Early Settlers of Kerr County

(The Shingle Makers) The earliest permanent settler at this point on the Guadalupe was Joshua D. Brown (1816-74), a native of Kentucky who came to Texas in 1830 and settled at Gonzales near a fellow Kentuckian, James Kerr, surveyor and resident manager of Green DeWitt's Colony. Brown did military duty for the Republic of Texas. After marrying Sarah Jane Goss of Gonzales, he sought new opportunities on the frontier, learned the art of hand-riving cypress shingles, and found here on the Guadalupe's headwaters an abundance of giant cypress trees suitable for commercial use. In 1846, he led to this site ten shingle makers, and built a camp of picket houses in which to work. Despite Indian raids that sometimes drove the crew to Gonzales for safety, he made a success of the first industry operated at later site of Kerrville. Brown bought 2,640 acres of land with frontage on the river. When the county was organized in 1856, he insisted upon having it named for his friend, James Kerr. He donated the original townsite, including 4 acres of land for public buildings and streets in Kerrsville (as town was then called), the county seat. He lived out his lifetime on his ranch near town. A son, A. P. Brown, was county commissioner in 1935-36. (1971)

Early Settlers of Kerr County is a historical marker in Kerrville, Kerr County, dedicated in 1971. It is one of 63 historical markers documented in Kerr County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 107 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.0473, -99.1397 near Kerrville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Kerr County (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include James Kerr, Pampell Opera House, and Guthrie Building.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5265001352. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.