Photo Of The Day: Bigfoot, Texas


This photo of the historic "Tree" in the middle of road FM 472, is the unique landmark at the center of Bigfoot, Texas. The town's name has nothing to do with sasquatch however. It is named for the famous Texas Ranger William A. A. "Bigfoot" Wallace, a resident of the town.

"Bigfoot" Wallace
William Alexander Anderson Wallace was born April 3, 1817, in Virginia. He came to Texas to avenge the death of relatives who were killed in battles for Texas' independence from Mexico. By the time he arrived, Texas was already a republic. He stayed in his beloved adopted state and fought Indians, joined the famed Texas Rangers, and carried the mail for the Pony Express from San Antonio to El Paso.

Wallace was imprisoned in Mexico and took part in the famous Mier Expedition, where beans weredrawn from a bucket to determine which prisoners would live or die. He fortunately "drew deep" and got a white bean, saving his life. The name "Bigfoot" originally belonged to a large Indian who stole livestock and many things from the settlers. A good friend of Wallace's, William Fox, jokingly gave Wallace the name of "Bigfoot", saying that when the Indian wasn't around, Wallace -- being a man of large stature-- could easily take his place. The same story also goes that Fox was killed in a raid by the "bigfooted" Indian several years later.

Bigfoot Wallace never married. He died in the town of Bigfoot, named for him, in 1899 and was buried at Longview Cemetery. Later his remains were moved to the State Cemetery at Austin.

[via www.bigfoottx.com]

Comments

  1. Great story Shawn! I have some property in Carrizo Springs and we always make it a point to drive thru Bigfoot,Tx to eat at a family style restaurant on our way there.Big Dad.

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