Jacksonville Family’s 1880 Land Purchase Recognized with Texas Historical Marker
- Donovan Bridgeforth
- Mar 20
- 1 min read
JACKSONVILLE, Texas – A family’s deep-rooted history in East Texas will be officially recognized next month as the Texas Historical Commission honors the Dirden family with a historical marker.
Taylor and Lucy Dirden, formerly enslaved, made history in 1880 by purchasing land in Jacksonville, Texas. Now, nearly 145 years later, that land remains in the hands of their descendants, making it one of the oldest family-owned properties in the state. Thanks to the dedicated research of Steph Dirden, the family uncovered their remarkable legacy, leading to this historic recognition.
The Dirden Farm Historical Marker Ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM at 916 South Pineda Street, Jacksonville, TX. Attendees will experience historical exhibits, take Model T car rides, and enjoy light refreshments before the formal dedication program at 4:00 PM. A private dinner reception will follow for invited guests.
For more details on the event and the family’s history, visit thedirdenfarm.org.
Stay tuned to TXAN 24 News for coverage of this historic event as we will look to provide live coverage on April 19, 2025.
It is certainly a honor to be invited to such an event as this!
This is Donnie Howard and I am Looking forward to the event and this event should serve as a catalyst to remind all of our community how important it is to keep our family history alive