Others within a short drive include Roach, McCracken, and Pleasant Grove.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5073006622. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.