Historical Marker

First Election in Wood County

Historical marker location:

FM 49, 3.2 mi. E, Mineola, Texas

( FM 49, 3.2 miles E of Mineola)

Under a large post oak (300 ft. NW) on Gaines Greer's farm, Aug. 5, 1850, Wood County was organized. Commissioners Reuben Elledge, Joseph Fisher, George Greer, Henry Stout, and Gilbert Yarbrough met with 20 other men to choose site for county seat and elect first officials. Elected were the chief justice, D. O. Norton; county clerk, Ambrose Fitzgerald; treasurer, Henry W. Norton; tax assessor-collector, Gilbert Yarbrough; sheriff, Henry Stout; and county commissioners, Daniel Center, P. M. Gunstream, William Rice, Peter Rozell. Historic oak survived until it was killed by lightning, 1950s. (1973).