Fort Boggy

Pioneers who settled in this area bout 1840 included members of the Middleton, Byrns, Staley, Erwin, Jones, Capp, Bloodworth, Philpott, Easton, Howell, and Hinton families. Nearby Kichai and Kickapoo Indian camps afforded these early settlers little sense of security. On February 5, 1840, Christopher C. Staley was ambushed and killed by a group of Indians while out hunting near his home. This incident led to the building of Fort Boggy for the protection and safety of the settlers. Named for its proximity to Boggy Creek, the fort consisted of two blockhouses with eleven dwellings inside an area of about 5000 square feet. A military company, authorized by Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar, was formed under the leadership of Capt. Thomas Greer to protect the fort. According to one account, 77 people moved into the fort upon its completion. Illness proved to be a major problem for them. In 1841, while leading a scouting party beyond the fort, Captain Greer was killed in an Indian attack. Soon after, the threat of raids lessened, and the need for Fort Boggy no longer was vital. For many years, however, a community church and school retained the name "Boggy." As an early aid in the settlement of this area, Fort Boggy remains significant to the history of Leon County.

Fort Boggy is a historical marker in Centerville, Leon County, dedicated in 1985. It is one of 20 historical markers documented in Leon County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 102 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.1944, -95.9940 near Centerville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Fort Boggy, Site of (historical marker), about 1.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Leon County, Culton Cemetery, and Spring Creek Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5289009624. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.