Churchill Fulshear, Jr.
By Joan Frances –
Photos courtesy Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance. –
Texans can be proud of so many things. The climate and land around us, mild winters and long summers and of course, our heritage. Our city leaders strive to keep our heritage alive with historical parks, markers and museums. The suburbs of Houston are continuing to grow and prosper, and Fort Bend County has a significant history that leads a path to today’s successes. One Fort Bend city with a strong heritage is Fulshear.
When the “Old Three Hundred” set out in 1824 to settle on the land that was granted to them by the Mexican Government, Churchill Fulshear, his wife Betsy and four children came from Tennessee and began a life as plantation owners. The cotton gin and flour mill was the main agricultural source of income. In 1830, Churchill Fulshear, Jr. married Minerva Cartwright, and they had five children. Through inheritance, he acquired the plantation and purchased land from the heirs of his brother and sisters who died. He was a veteran of the Texas War for Independence, and in 1850, he built a four-story mansion and named it “Lake Hill.”
Churchill Fulshear, Jr. became interested in horses and horseracing. Between 1850 and 1870, he operated a racecourse on his plantation that was called Churchill Downs. His student, John Higgins, became famous by training the first American horse to win the English Derby in England.
By 1888, Churchill Fulshear, Jr. granted the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad a right of passage through his land. This insightful move opened the doors to travel and development. In 1890, families moved from Pittsville to settle as the new town of Fulshear was platted.
Churchill Fulshear, Jr. died in 1892, and no other decedents lived there after him. By 1893, the population reached 250, and the town had a school district, a Methodist Church and essential businesses. Life was bustling as cattle, cotton, sugar cane, corn, rice and pecans became the main crops with convenient railroad passage in and out of the city.
Once the corner of FM 359 and FM 1093.
Saloons were also a big contributor to the economy. It was said that at one time there were as many as six to seventeen saloons located on Main Street. The local patrons could not shop on Saturdays because of the extreme crowds and often violence on the streets that occurred with shootings at the saloons. In 1910, a fire was started in one of the saloons, and it destroyed several buildings including the doctor’s office, drug store, post office, barber shop, grocery and dry goods store. The city re-built with two-story buildings and a larger downtown. The war, depression and economic times drove people away from this small town. In 1940, the population of Fulshear dropped to 287 and only five businesses.
Today, the population has grown to 1,145 according to 2011 census. City leaders are working to keep the heritage alive. Unfortunately, the Fulshear mansion was torn down in the early 1930s and some of the old brick buildings on Main Street were destroyed. Fulshear Plaza remains, and the city has attractive parks such as Frances Smart Park and Irene Stern Community Park. The Village of Fulshear hosts events during the year to encourage community involvement. Cross Creek Ranch, a master planned community, is built around Flewellen Creek Park and Polishing Pond that invites residents to enjoy the natural world around them. With so much to offer, the charming town of Fulshear will continue to grow and prosper for generations to come.