| History
in a Pecan Shell
Founded in 1834 and named for Lorenzo de Zavala, the man to whom the land
was originally granted. But when the town was platted, Thomas B. Huling was holding
the deed. The town was dependent on the Angelina River for its economy and it
served as the seat of government for Bevil's Settlement. There was some 30 or
40 families living in the region.
Zavala was incorporated on Christmas
Eve, 1838, by an act of the Republic of Texas. A courthouse was built; and a post
office was in operation in 1839.
Despite
being a tireless booster, Mr. Huling failed to recruit enough residents to insure
growth. Then in the 1840s the town suffered a fire that destroyed the courthouse,
many homes, and almost all records.
Huling sold most of his holdings
to businessman Jerich Durkee of London, England, in 1847. Huling received $1,000
cash and 5,000 "tin boxes of Green Mountain Vegitable [sic] Ointment." The story
of Mr. Huling ends here - and the reader is left not knowing if he was able to
turn his "Vegitable Ointment" into cash.
Zavala declined despite
efforts of Durkee to entice immigrants to settle here. The post office closed
by 1856, although it continued to be shown on Jasper County's records as late
as 1878.
In 1936 a marker was erected at Hamilton's Cemetery to remember
the former town. |
