Florence, Texas est. 1857 Williamson County Texas

FLORENCE, TEXAS est. 1857

Population: 1,115 (2004)

Florence is on Farm Road 195 about 13 miles west from Georgetown in northwestern Williamson County. The site was settled in the early 1850s and briefly called Brooksville. By 1857 it was known as Florence, when its first post office was established.

Acme Tailor Shop in Florence. Ozias Cantwell stands on the right with two unidentified men. Previously known as Brooksville, the Florence area is noted for ranching.

Courtesy of Jonathan Cantwell

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image 1142

Dunlop Family reunion in San Angelo, 1897, 2nd row l-r: Julia Florence Thornberry Dunlop and husband Daniel Henry Dunlop, John Dunlop [patriarch], Eliza Agnes Matt Dunlop [matriarch], John Lynn Dunlop, wife, Riceanna Dunlop [standing], back row l-r: Alvid Dunlop [son of D. H. Dunlop], Ethel Dunlop child of D. H. Dunlop, far right: Robert Dunlop.

image 2005

Dorothy Fisher [Sauls], age 18, riding a longhorn bull at the Elzie Fisher farm near Florence, Texas

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Hannah Darby Feeding Baby Goat, Florence, Texas, ca. 1920

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Madge McCormick Smith "Cowgirl" of Florence-Andice, Texas

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"Ring Around the Roses", Florence, Texas

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Man on Horse

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On left is Mr. Law at the Blacksmith Shop at Florence, Texas

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Acme Tailor Shop, Florence, Texas

image 3044

"William Chapman Love" Hardware Store, Florence, Texas

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Interior of W.C. Love Hardware & Grocery, Florence, Texas

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John Chambers, ca. 1918, Florence, Texas, slaughtering a hog.

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Kids in Front of Tractor

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Original Florence Community Center, Lodge Hall, & Church

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Charles and Gene Fisher with goats at the Fisher farm between Andice & Florence. The Fisher family led by Gus Fisher, a former slave in Arkansas, is one of the earliest and most noted African-American Families
in the county.

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Joseph D. Duncan and Faye Darby Duncan - Wedding Photo, Oct 1, 1946, Florence, Texas

image 8102

Hannah and Leo Darby, children of Irene and John Darby, ca.1918

image 8103

John Oscar Darby and Irene Elizabeth Chambers Darby - Wedding Photo,
Oct 4, 1910

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Emily Gilleland Darby, wife of John Oscar Darby. Emily born 18 April 1856, died 2 March 1937, Florence, Texas

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John Oscar Darby ca.1890, b.1846 d.1907, ranched near Florence, Texas

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Harvey Walton & Nellie Love wedding photo, Florence, Texas

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Maggie Smart McCormick's 85th Birthday in 1936. Florence, Texas

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Lady by Rose Bush

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Baby in buggy

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Charles P. McCormick born 1879

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Robert R. Allen

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Maisle Allen
McCormick, Born 1871

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Main St. Florence, Texas, ca. 1910

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College Street in Florence

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Early Church

view marker page

Plaque
of the
early Church

Early Church - Historical Marker text
On land given March 8, 1845, by John C. Caskey for cemetery and meeting house. Originally 2-story, the native stone structure is believed to have been built before 1855, financed by J. W. Atkinson and Dr. O. Benedict. in that era it housed a school, Baptist and Methodist worship services, and Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges. It was purchased in 1924 by Primitive Baptists and reduced to one story in an extensive remodeling in 1950. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970

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First United Methodist
Plaque

First United Methodist

First Baptist Church of Florence - Historical Marker text
Settlers in the farming and ranching community of Florence gathered in April 1856 to hear the Rev. Robert Hay Taliaferro (1824-1875) preach and help them formally organize a church. Originally known as the Baptist Church of Christ, the congregation changed its name to First Baptist Church during the first decade of the 20th century. Several noted Baptist ministers have been associated with this congregation, including Taliaferro, the organizing pastor, who came to Texas from Kentucky in 1847 and established a number of Baptist congregations in the new state. Brother E. McDaniel served as first permanent pastor, from 1856 until 1869, soon followed by the Rev. George Washington Baines, from 1870 until 1877. Baines, great-grandfather of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson, came to Texas in 1850 and served as president of Baylor University at Independence, in addition to pastoring a number of Baptist churches in Texas. In 1869, the congregation built its first sanctuary, which also served as a community schoolhouse and as a meeting place for other religious and fraternal organizations in Florence. New facilities were built as needed to accommodate First Baptist Church's growing membership. The congregation's programs of outreach and community assistance have played a significant role in the social and religious heritage of this part of Williamson County. (2001)

Florence is on Farm Road 195 about 13 miles from Georgetown in northwestern Williamson County. The site was settled in the early 1850s and briefly called Brooksville. By 1857 it was known as Florence, when its first post office was established.

Click on thumbnail image for an enlarged view