Wild Man of the Navidad

A mysterious runaway Negro slave who alternately terrified and aroused pity of settlers in this region for about 15 years. The mysterious exile, at first with a companion, appeared along the Navidad bottoms about 1836. Hiding in trees during day, he stole into kitchens at night for food, but always left half. He also took tools, returning them later, brightly polished. Slaves called him "The thing that comes", fearing a ghost. Captured in 1851, the wild man proved to be an African chief's son. Resold into slavery, he died peacefully as "Old Jimbo" in 1884.

Wild Man of the Navidad is a historical marker in Sublime, Lavaca County, dedicated in 1970. It is one of 96 historical markers documented in Lavaca County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 174 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.4713, -96.8035 near Sublime. The nearest cataloged historic site is Obelgoner (cemetery), about 2.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Smoothingiron, Geiger, and Geiger.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5285005811. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.