Historical Markers

Marker

Individuals & Events


  • Aaron S. Mangum (1812-1884) - Aaron S. Mangum came to Texas in 1835 as a volunteer with the battalion raised in Georgia, serving under Colonel James Fannin at Goliad. He survived the war and returned to Georgia, but came back to Texas with his family around 1869 and settled in Sherman. Mangum is one of three soldiers of the Texas Revolution known to be buried in Grayson County. The other two are Louis Wilmouth, buried near Sadler, and Ashley McKinney, buried in Van Alstyne.
  • Andrew Hanson Grave - Owned Sherman’s first bakery and ice cream parlor for 35 years. He also had the first delivery service.
  • Captain John Henry Letellier - Born in Virginia and educated at Bethany College. In 1861, he joined the Confederate Army, serving in Co. K, 24th Virginia Infantry. Fought in battles of Manassas, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gettysburg and others. Received several wounds, one serious. Resumed teaching at the end of the war. Came to Texas and operated the Sherman Private School from 1871-1913. A dynamic teacher and expert in math, he taught many people who later rose to prominence.
  • Lee Simmons (1873-1957) - Ran for sheriff at the request of the citizens of Denison. Elected in 1912, and served two years. He was appointed by Governor Pat Neff to special commission in the 1920s to inspect Texas prison system and named by Governor Dan Moody to the Prison Board in 1928. In 1930, became general manager of the prison system, where he made an outstanding record. He organized the prison rodeo. He died before completing his autobiography, "Assignment Hustsville."
  • Olive Ann Oatman Fairchild (1837-1903) - Captured in Arizona at age 13 by the Yavapai Indians, who massacred six members of her family. She was sold to Mojave Indians. She was treated kindly but bore the mark of a slave - a blue cactus needle tattoo on her chin for the rest of her life. She was ransomed by the army at Fort Yuma in 1856. She lived in California, then New York. There she married J.B. Fairchild in 1865. About 1872, she moved to Sherman where her husband founded City Bank. They resided in Sherman until her death in 1903.
  • Thomas Jefferson Shannon (1808-1864) - Thomas J. Shannon came to Texas in 1839, and settled in what became Grayson County in 1845. He was elected as the first Grayson County representative to the Texas Legislature and he worked for relocation of the county seat to the present site of Sherman. Shannon earned the name "Father of Sherman" after donating land for the town site. His daughter Julia named the first streets. A pioneer stockman, Shannon imported Durham cattle, a gift from Queen Victoria in 1848.
  • Tornado of 1896 - In the late afternoon of Friday, May 15, 1896, a disastrous tornado hit Sherman, killing about 66 people, injuring many others and causing severe property damage. Many of the people were buried at West Hill Cemetery, but the locations of the graves are unknown. A historical marker was placed at the Highland Street entrance into the Cemetery.
Grave marker

Graves of Local Interest


  • Cary Head - A member of a once prominent Sherman family, she was one of the nation’s first female sportswriters. She served as sports editor of the Sherman newspaper during the years of World War II. She was the only woman ever to have served as sports editor of the 125-year-old Sherman Democrat.
  • Edna Iles - Unique stone with picture.
  • Evorie Dillingham - Local intermediate school named after this teacher.
  • Katie Q. Wakefield - Local elementary school named after her.
  • Laura Bell Hilger - A 1898 Sherman graduate. She started a school lunch program in 1914 in Waco.
  • Mary Crutchfield - Local elementary school named after her.