Historical Marker
Rhonesboro
Historical marker location:
Gilmer, Texas
( 11 mi. W of Gilmer at the intersection of SH 154 at FM 1002)
Marker installed: 1967
Founded 1902; Named for W. M. Rhone, only sawmill operator in area until 1901, when arrival of Marshall & East Texas Railroad created a town which grew to have 15 sawmills, 10 stores, 2 churches, a school, hotel, bank, gin, and cotton yard.
Mill operators were Connally; Barton and Smith; McWhorter; Cone and Watkins; Whitter; Dacus; Waterman; Nolan; James; Swann; Beavers and Meek; P. K. Williams; M. C. and F. C. Florence; Roger and J. O. Schrum.
After pine forest here was depleted (1917), the mills moved and the railroad was abandoned.