TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

Fayette Co
Fayette County

Counties
Texas Counties


Texas Towns
A - Z

Brenham Hotels

La Grange Hotels

More Hotels






 


WARRENTON, TEXAS


Fayette County, Central Texas S

30° 1' 3" N, 96° 43' 55" W (30.0175, -96.731944)

FM 1291 and FM 237
12 miles NE of La Grange the county seat
8 miles N of Fayetteville
29 mile NW of Columbus
20 miles SE of Giddings
26 miles SW of Brenham
Population: 186 Est. (2019)
50 est.(2010) 65 (2000) 50 (1990)

Book Area Hotel Here › La Grange Hotels

Warrenton, TX - G.A. Ahlrich Store, 1930
G.A. Ahlrich Store, 1930
Courtesy Fayette Co Hist Comm; submitted by Carolyn Heinsohn FCHC member
More Warrenton Old Photos

Warrenton Antiquing

Part of the Round Top Antiques Fair, Warrenton has become a Mecca for antique hunters in the Spring and Fall (last weekends in March and September, and first weekends in April and October).

While other "Antique Capital" towns around Texas have become something of eyesores, Warrenton has managed to stay neat and has even improved, despite the amount of traffic it receives.

Warrenton Area Hotels - Book Here :
La Grange Hotels | Giddings Hotels |
Brenham Hotels | Columbus Hotels | More Hotels


Warrenton TX - Wilhelm Neese House
The Wilhelm Neese House in Warrenton
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

History in a Pecan Shell

William Neese was a German who came to Galveston in 1847. He moved into the area and bought the property in 1854. He ran stores, built a cotton gin and became the first postmaster. The town was nearly called Neeseville. Warren Ligon was Neese's neighbor and when the time came to officially name the town, each wanted it named after the other. Thankfully they decided in Ligon's favor and then defied convention by using his first name, otherwise we'd be writing about Ligonburg.

The Neese Home, (131 years after it was built) remains Warrenton's finest. As beautiful as it is, it has a tragic story. Neese built it for his family who watched the construction from their rather primitive cabin. Just a few years after its completion, William Neese was killed by a burgler in his store. Neese is buried in the Drawe Cemetery near Warrenton.

Just ten years before Neese's arrival, the land's original owner John Robison had been killed by Indians about one mile from where the house sits today. John Robison's son Joel, captured General/ President Santa Anna at San Jacinto and later became good friends with Neese.

By the power vested in him…. ( Although it has little to do with Warrenton, we include the story of Santa Anna's Vest here since it became a well-used artifact throughout the region. ) Some time after the battle and several miles away from San Jacinto, Santa Anna was caught. He first denied being an officer, but when he was brought into camp, the other Mexican soldiers saluted him as Senor Presidente, which sort of blew his cover. It may not have happened - but it's a great story.

Joel allowed Santa Anna (who was captured on foot), to ride behind him for the several miles it took to bring him to Sam Houston (where everyone posed for that famous painting). In return for this kindness, Santa Anna gave Joel his red and gold Generalisimo's Vest.

For years, up until it disappeared, the vest was worn by many local bridegrooms and dignitaries for weddings and special occasions. It must've made for an interesting "show and tell" at the Warrenton school.


Warrenton TX - Ruins
A ruin in front of the Wilhelm Neese House
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX - Zapp Hall
Zapp Hall
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX - Saloon
Saloon
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX - Gin
Gin
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX - Dog Trot Cabin
Dog Trot Cabin
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

See Dog Trot Houses by Bob Bowman


Warrenton TX - Blacksmith antique
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX - Antiques
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX - Tin building
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton TX  shed
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Warrenton Old Photos



Warrenton,TX -  Ahlrich Store, 1900
Ahlrich Store, circa 1900
Courtesy Fayette Co Hist Comm; submitted by Carolyn Heinsohn FCHC member


Warrenton,TX - Hauling sugar cane to molasses press, 1930
Hauling sugar cane to the molasses press at George Ilse Gin, - 1930
Courtesy Fayette Co Hist Comm; submitted by Carolyn Heinsohn FCHC member


Warrenton,TX - St. Martin's Catholic Church circa1930
St. Martin's Catholic Church, circa1930
Courtesy FCHC; submitted by Carolyn Heinsohn FCHC member
More Texas Churches
More Vintage Photos

© John Troesser
Sources:
Fayette County: Past and Pesent, 1976, Majorie L. Williams, Editor; &
Hill Country by Richard Zelade, Gulf Publishing, 1999.


Nearby Destinations: On FM 1291 and 237
South 9 miles to La Grange
East 8 miles to Fayetteville
North 5 miles to Round Top



Warrenton TX Fayette Co 1886 postmark
Warrenton TX Fayette Co 1886 postmark
Cover canceled with Warrenton, TX 1886 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection


TX Fayette County 1920s map
Fayette County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Central Texas South

Warrenton, Texas Nearby Towns:
La Grange the county seat
Columbus | Giddings | Brenham

See Fayette County |
Lee County | Washington County |
Austin County | Colorado County | Bastrop County

Warrenton Area Hotels - Book Here :
La Grange Hotels | Giddings Hotels |
Brenham Hotels | Columbus Hotels | More Hotels

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 


Texas Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
Texas Counties
Texas Towns A-Z
Texas Ghost Towns

TEXAS REGIONS:
Central Texas North
Central Texas South
Texas Gulf Coast
Texas Panhandle
Texas Hill Country
East Texas
South Texas
West Texas

Courthouses
Jails
Churches
Schoolhouses
Bridges
Theaters
Depots
Rooms with a Past
Monuments
Statues

Gas Stations
Post Offices
Museums
Water Towers
Grain Elevators
Cotton Gins
Lodges
Stores
Banks

Vintage Photos
Historic Trees
Cemeteries
Old Neon
Ghost Signs
Signs
Murals
Gargoyles
Pitted Dates
Cornerstones
Then & Now

Columns: History/Opinion
Texas History
Small Town Sagas
Black History
WWII
Texas Centennial
Ghosts
People
Animals
Food
Music
Art

Books
Cotton
Texas Railroads

Texas Trips
Texas Drives
Texas State Parks
Texas Rivers
Texas Lakes
Texas Forts
Texas Trails
Texas Maps
USA
MEXICO
HOTELS

Site Map
About Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer
Contributors
Staff
Contact Us

 
Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved