Port Sullivan, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Sullivan
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 Port Sullivan, Texas
Location in Texas
Port Sullivan, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Milam |
Port Sullivan, Texas is a ghost town located in Milam County, Texas. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but is now mostly empty. It was started in 1835 by a man named Augustus W. Sullivan. Even though it's no longer a bustling town, its history tells an interesting story about early Texas.
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The Story of Port Sullivan
Port Sullivan began its life in the early 1800s. It was founded by Augustus W. Sullivan in 1835. The town was named after him. It was located near the Little River, which was important for trade.
Early Days and Growth
In its early years, Port Sullivan was a small but growing community. People moved there hoping for new opportunities. The river helped connect the town to other places. This made it easier to transport goods and people.
Education in Port Sullivan
By the 1850s, education became a big focus in Port Sullivan. A pastor named Joseph P. Sneed was very important here. He was a leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Pastor Sneed helped create a special school.
This school was called the Port Sullivan Male and Female Institute. It was also known as the Port Sullivan College. It was quite advanced for its time. It offered education to both boys and girls. This was not always common in the 1800s. The school aimed to provide a good education for the town's young people.
Why Port Sullivan Became a Ghost Town
Like many towns from that era, Port Sullivan faced challenges. Changes in transportation often caused towns to decline. When new railroads were built, they sometimes bypassed older towns. This meant goods and people traveled on the trains instead of through the old river routes.
If a town wasn't on a new railroad line, it could lose its importance. People and businesses would move to places with better connections. This is likely what happened to Port Sullivan. Over time, its population slowly left. The once busy streets became quiet.
The Port Sullivan Cemetery
Today, one of the main things left of Port Sullivan is its cemetery. The Port Sullivan Cemetery is a quiet reminder of the people who once lived there. It holds the graves of many early settlers. Visiting the cemetery can give you a glimpse into the town's past. It shows where the community once stood.
