Plemons, Texas
Encyclopedia
Plemons is a ghost town
in Hutchinson County
, in the U.S. state
of Texas
. It is located 10 miles southeast of Stinnett
, and 8 miles (12.9 km) northwest of Borger
, on Plemons Road, just north of the juncture of County Road R.
rancher James Andrew Whittenburg filed on four sections of land in Hutchinson County. There he built a dugout shelter
near the Canadian River. He used the acreage as the family homestead. In 1901, Whittenburg donated acreage from the homestead land, for the establishment of Plemons. When Barney Plemons filed for land there, the town was named for him. Plemons became the county seat in 1901 when Hutchinson County was organized. E. E. Akers built the courthouse.
The first decade of its existence, Plemons had fifteen families. Billy Dixon
moved to Plemons from Adobe Walls
and operated a boarding house. Dixon became the first county sheriff. The Plemons economy realized modest benefit from nearby Turkey Track ranch and Tar Box ranch.
was then developed to be a shipping point for the railroad. In 1926, the county seat of government was moved to Stinnett. Plemons began to decline after that, despite a brief spurt during the oil boom. Today Plemons is considered a ghost town.
Marker number 12096 was designated for the Plemons Cemetery. The first burial is believed to have been Mrs. E. E. Akers, date unknown. The last burial was Charles Ray Sessions in 1953. The local Boy Scouts
troop spearheaded preservations efforts of the cemetery.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County, Texas
Hutchinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas in the northern portion of the Texas Panhandle. In 2000, its population was 23,857. Its seat is Stinnett . Hutchinson County is named for Andrew Hutchinson, an early Texas attorney....
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is located 10 miles southeast of Stinnett
Stinnett, Texas
Stinnett is a small city in Hutchinson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,936. Located in the northern Texas Panhandle, Stinnett is the county seat of Hutchinson County.-History:...
, and 8 miles (12.9 km) northwest of Borger
Borger, Texas
Borger is the largest city in Hutchinson County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,302 at the 2000 census. Borger is named for businessman Asa Philip "Ace" Borger, who also established the Hutchinson County seat of Stinnett and several other small towns in Texas and Oklahoma.- History...
, on Plemons Road, just north of the juncture of County Road R.
Establishment
In 1898, OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
rancher James Andrew Whittenburg filed on four sections of land in Hutchinson County. There he built a dugout shelter
Dugout (shelter)
A dugout or dug-out, also known as a pithouse, pit-house, earth lodge, mud hut, is a shelter for humans or domesticated animals and livestock based on a hole or depression dug into the ground. These structures are one of the most ancient types of human housing known to archeologists...
near the Canadian River. He used the acreage as the family homestead. In 1901, Whittenburg donated acreage from the homestead land, for the establishment of Plemons. When Barney Plemons filed for land there, the town was named for him. Plemons became the county seat in 1901 when Hutchinson County was organized. E. E. Akers built the courthouse.
Economy
Mattie Sams was appointed the first postmaster when Plemons received its post office on May 29, 1901. The post office was in operation until 1952.The first decade of its existence, Plemons had fifteen families. Billy Dixon
Billy Dixon
William "Billy" Dixon scouted the Texas Panhandle for the Army, hunted buffalo for the train companies, defended the Adobe Walls settlement against Indian attack with his legendary buffalo rifle, and was one of eight civilians in the history of the U.S...
moved to Plemons from Adobe Walls
Adobe Walls, Texas
Adobe Walls ia a ghost town in Hutchinson County, northeast of Stinnett, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was established in 1843 as a trading post for buffalo hunters and local Indian trade in the vicinity of the Canadian River. It later became a ranching community. Historically, Adobe Walls is the...
and operated a boarding house. Dixon became the first county sheriff. The Plemons economy realized modest benefit from nearby Turkey Track ranch and Tar Box ranch.
New county seat
The Amarillo branch of the Rock Island and Gulf Railway bypassed Plemons, routing 10 miles (16.1 km) to the north. StinnettStinnett, Texas
Stinnett is a small city in Hutchinson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,936. Located in the northern Texas Panhandle, Stinnett is the county seat of Hutchinson County.-History:...
was then developed to be a shipping point for the railroad. In 1926, the county seat of government was moved to Stinnett. Plemons began to decline after that, despite a brief spurt during the oil boom. Today Plemons is considered a ghost town.
Plemons Cemetery
Recorded Texas Historic LandmarkRecorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
Marker number 12096 was designated for the Plemons Cemetery. The first burial is believed to have been Mrs. E. E. Akers, date unknown. The last burial was Charles Ray Sessions in 1953. The local Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
troop spearheaded preservations efforts of the cemetery.
Notable persons
- Billy DixonBilly DixonWilliam "Billy" Dixon scouted the Texas Panhandle for the Army, hunted buffalo for the train companies, defended the Adobe Walls settlement against Indian attack with his legendary buffalo rifle, and was one of eight civilians in the history of the U.S...
(1850–1913) Lived in Plemons 1902–1906. Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
awarded November 4, 1874, for gallantry in action on September 12, 1874. In 1916, Dixon's was one of nine hundred medals withdrawn as "unwarranted". The U.S. Army Board of Correction of Records restored the medal in 1989.