Historical Marker
Serbin
Historical marker location:
Serbin, Texas
( 6 mi. south of Giddings on FM 448, 1.5 mi. west on FM 2239, then south on CR 211 - in front of church)
Marker installed: 1969
Trilingual (Wendish-German-English) community founded 1854 by 588 SWends under leadership of the Rev. John Kilian. The Rev. Kilian (evangelical Lutheran) named place Serbin because the Wends were descendants of Serbs.
A thriving town 1865-1890; had grocery, dry goods, jewelry, drug and music stores; shops of wagon maker, blacksmith, saddler; post office, 3 doctors, 2 dentists.
On Smithville-Houston oxcart road-- sending out cotton, other produce, and hauling in staples.
Decline began about 1890 as railroads bypassed settlement by several miles.