Thurmans of Kickapoo, Site of the Ranch of

In 1882 Joe Thurman and sons Bill, Sam and Jess became first permanent settlers on the west prong of the Nueces River. By 1895 neighbors included the Barksdale, Chapman, Cox, Ellis, Haley, Justice, Parham, Silman, and Tabor Families. A brush arbor sheltered the first church, with Virgil Silman and A.J. Cox as preachers, and first school, with Perry Ellis as teacher. Joe Thurman acted as doctor, dentist, and coffin maker for this ranch community. His family raised fine horses for racing. In 1895 they matched their favorite against the horse of John Nance Garner, later U.S. Vice President. (1972)

Thurmans of Kickapoo, Site of the Ranch of is a historical marker in Rocksprings, Edwards County, dedicated in 1972. It is one of 20 historical markers documented in Edwards County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 31 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.7481, -100.3949 near Rocksprings. The nearest cataloged historic site is Thurman Cemetery (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Thurman, J. C. Linn Ranch, and Martha Lear Chilton Foster.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5137004876. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.