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History
in a Pecan Shell
Named after 1812 War veteran James Britton Bailey, who died and became one
of Texas’ favorite ghosts. (See Bailey's_Light)
Bailey,
usually called Britt, arrived in 1818 to claim a Spanish grant of over 4,000 acres.
Stephen F. Austin who was not on good terms with the early settler once disputed
Bailey's claim. But a compromise was worked out. Bailey would become one of Austin’s
“Old 300” and a new title was issued.
Bailey built a plantation here and
so did others on neighboring grants. Production consisted mainly of cotton,
cane, corn and cattle.
A
Methodist church was established as early as 1839. Since land was held in huge
tracts, the development of a proper town wasn’t the priority it was in most places.
One hundred years later, the land remained in the hands of large ranches, although
the church was there as well as a cemetery. Early figures aren’t available, but
the population of Bailey's Prairie was just over 200 in the early 1970s, growing
to over 600 for the 1990 census. |
Texas’ Favorite
Ghost Story:
Bailey's_Light
by Murray Montgomery
According to legend, the ghost, carrying a lantern,
roams across the flat land of Brazoria County, Texas - at night, constantly searching
for a jug of whiskey.... more |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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