Lest We Forget
Gray County
50th Year Anniversary
1902 - 1952
Marker No: 2261
State Approved, Designated Stone Monument
Geographic: 35.536304, -100.96385
Location: 200th Block of Kingsmill Street, Courthouse Square, Pampa
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Marker Text: Lest We Forget; Gray County; 50th Year Anniversary; 1902-1952; Dedicated to our early day pioneers, through whose efforts Gray County was established. And who contributed so much to our 50 years of progress.
1541 Coronado explores the Texas Panhandle searching for Quivira. 1544 Father Juan de Padilla Franciscan Missionary killed by Indians - first martyr to Christianity. In future U.S. site was day's journey either side of Canadian River. (Castenada). 1601 Onate Expedition searches Panhandle for Gran Quivira. 1720 Pedro de Villasur's ill-fated Expedition crosses Gray County. 1788 Pedro Vial, first to cross overland from San Antonio to Santa Fe, camps of Red Deer Creek near Pampa on return trip. 1840 Josiah Gregg views Red River Bluffs near Lefors. 1852 Capt. Randolph B. Marcy and Capt. GeorgeBrinton McClellan discover source of Red River in Gray County. McClellan later commands Union Army during Civil War. 1872 General Ranald S. McKenzie's troops route 262 lodges of Mow-Wi's Comanches on McClellan Creek capturing 100 squaws & 3000 horses. 1873 W.S. Mabry surveys Gray County. 1874 General Nelson A. Miles troops under Lt. Frank D. Baldwin rescue Julia and Adelaide German from Grey Beard's Cheyennes on McClellan Creek. Baldwin awarded Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in this battle. 1875 First military post in Panhandle established Cantonment Creek by Maj. James Biddle. Later moved and named Ft. Elliot, Maj. Henry Cary Bankhead, first commandant. 1876 Gray County created, named for Judge Peter Gray, 1837-1874, member first Texas Legislature, member Texas Confederate Congress, Justice - Supreme Court. 1902 152 voters organize Gray County with seat at Lefors. Changed to Pampa in 1928. (1971) |
