Looking for former name of Rockwall,Tx. my grandfather CC Bowles donated land[was called Bowlesville formerly?

Question

My grandfather donated land in town now called Rockwall. Tx. It was land that is now used to house county buildings. It was first called Bowlesville. it is rockwall county texas can you help with this? I want to see something official. I once saw it in Dallas Morning News, so i might check their archives as well Thank you

Answer 1

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but according to the Texas Handbook Online article on "Rockwall, Texas",

"In the late 1840s members of the Boydstun family of Illinois settled on a 572-acre tract of land near the East Fork of the Trinity River; they were the first Anglo-Americans to arrive in the area, which at that time was part of Kaufman County . . . In 1852, a Baptist church was established to serve the local population.  Two years later Elijah Elgin donated 40-acres on a hill above the East Fork of the Trinity River to establish a town . . . Residents chose the town name because of their discovery in 1851 of a stone wall that lay beneath the surface of the proposed town."

P. S.  You might contact the Texas Collection at Baylor University to see if they have any clippings or manuscripts in their archives: http://www3.baylor.edu/Library/Texas/

Answer 2

http://www.rockwallroots.org/index.htm

Jackie, so far I don't find a record to back up your info.  What I have heard before this, is the same as shown in the picture on the above page.  It claims the town was named for the literal rock wall.   I also tried the Texas land office database for any original grant and don't see anything connected to Kaufman or Rockwall counties.  Can you provide grandpa's full name, please?  I find Caleb and Calvin Bowles in 1850, not in 1860.

I used to live in Rowlett (across the lake) and land / maps in this area are a particular passion of mine. I know of source to get land grant maps on jpeg.  It will help if I know more about his name, siblings, spouse, etc.

Answer 3

www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/artic...

In the late 1840s members of the Boydstun family of Illinois settled on a 572-acre tract of land near the East Fork of the Trinity River; they were the first Anglo-Americans to arrive in the area, which at that time was part of Kaufman County. The number of settlers arriving in the area increased dramatically in the next few years, and in 1852 a Baptist church was established to serve the local population. Two years later Elijah Elgin donated forty acres on a hill above the East Fork of the Trinity River to establish a town. The community was established on April 17, 1854, and named Rockwall; that same year a post office branch was opened. Residents chose the town name because of their discovery in 1851 of a stone wall that lay beneath the surface of the proposed townsite.

     The only Bowlesville that I could find is in Gallatin County, ILL. Then, on ancestry.com, I found these possibilities.  Are any of them your grandfather??

1. Name:  Charles C Bowles

Spouse:  Allie M

Birth:  abt 1868 - Illinois

Residence:  1930 - Calipatria, Imperial, California

2. Name:  Carl C Bowles

Spouse:  Goldie

Birth:  abt 1893 - Missouri

Residence:  1930 - Alameda, Alameda, California

There were some "C Bowles" listed on worldvitalrecords.com,  but the middle initial was different.  Do you know his birth/death dates?? Or where he was born?? I can't find anyone with those initials/last name anywhere near Texas. But, from what www.wikipedia.org says, the name Rockwall is derived from a geological formation--large underground rock walls that seemed to be manmade though scientist believe they are natural formations--discovered when first Anglo-American settlers moved to the area, and started to dig wells in 1851.

Answer 4

that is something you can find out at the court house in public records.