Dodge, Texas Virtual Museum

04/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1RrpWxgk2i/

190 years ago today, everything changed.

On April 21, 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto was fought right here — and in just 18 minutes, Texas secured its independence.

This ground holds the moment Texas became Texas.

From the towering San Jacinto Monument…
to the statue of Sam Houston watching over the battlefield…
this isn’t just history — it’s identity.

Remember it. Respect it. Be proud of it.

TEXAS FOREVER.

03/08/2026

Sam Houston Birthday Celebration

History and ministry are my two passions. Occasionally, the two merge. Such was the case when the Walker County Historical Commission selected me to give the invocation at the Sam Houston Birthday/ Texas Independence Day Celebration last week on March 2. The event takes place, each year, at the Sam Houston grave site at Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville. This was a wonderful privilege to share the platform with the major, county judge, SHSU Vice President, the chief and second chief of the Alabama-Coushatta Indians, president of the historical commission, and others.

This was my prayer:
"Lord, as we gather together for the special occasion of Sam Houston's birth and Texas Independence Day, we thank you, first of all, for your Son.
"Thank you for the privilege to live in the greatest state in the union, and the greatest city in the state, Huntsville, Texas, home of Sam Houston. We recognize that this greatness is a woven tapestry of the principles, the fierce loyalty, and the contributions of, not only native Texans, but many others who, like Sam Houston, weren't born in Texas, but got here as far as they could! As great as our past is, we believe that the best is yet to come for your people. May we, each, be challenged, today, to continue the standard of greatness that has been set before us that makes Texas such a wonderful place to live.
"We pray your blessings upon each one here: the distinguished guests here on the platform, the descendants of Sam Houston, the members of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe, our citizens, and our visitors.
"Bless the events and the festivities of this day. May everything that is done bring glory and honor to your Son.
"We ask this in the name above every name, the lovely name of Jesus. Amen."

Photo credit: James O. Peavey

03/07/2026

Col. Peter Ellis Bean

This is a sketch of Col. Peter Ellis Bean. When he was believed, by his wife, to be dead in Mexico, she married widower, Col. Martin Parmer. Two days after the marriage to Parmer, she received word that Col. Bean was alive and about to enter town (Nacogdoches)! Parmer took off and the Beans resumed their marriage. Ironically, it was discovered that Col. Bean had another wife in Mexico and, later, he did actually die in Mexico. The whereabouts of his remains are not known.

Photo credit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86616620/peter_ellis-bean

03/07/2026

Candace Bean Grave

Mrs. Bean is buried along with the Roarks at the Selman-Roark Cemetery in Cherokee County, Texas. A 1936 Texas Centennial Marker marks her grave. Mrs. Bean was briefly "married" to Col. Martin Parmer when she found out her previous husband, believed to be dead, was alive and about to return home from Mexico!

Photo credit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19433623/candace-bean

03/07/2026

Complicated Marriage

Here is a 1975 article from the Sunday Sentinel in Nacogdoches telling the story of the complicated marriage of Col. Martin Parmer and Candace Midkiff Bean. The two married after Col. Parmer's previous wife died and Mrs. Bean's husband was believed to have been killed in battle. Two days after the marriage, Mrs. Bean received word that Col. Bean was alive and about to enter town. Parmer took off! The year was 1828.

Martin Parmer was a land holder in Dodge whose son, William Palmer (sight variation in spelling), is considered the founder, although it is not certain that the elder Parmer ever lived in Dodge.

Also, the historian, Eugene Barker, quoted in this article, was born in Dodge, Texas and was grandson to William and Althea Barker, pioneers of Dodge.

Photo credit: Wayne Carter

03/07/2026

03/03/2026

Principal Chief Donnis Battise & Second Chief Herbert Johnson, Jr.

Today, I had the privilege to meet and share the platform at the Sam Houston Birthday/ Texas Independence Day Celebration at the Sam Houston grave site with Principal Chief Donnis Battise & Second Chief Herbert Johnson, Jr. of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe. This was a tremendous honor! Sam Houston and the Indians were great friends. As someone said, today, it was so wonderful to see descendents of Sam Houston and descendents of the Indians that were his friends together, today, in one place.

Photo credit: James O. Peavey

11/23/2025

Our Board of Directors and Staff would like to wish all of our members a blessed and safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

Our office will close on Wednesday the 26th and re-open on Monday, Dec 1st at 9am to enjoy time with our families.

To report water outages, you may contact our after hours line @ 936-581-1714.