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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 ws
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.
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